Personal Trainers Pros and Cons

Over the years I have had the opportunity to watch many personal trainers in action.   When I lived in Bali and trained in the Radisson there was an Australian woman who had a successful business working with many of the GM’s from the hotel industry.  Most of these men were already fit, and from my observation she gave them the extra push or motivation to enhance their already sufficient training routine.   The Personal trainers I have witnessed working in the mega gyms in Singapore and Bangkok reminded me of aerobics instructors than fitness experts.  

 In Northern California the trainers I observed were part time house wives and college co-eds and with all their chatter and giggling I felt as if I was at a retired cheerleaders camp.  On Koh Samui I have been watching a trainer work for the last year with 3 separate clients and to my surprise I honestly have seen no measurable improvement in any of them; they are not stronger, leaner, or looking healthier. I have always believed that the purpose of a personal trainer is to design a training routine that will improve the client’s health and fitness and work on any target areas that the student believes needs isolated attention. 

From what I have seen the people who hire a Personal Trainer typically:

·         Are already at a level of reasonable fitness.

·         Are already doing some sort of physical activity several days per week.

·         Are not obese

·         Are looking for someone to give them an extra push and motivation.

The Trainers I have studied generally:

·         Use a cookie cutter approach to training routines i.e. one size fits all

·         Are not interested in seeing a measurable results

·         Are not well trained themselves

·         Are interested more in the clients money than their physical wellbeing

I believe that Personal Trainers can be a great asset to a person who already has a program in place and wants a motivator to keep them on track.  Personal Trainers do serve a purpose in the health and fitness arena and it is the clients responsibility to know exactly what results you want from your time with the trainer. 

If weight is an issue the trainer should have some training or education in sport nutrition and weight control.  Trainers do not come from cookie cutters they are different and as in all sales industries there are the good, bad and the ugly.  

You can get great results from using a Personal Trainer and you can waste a lot of valuable time and money with a Trainer. At the end of the day remember, they are professionals as they do get paid for their work.  It is up to you the client to be responsible enough to ask questions, know what you want from the training, and have a projected time for the desired results that you communicate to your Trainer.   No one can do the work for you but a good Personal Trainer can make the journey shorter and more enjoyable.

Go have some fun,

Geo