Thinking about getting a trainer

**GKJ** · 09-13-2006, 07:49 AM

I've been thinking about getting a trainer for a month or so. I've been working out for 15mo now and making some good progress. There is one trainer at my gym that seems to be very good, I say this because he is always busy training people. Are there any questions I can ask him to know for sure if he is any good or not?

**jcote** · 09-13-2006, 09:11 AM

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Oh boy, here comes the trainer bashing thread again......

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**PWGriffin** · 09-13-2006, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by jcote

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Oh boy, here comes the trainer bashing thread again......

.

Heh, the people who bitch the most about shitty trainers are good trainers...

what you have said is no indication of whether he is good or not...I hired a trainer a long time ago and he is very busy...retrospectively, I am leaving him in the dust in the knowledge/skill department...we were overtraining hardcore...like I couldn't sleep and stopped wanting to go to the gym and shit...lol.

I think you're best bet is to just EDUCATE YOURSELF. Outside of that...I would have to travel to find a great trainer. As I really haven't met anyone in person that really challenged even my limited knowledge....

**GKJ** · 09-13-2006, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by PWGriffin

Heh, the people who bitch the most about shitty trainers are good trainers...

what you have said is no indication of whether he is good or not...I hired a trainer a long time ago and he is very busy...retrospectively, I am leaving him in the dust in the knowledge/skill department...we were overtraining hardcore...like I couldn't sleep and stopped wanting to go to the gym and shit...lol.

I think you're best bet is to just EDUCATE YOURSELF. Outside of that...I would have to travel to find a great trainer. As I really haven't met anyone in person that really challenged even my limited knowledge....

Thats why i would like to know some good questions to ask him. I'm on this site all the time reading as much as I can along with one or two mags. I understand being busy is no indication of being good.

**TJ Cline** · 09-13-2006, 09:43 AM

Hard call, 99% of the trainers I see are idiots. Your best bet is to listen to some the trainers we have here and to also educate yourself.

**P-funk** · 09-13-2006, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by GKJ

I've been thinking about getting a trainer for a month or so. I've been working out for 15mo now and making some good progress. There is one trainer at my gym that seems to be very good, I say this because he is always busy training people. Are there any questions I can ask him to know for sure if he is any good or not?

where are you located?

Anyway, questions I would ask:

1) what are your credentials and backgroud? This doesn't always mean jack, but, it is still just to good to see if the person has gone through some form of education.

2) what is your training philosophy? If they don't have one...then they probably don't know much about training other people.

3) can I see some samples of programs that you have for other clients? If they can't provide this, then they are no good. This shouldn't be a workout written on a page either. I would like to see a complete 4 week (at least) program and possibly a full 8 weeks of training to show how the trainer progresses clients. The program should have balance and continuity....it should not be a mash of different things every workout.

4) ask what the trainer does for an assessment to gauge were you are at.

5) ask for a free assessment and ask the trainer to then discuss what he found on the assessment and how he thinks he could help you. A free assessment is something that most professionals are willing to give.

hope those questions help.

**GKJ** · 09-13-2006, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by P-funk

where are you located?

Anyway, questions I would ask:

1) what are your credentials and backgroud? This doesn't always mean jack, but, it is still just to good to see if the person has gone through some form of education.

2) what is your training philosophy? If they don't have one...then they probably don't know much about training other people.

3) can I see some samples of programs that you have for other clients? If they can't provide this, then they are no good. This shouldn't be a workout written on a page either. I would like to see a complete 4 week (at least) program and possibly a full 8 weeks of training to show how the trainer progresses clients. The program should have balance and continuity....it should not be a mash of different things every workout.

4) ask what the trainer does for an assessment to gauge were you are at.

5) ask for a free assessment and ask the trainer to then discuss what he found on the assessment and how he thinks he could help you. A free assessment is something that most professionals are willing to give.

hope those questions help.

I'm in Ventura, CA. Thank you these question do help. I would like to work with a trainer but as you know and Foreman has stated most are not any good.

**P-funk** · 09-13-2006, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by GKJ

I'm in Ventura, CA. Thank you these question do help. I would like to work with a trainer but as you know and Foreman has stated most are not any good.

hmm...don't know anyone in ventura CA.

the NASM headquareters is in Calabasa, CA. You can go on their webpage (nasm.org) and contact them about trying to find a trainer near you.

The NCSA also has a trainer locator on their web page that you can use....nsca-lift.org

Alwyn Cosgrove's place is in Newhall, CA (don't know where that is or if it is close to you) and he is going to be pretty much as good as it gets. http://www.results-fitness.com/

I would start with one of those three options.

**GKJ** · 09-13-2006, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by P-funk

hmm...don't know anyone in ventura CA.

the NASM headquareters is in Calabasa, CA. You can go on their webpage (nasm.org) and contact them about trying to find a trainer near you.

The NCSA also has a trainer locator on their web page that you can use....nsca-lift.org

Alwyn Cosgrove's place is in Newhall, CA (don't know where that is or if it is close to you) and he is going to be pretty much as good as it gets. http://www.results-fitness.com/

I would start with one of those three options.

Thanks again, I will check that out.

**PWGriffin** · 09-13-2006, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by P-funk

where are you located?

Anyway, questions I would ask:

1) what are your credentials and backgroud? This doesn't always mean jack, but, it is still just to good to see if the person has gone through some form of education.

2) what is your training philosophy? If they don't have one...then they probably don't know much about training other people.

3) can I see some samples of programs that you have for other clients? If they can't provide this, then they are no good. This shouldn't be a workout written on a page either. I would like to see a complete 4 week (at least) program and possibly a full 8 weeks of training to show how the trainer progresses clients. The program should have balance and continuity....it should not be a mash of different things every workout.

4) ask what the trainer does for an assessment to gauge were you are at.

5) ask for a free assessment and ask the trainer to then discuss what he found on the assessment and how he thinks he could help you. A free assessment is something that most professionals are willing to give.

hope those questions help.

I have such a long way to go...

What is your training philosophy funk...and if you know another person's philosophy could you use it as an example..

**P-funk** · 09-13-2006, 01:54 PM

I posted my training philosphy in your thread last night...let me find it.

**P-funk** · 09-13-2006, 01:55 PM

Here it is:

My philosophy on training is that "Every person has a limiting factor. Something that is holding them back from achieving higher levels of fitness. Through movement assessment, flexibility and work capacity testing, we determine what that persons limiting factor is. From there, care is taken to design a program to take the individual from a base level, where the limiting factor is addressed and corrected, and advance them to higher levels of fitness through a variety of modalites focusing on strength, power, stabilization, and conditioning."

**Bakerboy** · 09-13-2006, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by P-funk

Here it is:

My philosophy on training is that "Every person has a limiting factor. Something that is holding them back from achieving higher levels of fitness. Through movement assessment, flexibility and work capacity testing, we determine what that persons limiting factor is. From there, care is taken to design a program to take the individual from a base level, where the limiting factor is addressed and corrected, and advance them to higher levels of fitness through a variety of modalites focusing on strength, power, stabilization, and conditioning."

That's cool. Now how about a mantra.

**P-funk** · 09-13-2006, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Bakerboy

That's cool. Now how about a mantra.

TRUST YOUR LEGS

**boilermaker** · 09-13-2006, 02:22 PM

It seems to me being a good trainer has a lot of parallels with being good in some field of technical sales based on what I have read in this section.

1) Know your product, believe in it and know how to promote features and benefits

2) Know how to read different personalities and how to react to their triggers

IE: some people are analytical and want to know why - they won't accept "because i'm telling you"; some people want proof of results - they won't respond to analytical phylosophy or statistics; some people are chronically defensive - you have to make them think and say "yes" to give them ownership in your philosophies; some people are ignorant and are begging for help - they need to be led by the hand; some people don't want be sold by you - you need to spend your time on those that do.

3) A lack of knowledge combined with a good looking product front will get you through the door, but won't keep you in the room with the best clients.

Those that can combine the first two are the most successful. Those that can't are poor and still sell stuff, but the customer isn't gaining any value and often doesn't recognize it.

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