Why do personal trainers look like crap?

[seabee]

Hey V P, how tall are you? You bench 100 and M press 60 lbs (total or per dumbell)? How long have you been lifting? Good development for those numbers.

 

[V Player]

Hey V P, how tall are you? You bench 100 and M press 60 lbs (total or per dumbell)? How long have you been lifting? Good development for those numbers.

5'7, 174. BP is 100lb barbell, military is 60lb barbell. Been lifting seriously since January 04 after 5 year break. Of and on sporadicaly with no idea what I was doing before then.



Thanks for the compliment. I dont train like a bodybuilder, but if I have muscles its just gravy from nutrition and proper recovery. Rep schemes and routines alone dont build muscle. At least thats my observation and humble opinion.





Oh and Im 38 too

 

[Dale Mabry]

I know a ton of trainers who are really good, you just need to look and know what to ask. People don't shop around for trainers, they just assume that the person they are talking to knows what they are talking about. That is their problem for not looking into the trainer.

I think requiring a degree for personal training is a good idea, but it won't fly. There is going to be a distinct problem for trainers if they ever require a degree. A trainer is not a salaried position and as of now seasonal slowness is not an issue, but it would be if you had a $500 a month school loan payment.

Oh and bump to that statement that alot of people who think they know what they are talking about actually know dick. I was talking to an old powerlifter who told me to put a board under my heels to elevate them when I squat.

 

[cider303]

with my experience using higher reps does not work for me... that was the humor.. i had followed lifting plans that parrallel his recommended with no gains close to what i have seen using lower reps and heavier weight... the point i left out was the fact that he had been recommending the things that do not work for my body... perhaps i am more of a hardgainer than you are.. who knows? With most of the people i have talked to going heavy is what makes their muscles respond the most... so maybe i was making a generalization... at no point was i attacking his personal intellect and at no point did i say i was so smart.

and btw hes about 5'9" buck fifty or lighter

 

[CowPimp]

There are good personal trainers and bad ones, just as with any other profession. However, just because a PT isn't big, doesn't mean he doens't know how to help you get big. He may just not want that for himself.

 

[SlimShady]

I think it's a catch-22 for people wanting to hire a PT. You can't tell if they are any good until you've already paid them. By then it's too late.

I think I'll just start p/rr/s instead..

 

[V Player]

with my experience using higher reps does not work for me... that was the humor.. i had followed lifting plans that parrallel his recommended with no gains close to what i have seen using lower reps and heavier weight... the point i left out was the fact that he had been recommending the things that do not work for my body... perhaps i am more of a hardgainer than you are.. who knows? With most of the people i have talked to going heavy is what makes their muscles respond the most... so maybe i was making a generalization... at no point was i attacking his personal intellect and at no point did i say i was so smart.

and btw hes about 5'9" buck fifty or lighter

My bad

 

[Egoatdoor]

I think it's a catch-22 for people wanting to hire a PT. You can't tell if they are any good until you've already paid them. By then it's too late.

Not always true. Ask for referrals of past clients and then TALK to the people. Another option is not sign a long term contract. Schedule two sessions at most and then decide if what they are doing is 1) effective and 2)in line with your goals.

From observation, two no nos I see that stick out like sore thumbs is 1) Not having a written program for the client and similarly not logging the weights and exercises as the session progresses, and 2) never correcting form errors. I am amazed in watching trainers sitting there paying more attention to being paid rep counters while the client does an exercise with obvious form irregularities.

 

[Var]

I didnt read the whole thread, but one thing I'd like to add is that a lot of the shitty trainers will be weeded out when the national licensing of personal trainers goes through.

As far as looks, I agree that you need to look the part regardless of how much knowledge you have.