Personal Trainer - here to help

Slap n Jerk · 08-24-2007, 03:28 AM

Hey guys,

Im fairly new to the boards here. However most of the stuff floating around in this section really has me concerned.

Im willing to answer a few questions for anyone who may have some.

I have a degree in exercise science as well as certifications through ACSM (HFI) and NSCA.

Slap n Jerk · 08-24-2007, 03:36 AM

First piece of advice

- Stay away from steriods - You would get better gains from spending that money on a trainer, and also wouldnt fuck yourself up.

- Think healthy lifestyle - Good diet, healthy and safe workout habbits.

- Reasonable goals - Just like with PE, set reasonable goals so as not to lose motivation and focus. If you are not willing to workout 3 hours a day, dont have a goal in line with that.

- Proper technique - Guys, a trainer is worth there weight in gold (if you get a good one). If you are serious about getting in shape or reaching a goal, hire one for a few sessions. Just to learn proper form and basics or periodizations and progression will near tripple your rate of progression and also prevent long term damage from improper tecqniue and form.

- supplements - If it isnt FDA approved, then be careful. Creatine has a VERY minor and specific effect ( not FDA approved BTW). Learn to read the labels and research studies. Most supplements out there dont give any real advantage. Stick to a good multivitamin, fish oil, and calcium. Thats all you really need. You dont even need a protien supplement unless you are VERY active or dont eat much meat.

More to come later (back to work)

10 · 08-24-2007, 05:46 AM

Nice to have someone certified to give out weight lifting and routine advice. Cool. Welcome aboard brother.

guitardude · 08-24-2007, 11:53 AM

Welcome to the boards. This is a cool group of people and very helpful too. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Regards,
-guitardude

happy stud · 08-24-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slap n Jerk

Hey guys,

Im fairly new to the boards here. However most of the stuff floating around in this section really has me concerned.

Im willing to answer a few questions for anyone who may have some.

I have a degree in exercise science as well as certifications through ACSM (HFI) and NSCA.

Hey man welcome aboard. Always fun to see other peoples workout. Where did your user name come from? An offshoot of clean and jerk? Or when you see some whore at the bar you slap and jerk her?

rocky6535 · 08-25-2007, 02:36 AM

Have you taken a look at my lean muscle mass thread? I'm going to update it with a sample diet plan tonight. I would appreciate your input very much. Welcome to betterman.

10 · 08-25-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky6535

Have you taken a look at my lean muscle mass thread? I'm going to update it with a sample diet plan tonight. I would appreciate your input very much. Welcome to betterman.

Good. Does this diet plan help in getting rid of excess body fat? I've got a few pounds I'd like to rid myself of.

happy stud · 08-25-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10

Good. Does this diet plan help in getting rid of excess body fat? I've got a few pounds I'd like to rid myself of.

Go play volleyball on the beach with all that California pussy. Youll lose weight.

10 · 08-26-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy stud

Go play volleyball on the beach with all that California pussy. Youll lose weight.

I never thought of that but it is a good way to meet women...........duh.....

Betterman · 08-26-2007, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slap n Jerk

Hey guys,

Im fairly new to the boards here. However most of the stuff floating around in this section really has me concerned.

Im willing to answer a few questions for anyone who may have some.

I have a degree in exercise science as well as certifications through ACSM (HFI) and NSCA.

I would imagine that you will have very insightful advice. I look forward to learning from you.

sikdogg · 08-26-2007, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slap n Jerk

- Stay away from steriods - You would get better gains from spending that money on a trainer, and also wouldnt fuck yourself up...

I agree with just about everything you have said except this...

I've trained at Bally's, 24-hour Fitness, Gold's Gym, World Gym, and other smaller gyms and from what i've seen, most trainers are worth crap. Maybe one in ten is real good but the rest are only good for training out of shape couch potatoes because any activity will produce results with these types of individuals. I'm in better shape than at least half the trainer's i see... how can he train me if he can't train himself??

Slap n Jerk · 08-26-2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikdogg

I agree with just about everything you have said except this...

I've trained at Bally's, 24-hour Fitness, Gold's Gym, World Gym, and other smaller gyms and from what i've seen, most trainers are worth crap. Maybe one in ten is real good but the rest are only good for training out of shape couch potatoes because any activity will produce results with these types of individuals. I'm in better shape than at least half the trainer's i see... how can he train me if he can't train himself??

I agree most the trainers at the gyms you listed are not going to be worth much. You need to fish around a bit to find a decent one. You want to look for a trainer with this education for a more athletic training focus

Exercise science degree
CSCS (Certified strength training specialist) - This is the best cert you can get, it requires a bachlors in the field of exercise, plus is the most comprehensive athletic cert.

All the gyms you listed above require a 2 week coarse to get certified. You may have to go to a better gym to get a decent trainer, but also educating yourself about what the letters behind there name means will save you time and money.

Slap n Jerk · 08-26-2007, 07:25 AM

Ill check out the other thread mentioned above.

Dont have much time tonight to write, but just some general facts

- You need a good balance of cardiovascular and strength training (also flexability and stability), i believe you lose 2.2ish poundsof muscle mass for each 10 lbs of fat you lose if all you do is diet (and to a lesser amount only cardiovascular, such as cycling, running, etc).

- Think of muscle mass as the fire that burns fat, you want a big fire to burn more calories.

- Shoot for 40-60 minutes of moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise most days of the week (jogging, swimming, cycling) plus 3-4 days of weight training a week (this doesnt need to take you more then 30 minutes).

more to come later, ill try to consolidate stuff to the initial post.

Also, it pisses me off a bit when folks judge a trainer completly on there image. Yes a morbid individual isnt being a great role model, but remember certain people, no matter how much they work out, will always have a larger body type. Healthy habbits including regular exercise and good diet are better then eye candy.... This drives me nuts at my job, to much discrimination where very smart folks get turned down for eye candy.

Some folks (especially trainers who only get paid when they have clents) work alot, or have stiff family commitments, that can limit the amount of time spent at the gym working out. This was a big shock for me when i started training, working 40 hours at the gym (most of t not being paid, while looking for clients) plus a second job to help pay the rent and get by. Sometimes no matter what your intentions or what you would like to do, reality forces you to sacrifice here and there. I sure would like to have the time to work out 2 or 3 hours a day at the gym, but I cant and afford to eat.

happy stud · 08-26-2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikdogg

I agree with just about everything you have said except this...

I've trained at Bally's, 24-hour Fitness, Gold's Gym, World Gym, and other smaller gyms and from what i've seen, most trainers are worth crap. Maybe one in ten is real good but the rest are only good for training out of shape couch potatoes because any activity will produce results with these types of individuals. I'm in better shape than at least half the trainer's i see... how can he train me if he can't train himself??

I agree 100% with sikdogg. Ive seen guys that have worked out just a few weeks trying to pass theirselves off as trainers. Im sure theres some good ones but most of em arent certified and even if they say they are who in the hell is gonna take the time to find out if they really are or not? The bottom line is if a person is gonna make the commitment. Whether its for power lifting or body building or losing weight to get back into shape. Either a person really wants it bad enough or they dont. If they do want it then they go all out and experiment with different workouts until they get the right one to their liking. If they make a half ass effort then they come up with all kinds of bull shit excuses to justify why they failed.

sikdogg · 08-26-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slap n Jerk

I agree most the trainers at the gyms you listed are not going to be worth much. You need to fish around a bit to find a decent one. You want to look for a trainer with this education for a more athletic training focus

Exercise science degree
CSCS (Certified strength training specialist) - This is the best cert you can get, it requires a bachlors in the field of exercise, plus is the most comprehensive athletic cert.

All the gyms you listed above require a 2 week coarse to get certified. You may have to go to a better gym to get a decent trainer, but also educating yourself about what the letters behind there name means will save you time and money.

The problem is that most people join the gyms that i mentioned so how can the average Joe find a good trainer when you agree that the mainstream gym don't have them??

10 · 08-26-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikdogg

The problem is that most people join the gyms that i mentioned so how can the average Joe find a good trainer when you agree that the mainstream gym don't have them??

I think you'd have to almost find one online OR shop around or through word of mouth. The Bally's I workout at..............and this is truly a first, has a personal training staff that are actually physically fit. Not one of them that I can think of is out of shape. But I completely support what you are saying here dogg.

As far as passing up an overweight trainer for one that is "eye candy"..............hey, lets all be realistic. If I walk into a gym, I'm going to want to the guy or gal who is in shape and it's obvious they take care of themselves. This tells me they care about themselves and their personal appearance. It would be really hard for me to take the word of a trainer that was obese versus one that was fit. And I'm not talkin' ripped, cut, the whole nine yards, I'm strictly talkin' about someone who's in shape. This IS NOT to say that the overweight trainer isn't concerned about his or her weight OR isn't educated and knows what they're talking about, but image is everything, and when your trying to sell physical fitness to a clientele, you want to look the part otherwise no one will take you seriously. That's fact.
It would be like going to a job interview in bermuda shorts and flip flops..............those you are trying to impress will be anything but.

slickwillie · 08-27-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikdogg

I'm in better shape than at least half the trainer's i see... how can he train me if he can't train himself??

That made me think of the fat guy in the GNC store trying to sell you "Ripped Fuel" and saying how the stuff really works!

happy stud · 08-27-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwillie

That made me think of the fat guy in the GNC store trying to sell you "Ripped Fuel" and saying how the stuff really works!

A person thats overweight doesnt really bother me if they still know what the hell theyre talking about. Ive seen many guys that competed and just got burned out and gained alot of weight. But they still know more about getting big and strong than these damn trainers in our gyms down here. So dont let appearence by itself be your judge.

10 · 08-28-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy stud

A person thats overweight doesnt really bother me if they still know what the hell theyre talking about. Ive seen many guys that competed and just got burned out and gained alot of weight. But they still know more about getting big and strong than these damn trainers in our gyms down here. So dont let appearence by itself be your judge.

And you're right stud. But, to someone who's just getting into fitness and they walk into a gym for a tour and such or they just sign up and get some free personal training sessions might tend to be judgemental is the trainer they're talking to is themselves out of shape. I think people tend to think that personal trainers should represent the image they are trying to project.

ThegoodDoctor · 08-28-2007, 03:23 AM

Working in the field, I find it hilarious how some "trainers" body build their clients....especially young kids. A "trainer" at the gym I work at (as a trainer) had a 8 year old kid doing an entire bicep and back workout. Let me tell you, it was quite impressive, since YOU DON'T BODY BUILD A CHILD!!!!!!!

More to the point, I agree with you guys about the shape of the trainer, but I just have to ask one thing for your opinion. Would you want a trainer who looks the role, or a trainer that knows their head from their ass? I may not be the best looking trainer bodywise, but I still practice what I preach, eating right, exercising religiously, always use correct form, etc, but I will never have the ripped abs everyone wants. I guess my point is that looks aren't everything, and its knowledge I would be after, rather than looks.
My best example is in the field of strength and conditioning. Jeff Madden (Maddog) at Texas is HUGE, literally a fat ass. However, he is the brightest mind in the field, and no one can deny it who knows strength and conditioning. If you ever have the chance, call this man or visit with him in person, he is simply amazing.

sikdogg · 08-28-2007, 03:16 PM

I don't think that a trainer has to be ripped but he has to look fit like he actually practices what he preaches. I understand that everyone's goals are different and that includes trainers. I just find it real funny when i've walked into a couple of local Bally's and find the trainers look like they just graduated high school. Most of them don't look like they've ever trained very hard.

I try to watch and see the exercizes they choose, how the have their trainees perform exercizes, and how they explain each movement. I'm almost always disappointed and walk away shaking my head.

10 · 08-28-2007, 03:18 PM

Body building a child............that's a hot one. I could just see me taking my 9 year old daughter and having her bench press just the bar by itself.............too funny and incredibly stupid.

But wouldn't you have to agree that typically a trainer who "looks" the part would know a little thing or two about exercise and working out? If they look the part, one is going to assume they eat right, exercise and use correct form.

And I'm like you. I try and eat right, exercise religiously and I'll never have the 6 pack abs either...........just not in my body makeup.

SonicCelt · 08-28-2007, 06:31 PM

As far as a child doing resistance training it is a fact that around 8 yrs old is ideal for a youth to start on weights. It is at a point in their development that the stress from weights will start to increase their bone density along with muscle which will only benefit them later in life.

ThegoodDoctor · 08-28-2007, 07:42 PM

Sonic, I completely agree with you about child training, but not the body building aspect. I have trained a younger individual (10 years old) but focused on technique and form. I also used a lot of body weight resistance work for them as well.

10 - I do agree with you my friend, about the shape and looks of most trainers. They do know for the most part what is going on. I was more or less referring to the trainers that have mickey mouse certs and don't have a clue about ex. phys or biomechanics.

Sorry for getting on my high horse, but I am just passionate about what I do, and want to help as many people as I can.

10 · 08-28-2007, 07:50 PM

Boy, I'd give anything to be passionate about what I do. Must be nice.......