Be aware of Personal Trainers

[TexasF355F1]

Sitting in my Fitness for Life class I have learned a lot of valuable information and one of the most valuable is about Personal Trainers. Before you get one make sure they are qualified through educational means. Meaning they have their degree's in health and fitness. My professor has his ED.D which is a doctorate of the education of health and fitness. Most coaches whether in high school or college do not have this.

Anyway, he informed us that no matter how much schooling a person has on the body the work out centers require you to go to a 2 week course on the human body. He said the problem with this is that it means anyone can get this certificate to be a quote unquote Personal Trainer. He said in the fall semester here at the Uni weight room there was a kid who went to this course and was 'certified' and couldn't even do a proper curl.

I just thought this would be good informantion for anyone that may be looking into this. Just check it out and see how the trainers get their certification. There are gyms that specifically hire only those with college degrees.

One last note. Be careful following health magazines such as Men's Health. They may show someone who went from flab to abs in no time, but what they don't tell you is how the fed him or lack there of.

[lamehonda]

What he is saying may be correct, but he is trying to make his degree more valuable by talking trash about those who don't have one. People with doctorate degrees are notorious for forcing people to become overeducated to do tasks that shouldn't require a degree at all. You should start an excercise program with a good bit of knowledge because you can't totally trust anyone, even someone with a degree.

[sivic02]

Just because someone has gone to school still doesnt mean that they know everything they should know. For example I was talking with the lady at GNC to see what types of creatine ethyl ester they had there and explained that I was wondering about it because I was getting sick of having to take 10+g a day because im a big boy. She tried telling me that no one is capable of using more than 5g of creatine per day...no matter what size they are, they could be 100lbs or 300lbs, they need the same ammount. And she went to school for some nutrition type degree, yet she honestly thinks that every person no matter what size or build they are needs the same thing... school means nothing if your a retard.

[lamehonda]

...or if you were taught by them.

[TexasF355F1]

He wasn't implying that he was smarter than anyone without a degree. He was just saying be aware that there are people out there who, just b/c they've worked out for so long and were taught by high school coaches and b/c they've taken this simple class think they know everything about weight lifting. He was definately not trying to make himself sound superior. It's hard to explain someones demenor unless you see it yourself ya know? There are tons of trainers who do know what they are talking about. He was just talking about the ones who try and pass themselves off as they know exactly what they're doing and actually don't.

[lamehonda]

OK, here is a question based on your response-

Would you rather have a trainer that works out or one who learned how to work out in a classroom?

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by lamehonda

OK, here is a question based on your response-

Would you rather have a trainer that works out or one who learned how to work out in a classroom?

Just b/c one works out does not mean he knows how to work out properly. Shit even on wednesday he even said and I"ll quote him word for word here, "Just because someone has a degree doesn't mean they know everything."

My whole point of this was to just be weary not saying that none of them know what they are doing. Damn is it that hard to comprehend? Apparently i've hit soft spot with you. Sorry.

[lamehonda]

No, it's just that you said that we should be aware of personal trainers, when the people who teach us at our schools are the people that we need to be most aware of.

[Porsche]

I'm not really a fan of personal trainers, everybody seems to be one, and most can't offer me any advice worth taking. Some of the ones I've dealt with can be helpful, but they seem reluctant unless they're getting paid.


IMO I think personal trainers are bullshit. I learned how to workout on my own with the aid of friends. I've gained so much from it already and have not had to pay a dime for advice. Working out can be very easy and simple if you just go to a gym and ask somebody how to do something.

I've still got a lot to learn, but it seems like everytime I'm in a gym, I learn something new, always be open, don't be afraid to ask people questions, not once have I been insulted turned away when asking a question in the gym. Few people are too big to help. Just the other day, some guy asked my buddy for some dealifting advice, he was deadlifting 55lbs, that's 8 times less what my buddy just stipped off the bar, but you've gotta start somewhere. I can still remember my high school days, being stoked to bench 80lbs.

[pnoiSR20]

Im personally not a big fan of personal trainers (huh...thats a pun). I dont like them because when i go to the gym, i see big unhealthy people and just feel sorry for them. They get suckered by people and dont realize it.

[mospeed1]

I agree with jason 100%
make sure they are certified and have insurance
nasm,nsca
most high quality gyms will also require trianer to have a b.s in a subject like excersise health and wellness
not a two wwek course or a mail order class
sure an un certified trainer or friend make look big and in shape but if they dont know how the whole body works you WILL get hurt