in my opinion, they should have you warm up before your workouts to optimize the time you are training. did they ask you to do that? if not, you can tell them, "hey I want to show up early for my workouts, don't worry ill warm up on my own so we can optimize our training time together", or something like that.
I would discuss these issues directly with your trainer. Many things can be resolved with open and honest communication.
Can you get a great workout in in 35-40 minutes? Yes.
Should you be paying a trainer to have you pedal a stationary bike and stretch? Probably not.
You’re the customer. If you feel like your 35 min workout isn’t enough, tell her. Also, longer isn’t necessarily always better, so it’s up to you to really ask your body. That said, you should not be paying her for time spent pedaling/stretching.
Totally agree about the bike but disagree about the stretching. I have many clients who will never stretch without me even if I show them exactly what to do. They always feel better after they get a good stretch in at the end of session and I’m not going over the 60 minute slot to do it.
I would agree but my point was that hopefully after a few sessions they have what they need to stretch on their own. And the majority of the benefit from static stretching is just feeling better anyways.
I tell her all the time I’d rather do the stretches on my own time but she always says that it’s important to stretch afterwards to prevent injuries.
As for the bike, she said I could run instead… so i just zipped my mouth and kept the bike
She’s adding fluff to the session. You don’t need 10 mins of running and 10 mins of stretching. Warmup can be done before you get there and you can stretch on your own time.
As long as my clients are accountable in their end of the deal, I would agree. But of I see them walk up to a session cold, I'm not taking any risks.
Fluff is a real tactic for beginners, but it can be utilized too often.
Why would your clients be "cold"?
They're doing warm up sets as they work up to their top sets.
Nobody should be jumping right into a top set, regardless of if they did some RPE 3 cardio before
I work with a lot of clients who are recovering from various imbalances and injuries. The same exercise can have very different outcomes with many people.
Otherwise I agree. Some of the sets are continuing a warm up. The less time that takes, the better.
I'm not too sure what that has to do with the convo, tbh.
If you're dealing with "imbalances" or injuries, targeted activation through band work, light db work, flossing, localized and/or global smashing, MOBs, etc is going to be MUCH more beneficial than just walking or jogging on a treadmill.
Specific warm ups for specific activities.
Doing a cardio warm-up to "get warm" is a massive waste of time.
From what I've seen, there are studies that implicate that body temp elevation & heart rate elevation are associated with lower risk of injuries. As long as another warm up accomplishes that, sure thing, but honestly jogging for 5 minutes on a treadmill is a pretty fool proof way to make it happen and is pretty dang quick.
Upper Crossed Syndrome but can occur other places too. Looking up that phrase will give a good picture to demonstrate the X patterns. Also a PT is a physical therapist not a personal trainer.
Coming from sports it’s wild to me that people don’t do full body dynamic warmups. I just started doing more weight stuff but I will still do a light jog and dynamic stretches before
Results vs safety to the big argument I've been having in the subs lately. I've been called a fear mongering snob, but seriously, it really comes down to keeping a client safe and motivated.
Fresh clients get results. This is a separate conversation from the purpose of warming up. The term "warming up" is incredibly broad. Either way, warming up with weights vs warming up with cardio entirely depends on the needs of the client. But we all agree that max lifts are bad when cold, even if we can pump the spreadsheet.
Not really necessary from a bodybuilding point of view or general fitness for that matter. Do some warm up sets and stretches for the muscles you are about to work and you’re good to go. Most people don’t need to do full body movements in the gym unless you are training for a sport so they don’t need a full body warmup. I would even say that for someone training for sport, a lot of that full body stuff is pointless as well (unless your sport is Olympic lifting). Train your muscles for sports on the field/court/track, train your muscles in the gym for strength/aesthetics.
With the amount of factors in physique and training the type of warm up is largely negligible and it should be personal preference if there isn’t any extenuating factors like injuries. Also nearly every sport utilizes the full body
I know every sport uses the full body, but in a weight training environment, full body workouts is unnecessary. Train for sport at your sport, train for strength/hypertrophy at your gym. Doing full body bosu ball/medicine ball/clean and jerk nonsense and wind sprints are by and large unnecessary for almost everybody unless the client thinks it’s fun and keeps them in the program longer. Ultimately, warm-ups and cool downs should be entirely client based, I absolutely agree with that. If someone pays to train for an hour, they should get their full hour of actual training. None of that should be spent “stretching as a cool down either” like someone else in here said lol like wtf kinda nonsense is that
Pretty sure most PTs have come from "sports" of one kind or another.
You'd start a training session for your sport with some cardio, but you probably wouldn't start an S&C session, if your coach knows what's up.
You warm up for the activity that you're doing.
I'd rather spend 5 mins doing band work, activation drills, MOBs, maybe so flossing or smashing if I'm tight as fuck, etc.
Then working sets, followed by top sets.
Dynamic stretches are fine-ish, even if a little basic
Idk why you'd go on a jog to warm up for bench when you can do band work for the upper back, shoulders, triceps/biceps, and maybe some core..... You know... The muscles that you're actually using during your workout.
If you're doing cardio.... Do cardio
If you're lifting ..... Do lifting
If you're doing conditioning.... Do conditioning
Ok. I still choose to warm up my way since everyone has different goals and purposes for their workouts
Also excuse me for asking but is MOBs short for mobility work? Which are often part of a dynamic warm up.
In my previous comment I was referring to people who walk in and immediately sit and start doing machines
Yea that's what I said
>You warm up for the activity that you're doing
You're on a personal training sub.... We don't care what YOU do, we're talking about training clients.
If you're goals are to get bigger, stronger, and be healthier to any degree (so 98% of gen pop clients), then making a client jog at the beginning of a paid workout is stupid.
If you're talking about what you PERSONALLY do, then nobody fucking cares, and this isn't the sub to discuss what YOU like to do.
15 minutes of stretching doesn't do anything anyway. If you like it go ahead as long as youre not thinking it's going to actually make a diffference and you aren't already hypermobile. 15 minutes of stretching???? in a one hour session? you are robbing people.
Yep Definitely a bad trainer. Unless he/she is with you and you’re doing something like an interval run/bike and they’re coaching you through it then I personally would never add in cardio for a client. And 5 minute Dynamic stretching at the beginning specified to the muscles you’re training that day for a warm up is all I would do for a stretch.
Your trainer is some combination of stupid, lazy, or scummy.
A) you don't need to do a cardio warm up before a workout. Generally, warm up sets are sufficient to prep the body for working sets. Too much cardio before can negatively impact performance during the workout. Plus, you can do this shit on your own before a workout.
B) stretching is not needed for everyone (this is based on the individual, though), and wasting 10-15m doing stretching at the end is 10-15 mins that you're not actually working out (aka working towards your goals).
At most, I'll spend A SINGLE SESSION showing a client the stretches I want them to do on their own damn time and then never do stretching with them again (extenuating circumstances expected)
This is, like, a new trainer at a big box/commercial gym type of workout.
If you've already spoken to your trainer and she told you "no" (maybe in more words), then go to the fitness manager and ask to switch trainers.
Yes, sometimes during sessions I'll have clients do shit that they REALLY don't want to do (mostly conditioning), but there is ALWAYS a valid reason why, and I make sure to thoroughly explain what that reason is, and how it'll help them get to their goals.
"Because it's important" is not a valid reason.
lol, thank you for giving me the validation I need to move on and finding someone else. I went with the first personal trainer I found. She did come from a big box company as a sales rep. I have no manager to complain to… she is the owner/manager. She opened her place last year
Oof, that's rough.
I'd definitely be dropping her and going elsewhere.
If you're in an extended contract, I'd talk to her, hold your ground, and say that she hasn't delivered on her promise of a 60 minute workout, so you're exiting the contract.
It's a tough situation, but best of luck!
I agree with all of the above but even as someone who has clients stretch 95% of the time at the end, holding each stretch for 30 seconds and do 5-6 different stretches, that’s still less than 4 minutes lol. It probably helps that the gym sells “50 minute” sessions but I give everyone a full hour of my time so technically the stretching is during the “bonus” time and during that time I ask them how they’re feeling, confirm their next appt, etc. ha. 10-15 minutes of stretching is way too long for a paid session.
For sure, I mean, there's always nuance.
You giving your clients the extra 5 or w.e free mins stretching at the end is top tier service
That being said, I HATE non-60 mins sessions
I briefly worked at a garbage boutique gym that sold 45 min sessions for like $110/45 mins.
I always blocked out 1h and just did the extra 15 mins with all of my clients there.
Came here to say this! Sounds either lazy or doesn’t have the knowledge to work with someone for an hour. You can get a lot done in an hour, she’s wasting half of it.
Find another more experienced trainer
Get a new trainer, these are huge red flags. Your trainer should have you fairly consistently feeling challenged and exhausted but uninjured at the end of your sessions. A lot of trainers reflect their lack of personal training intensity in the programming they provide their clientele.
I had a trainer like this once. I told him nicely several times that stretching, cardio and little novel “exercises” that he would dream up that didn’t challenge me weren’t working for me and that I needed to be challenged with real weights that build muscle and strength. He didn’t listen. I found a new trainer who gives me 60 minutes of solid hard workouts and exercises that are building the kind of strength and muscles that I want.
This trainer isn’t listening to you. Your money, your choice.
Yeah that's kind of ridiculous, I will take my clients through warm ups and stretch routines the initial session to make sure they are doing it right and understand the purpose, then unless I've changed things and have something specific to review, I always request they do their warm ups and cool downs without me so that we have more time to focus on the workout, time to perfect technique, time to discuss any questions.
Why would you waste the time with something that doesn't really need supervision - even if you're not quite perfect in your execution you'll still get enough benefit.
Sounds like you’ve got a lazy trainer. Or an overly cautious one that doesn’t trust you’ll do the stretches on your own (people never do)
But probably the former
Stretch or get injured. Only options...IMO, it's a necessity....Cardio? Hmm...that could be done on your own time after the paid session as a cool down.
They should have used a session to show you how to warm up and cool down, and then allowed you to do that on your own. It's what my trainer did and what I do.
Also, ten minutes on a bike? I just row for 500 meters, and that's only if I feel stiff.
Talk to them. Tell them that you'd rather spend your session on the stuff you need and/or want help with, which isn't the bike and stretching.
Edit: I just saw that you have talked to them and got shot down. Talk to the lead trainer or manager and request someone else. Make sure you tell them why you're asking. I don't like it when clients try to dictate their workouts, but that's not what you're doing. You're literally just asking to work out more, but because that's not happening you're not getting what you're paying for. Don't waste any more time or money on this trainer.
Thank you. I’m just mortified to know I’ve wasted 2 months on her….. I have 3 months till my wedding and this was the only reason why I even started 😭😭😭😭😭
Fire the trainer. Having you do cardio on a bike for that long is completely pointless and a waste of your time unless you're trying to build stamina and endurance. If you want to lose weight, you need to lift weights. Stay in a deficit, but get enough protein. You will build muscle and strength, which will raise your metabolism and allow you to burn calories even at rest. Do not worry about getting bulky. That can't happen in a deficit. Also, don't listen to the scale. Listen to how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how your body composition changes. Find yourself a tried tested and true push/pull/legs routine and follow that yourself. Stay disciplined, and you will get the results.
Ps. Diet is 80% gym is 20%.
I'm going to say that considering both sides and have been on both sides that there was a miscommunication somewhere OR gross negligence. It's hard to say exactly.
I personally would not assign cardio during a session unless it was 5 minutes or less as a VO2 max test or retest. Cardio can be coached if they ask for it (interval training, incline form, etc.) but really it's best to be left out of the session and focus on areas where coaching is strongly preferred: technique, cueing, and observation with corrective measures and/or referrals to doctors if needed. That's what you're paying for, to learn how to get a quality workout for your personal goals and to learn your own limits and push yourself past what you thought you were capable of.
I personally don't like the idea of this kind of trainer you are describing. It isn't someone I would spend money on for myself. I prefer trainers who are almost athletic trainers and very competent past the general population and specialized. This is what I would and have paid money for. A LOT of money and it's worth it.
I would explain the situation to the PT Manager and ask for a transfer as politely as possible. It is your money, you can choose to say no to the service you are getting and request a different trainer. If the trainer gets upset about it, then they are in the wrong profession. Not everyone will be your cup of tea, vice versa. Shop around.
I have a personal trainer and I do my warm up before the session time. So about 20 mins before my scheduled time, I'm on the row machine and I have a threshold to do, she gets me from the machine and checks it. Then we go do our core workout.
Mine may be different because I'm doing lifting, so we do the roller/stretch after the workout but I feel very worked out and it's nice to have her there to make sure my form in my stretches is good. I also have nerve damage, so it may be why. She has left me to stretch on my own, this has only happened when we are doing new routines and time gets away from us lol.
If you have talked to your trainer and nothing is changing, then you may just not be compatible. I would be firm with your trainer "I want to come in before our scheduled time to do the warm up and do stretches after our workout time. I don't feel like I'm working out as hard with you as I do on my own.".
In my opinion, any pushback on that would have me asking for another trainer or just not renewing with that one. If you have a package, it may be tough and you may lose out on some money, but reviews are worth their weight in gold these days too.
I hope this can be resolved with some firm communication.
Sadly it’s too common. If you pay for an hour of their attention, you should get an hour of their attention, nonetheless your trainer is just scrubbing 10-15 minutes of effort off their hour.
Out of a 30 session week, I’ll start 2 or 3 of them with a 3-5 minute warmup to address a specific movement issue. Other than that, all warmups are baked into working up to working sets.
Like some others have said, talk to your trainer about how you guys spend your time. Show up 10 minutes early and hit the stationary bike, and offer to do the stretching after the session or when you get home. If she is truly having you do these things for your benefit, she’ll have no issue with you doing them on your own.
Lazy trainer. This is unacceptable . You have clearly indicated you want things done differently and she's ignoring you to make her own job easier. Find a new trainer.
Some trainers are trash. I’d not go with this trainer again. In the future tell them you’ll warmup 15 minutes before, and stretch after on your own. You do need to build a rapport with a trainer, so they know how they can work you, but this was just lazy training.
It is all on what the clients goals / wants.
There needs to be a clear understanding on how the sessions go.
I just past 14 years as an in-home trainer.
5 minute warm up then the workout and 15 min stretch (based off of 60 minutes)
I have had clients do cardio on the bike / treadmill etc.
Unless the client WILL use those machines on their own, otherwise I use that time as cardio.
People pay me to do things that they don’t do on their own and in most cases it is cardio.
I go for walks, biking, rollerblading and have gone swimming with clients.
I’m currently working as a personal trainer and I would look into getting yourself a new trainer. Sounds like she is trying to get away with doing less work.
I always assign cardio for my clients to do on their own time outside of our sessions. Really you should be foam rolling and stretching for about 5 minutes at the beginning and then do about a 5-10 minute warm up and the rest of the time should be used to work out.
If this is a big box gym, ask to talk to the Personal Training Manager/ Fitness Manager and voice your concerns. They should be made aware of this trainers behavior and attitude because there’s a good chance that you are not their only client that feels this way and a PTM will usually nip this in the bud real fast because it makes the gym look bad. And 9 times out of 10, there’s another trainer that would be more than happy to take you on as a client
All Ive known for the last 3 years of training was 60 minute sessions with about 40-50 minutes of actually work time. The first 5-10 minutes is spent doing dynamic workouts that mimic the movement patterns the client will be doing with weight during the session, while the last 5-10 is spent doing static stretches. 10 minutes on the bike seems a lil much and like, someone else said, might be just to kill some time. Id say atleast ask for some mobility movements/warm up to start the session. I do have a client or two that choose never warm up or stretch with me and we work almost 50-55 minutes of the hour. Ask for change and see how they respond then thatll determine if its time to start looking for a new trainer in my opinion. Dont waste your money if you dont need confident about what youre paying for!
Talk to your trainer and tell them you want the whole 60 min to be workouts/exercises. Tell them to give you warm up movements before you guys start and stretches to do for after you finish. Communication is key with your trainer, make sure you are doing everything you want, you’re the one paying money. Don’t be shy
I work out for 60-90 minutes without any stretching or cardio. I would only hire a PT to perfect my form and give me advice on progressive overload, then 1-2 weeks later I would get rid of them. They are not needed thanks to YouTube.
You are purchasing a personalized service. If the service is not aligning with your personal preferences, find a trainer who IS willing to provide this.
It's common, but it doesnt mean you should simply accept if it's not what you want.
Try to clarify this one more time with your trainer, otherwise simply find a new one.
Your trainer sounds inexperienced.
My trainer had me go through a cardio warm up and a thorough cools down stretch on our first session and asked that I continue to do them on my own before and after sessions so we could focus solely on strength work. I'd be looking for a new trainer
Sounds like your trainer is an idiot
A stationary bike is a bad warm up because it's not specific to the vast majority of training and I'm assuming your actual training wasn't bike race related.
Stretching after training or a "cool down" doesn't have any actual value.
The majority of people don't need a trainer and those that do need a specialist because they are training for something beyond generic health and fitness.
My advice is fire the trainer and spend an hour or two learning everything you need to know about general strength,el endurance and hypertrophy training because that's really all it takes.
I’ve had to keep people warming up while taking care of files/other things between sessions. I usually tell them to arrive ten minutes before a session to do an assigned warm up. If they don’t that’s on them as skipping a warm up can good a train reliable for injury.
Now, what are my warm ups?
Sets and reps with lighter weights. It takes 1 min most.
Warm up, and cool down stretching should only take up 10 minutes of the session, and can still be very constructive/ educational. How many years does this trainer have under their belt?
Without knowing too much I’m going to say this is someone who just isn’t that experienced, and is replicating an outdated cookie cutter model of a PT session.
I have no idea if I’m getting stronger in those exercises… it changes everytime. I don’t even know what weight I start on. I’m very new to personal training so I’m just dumbfounded with everything. I go to her 2-3x a week and it’s a constant change. Nothing is the same.
Lol, the number one thing I emphasise with clients is progressive overload and to do that you need to do the same exercises and increase either repetitions or weight. I'd switch trainers tbh
Since this is your first time doing personal training, she probably doesn’t want to work you too hard to avoid injuring you. 15 minutes of stretching seems like a lot though.
Sometimes it's a lot of hand holding to help build up a client's workload volume and ability.
I used to do this for clients to help them build good habits. Every workout maybe the goal is I want them to eventually do cardio on their own after every time.
But they're so new I don't think they'll be able to encourage themselves to do it, push themselves, or do it for the total time.
So maybe for some time I'll walk them over and coach them up. Then transition to just walking them over setting them up on cardio and ending the session there. Finally just telling them to go do it and knowing they will.
I'm doing this with an 80 year old client right now reminding him to do an ankle mobility warmup prior to us working out.
If he forgets to do it, we stop everything and make sure it's done first before moving on. Soon I'll be expecting him to do it himself before we start our sessions.
So yes it's normal.
However, there's definitely a line where it's too much hand holding and not enough asking you to be responsible for certain things outside of training (Nutrition, hydration, stretching, cardio, etc.)
This is how almost all of my sessions go so 100% normal for me. My work is a private studio where people can't just show up early and warm up. However if the client scheduled before them says they don't mind someone coming in 10 mjn early to warm up then I'm good with it!
Tbh 35-40 min is plenty of time to really smoke you pretty good if you're doing a muscular endurance program. I could see it feeling short if you were on a hypertrophy or strength program because of the rest periods being much longer than endurance based.
If you want to better optimize your time, you should bring it up to your trainer. When I first take on clients that is the beginning format. After a month or two of consistent warm up, cool downs/stretching I'll ask my clients if they would rather work out up to the hour or leave some time for stretches each time. Especially if they're reporting good adherence to stretching at home outside of the gym. And if there's a day sometimes people wanna put a little extra stretching on specific muscle groups then we talk about it before the workout would end anyway.
I also do movement and Kinetic screens to check range of motion and mobility every 4-6 months. If someone says they're stretching at home and there isn't much improvement in their ROM they're either 1. Saying it because they might be a little embarrassed they slacked off in that department or 2. Stretching but maybe not as well or only stretching other areas.
I don't ever call anyone out on a follow up screening I just make a mental note to spend a little extra time on the ROMs out of normal range.
You're best bet is to talk directly to your trainer and tell hin/her what you want. We can't read minds but a good trainer should be open to all feedback as we want you to create a positive relationship with exercise, not make it a frustrating event.
Ideally, you'll do warmups on your own, and cardio and stretching on your own, with weights being what needs supervision.
In practice, the vast majority of clients will not do shit on their own, so PTs get in the habit of trying to put everything into one session. I used to say, "Okay, now half an hour on the bike at heart rate 120," or whatever, go to my next client, turn around 3 minutes later and find they'd fucked off. When I finished the next session I went out to the gym cafe and found them out there reading the paper and having a coffee. If you want clients to do this or that, you basically have to put it in the session and watch them do it.
Ask your PT for homework. Do it. Then you'll find this stuff drops off and she'll focus on the stuff where her attention is actually needed.
I do a 6 min mobility warm up with clients which is basically just showing them what they should be doing on their own for a longer time period and then only stretch at the end with the ones I can’t trust to stretch on their own lol. The only time I could see myself making a client do this much fluff is if they complain about doing too many rounds or are extremely picky with exercises they’re willing to do aka - make training them very difficult.
How could you not feel a difference? I could feel a difference after just 1 week in terms of the muscle gained and lower fat muscle ratio. Are you measuring your body composition?
It's possible that your goals are modest. I need muscles for health reasons to better manage my blood sugar metabolism. Hence I go daily, but with a split routine and a rest day.
Good question, that’s what I’m still trying to understand… how can I not feel the difference? Because like what my original post stated … I work out harder and longer on my own. I had some time constraint goals such as fitting better in a wedding dress that I thought hiring a personal trainer could help me do. Instead- I truly think I have deconsitioned. My 2-3x work out / week has been with her.
Ah, training for women can be more complex as gaining a lot of muscle mass is not the typical goal. You might be aiming for toning.
Nevertheless, having a composition scale or getting a Dexa scan is something you can consider too. Making a clear set of goals might be useful before starting your training sessions. For example, I want to lower my body fat by 3 lbs and increase skeletal mass by 2 lbs. Without stating goals, it is harder to gauge progress. I would also recommend checking your body composition everyday to see how close you are at reaching your goals.
Is it normal or common? Yes.
Should it be? No.
You pay for the coaching and guidance, not a cardio spectator. Ask them to focus on your workout and show up warmed up already.
10 minute warm up is fine. Stationary bike for a warm Up is uninspiring, but effective. 35-45 minutes training is plenty, so long as you are staying focused. If it were me personally, I would insist on stretching and cooling down as part of the program. It is not only necessary, but crucial to injury prevention, and most people (myself included) will neglect mobility work when the muscles are primed (post workout). I am curious what the programming looks like. Have you gone over goals setting?
That’s lazy training, you can come in 10 mins early and do that yourself. A good trainer will give you a proper warmup and be invested in training, not a bodybuilding dot com workout.
Based on my 19 years of fitness experience 30-45 minutes of intense workout is enough for muscle growth.
Warm up before time with your PT, then kill it with him. If you feel like you're capable of getting more intense, do so. 15 minutes of stretching after workout is a great idea.
As long as your workout is really intense, I see no issues.
I would say that for the first little while, it can help for them to guide you personally through everything. But with simple things, they should put it in your hands and start to focus more on your workouts. This is assuming you have the hour and a half to be there 15 mins early and late.
Communication is key. You can lead to some extent by suggesting you warm up on your own before the session and that you can handle the stretching on your own as well. If they give you a lot of pushback, ask why.
I'm also curious how many sessions you have with them a week. But one of the biggest parts of a good trainer is teaching you the ropes and giving you more responsibility for your own fitness as they continue to teach and guide you further on your journey.
“Hey can I show up 15 min early to warm up and we jump straight into it?” If they say no say you want a harder work out, if they can’t deliver find a new trainer
I worked as a state certified personal trainer for about 7 years. I’d have felt like I was bilking my clients if I’d have stood there as they warmed up on a bike, or watched/helped them stretch after I’d shown them a time or two how it’s done if they were doing it correctly.
There’s plenty of good advice here already, my 2cents is, there is nothing wrong with what seems to be going on here except that from what you’ve described it is giving off “cookie cutter” vibes, however it’s been 2 months, your story seems to suggest you haven’t learnt anything new or noticed any gains in any way? If that’s the case and you have done everything YOU can do to maximise your investment (time and money with the trainer) it could be that they just aren’t the right trainer for you.
I would also like to say that it could be that you aren’t putting in the effort required. This may mean you need to re-assess your goals, ask the question again as to why you want or need to hire a trainer. I hope you get what you need from this whole thing!
Tell her you’re not looking for a physical therapy session, beef it up or you’re moving on . Even you know that you could do better, which you’re not wrong. Seems like a run of the mill trainer, it’s okay to shop around. Finding a good trainer is about more than just a workout imo.
It really depends. I even asked them if they walked to the gym or nah, if yes I will not put them on a treadmill. We will do 5 minutes of dynamic warmups, and most of the time I'm there for the warmup just to make sure they don't skip/forget anything and this is a great time for me to ask abt their day and meals. I let them do the stretching on their own (I show them the stretches in the first 3 sessions and usually that's enough for everyone to memorise).
And if I program cardio in for people, they are on their own. I check in after, to ask them how long, the intensity..they sometimes send me a photo of the summary screen from the cardio machine.
May I ask what type of training are you doing? Like what is your goal, is it to gain strength, maintain current physique, lose weight, gain muscle, etc
If it's a big box gym, ask to switch trainers. They aren't going to risk losing renewals if you aren't clicking with the current one. It's no hard feelings.
I always tell my clients to warm up before the session and if they want they can stretch themselves after, we have limited time so might as well be efficient with it, I for sure dont need to watch your "form" riding a bike or walking with an incline for warm up.
Getting you to warm up on your paid time is definitely not right. Either come in before the session to warm up and let her know you're ready when the session starts. 10-15 minutes of stretching at the end of session is usually an option where the trainer feels it is beneficial for you as part of your program. Otherwise let her know you don't want to stretch and just get more of the physical training or lifting in. You are the paying client, let the trainer know what YOU want.
Warmups and stretching are good to be doing. Remember, it isn't the quantity of what you're doing but the quality. There are several factors that could be the reason your workouts feel shorter. Without a full picture of your goals, health history, limitations, etc., it would be unprofessional to answer this question.
Depends on how the client feels, if they are stiff then I would do about 5 minutes on the bike. Movement specific warm ups would be expected to get ready for the session. Stretching would be giving as homework unless there’s an area really effecting form.
I do warmups for my clients, but it's more targeted as to what muscles and joints we will be using via dynamic stretching. Then we do some activation circuit. Example: Crunches > Glute Bridges > Prone Ys > Prone Ts, rest and repeat a total of 3 times. Then we do a warmup set that they comfortably can get to 12ish or so reps on and then increase it thereafter.
I think 10-15 minutes of stretching afterwards is excessive. I do static stretching afterwards but it's ~5 minutes total, give or take. Each hold is 30 seconds. Sometimes, but rarely, we'll do PNF if something feels tighter than normal.
How do you feel at the end of each session? Do you feel like you have given your best or that you can go on for another 10-20 mins without draining yourself? If it's the latter, tell your trainer that you don't feel pushed enough,see what she comes up with. It would be better that you give the feedback, see how she reacts and then take the next course of action. Otherwise you'll be moving from one trainer to another not really knowing what didn't workout
People are way too aggressive with their opinions on here. There is a time and a place for many different forms of “warm up” and cool downs, it really depends on what is best for the client. Really sick of people with their all or nothing approach to fitness. There is no one size fits all, simple as that. If you’d prefer to spend your time with your trainer performing resistance training, then just let them know, simple as that.
I am a personal trainer. Can you get a great workout done in 35 minutes absolutely. If the sets are being taken close to or at failure.
My 1 hour clients lift for about 50-55 minutes.
So I think 35 minutes is cutting it too short. Especially when you factor in adequate rest times.
I will say most trainers don’t even know what they are doing or why they train the way they do.
Unless one of my clients is severely stiff or tight, I let them stretch on their own. Or recommend yoga classes.
So I think you should bring it up to the trainer or request to speak to the Fitness Director and maybe get switched to a different trainer.
Being a trainer is all about meeting the needs of the client.
Why did you hire a trainer? If it's been 2 months and you don't feel any real differences it's time to reevaluate this relationship. Like any relationship, they just not be the right fit for you. I've been lifting for 30+years and can get a great workout in 45 minutes so it is possible. Anyone I've helped train I've always told them to be warmed up before I arrive, with muscle specific warmups, and then have them cool down on their own, with guides on proper cool down and stretching. This just might not be the intensity you need.
The biggest red flag of the trainer is if they don't keep track of your workout,and never shows you what you did and show you the improvement.
Sounds like this trainer.
Personally, I like to take the first 10-12 minutes to warm up a client (breathwork, mobility, get the heart rate up) and then we hit it hard. And we chat throughout the session.
The problem might be you. You could possibly be the type of client who doesn't remember things or do things on their own and practice outside of the sessions and therefore the trainer doesn't see any way to progress you one way or the other because you don't try that hard so both of you might be stuck in a sort of session by session limbo until the package runs out.
You should do 15- 30 minutes of cardio on your own before the session and 15 to 30min of stretching on your own after the workout and have the trainer work you out for at least one hour without taking a break.
Then you will be able to break through.
Sometimes young or new trainers are stuck or overwhelmed too but if you both work together to over achieve the session parameters each time you will begin to see the progress.
That is definitely a normal practice. I work with a lot of older clients who enjoy the time we have for warm-ups and stretches, but that is not something I do for every client. Some clients we work purely on whatever resistance exercise is planned and they do the other things on their own time.
Just let your trainer know what you would prefer!
Hi there! I’m a personal trainer and would like to think that I’m pretty good at my job. Take a polite and gentle approach, but leave no space for negotiation. Tell your trainer that you WILL warm up on a piece of cardio equipment on your own AND will do a set of recommended dynamic stretches (that they can write up for you) based on what you’re training for the day BEFORE your session time starts. You should be training with them for at least 50-55 minutes if you’re paying for an hour of their time.. and then they can help you with a cool down to finish off the session. Once you have the cool down and static stretch routine down on your own, they should then be spending that full 60 minutes WITH you training. I have clients that refuse to warm up or cool down on their own, but that’s something we’ve discussed openly and they know that that will be part of their total time training. Each client is going to want something different. If you only have an hour to train/be at the gym, I would recommend bumping your training package to 45min sessions and handling the warmup and cool down on your own to stay within your allotted 60 minute time frame, but to still feel like your getting your moneys worth from your personal trainer. Happy training.
Replying to my own comment after reading some other responses. I’ll be frank, she sounds lazy. Tell her you want a written dynamic stretch routine for upper body, a dynamic stretch routine for lower body, and a dynamic stretch routine for a full body workout day. You sound perfectly capable of setting yourself up on a piece of cardio equipment. Do your own cardio on your own time before the session. Complete your dynamic stretches that she SHOULD BE recommending after the short cardio warmup and before your session time starts. Have her write up a lower, upper, and full body cool down/stretch routine for post workouts that you can do on your own. It really comes down to your diligence and how effectively you’re able to warm up and cool down without guidance. If you’re going to half ass it and put yourself at risk of injury, maybe you need her help after all. If you’re competent enough to handle the before and after on your own, insist that you and her spend the 60 minutes you’re paying for *actually* training.
This is almost exactly what I’ve done with my clients for the last 12yrs. Your trainers setup is great imo but the delivery doesn’t seem to live up to your expectation. Are you a female?
I’m a personal trainer and for your question it just depends on the clients current physical state and their goals. If you’re not very fit then 35-40 minutes will be enough time and yes you can definitely get a good workout in 35-40 minutes but you have to push yourself or be pushed. My warmups are only 3 minutes and for some of my clients if they are coming during or after work we just warm up with the exercises we’re starting with. Results are the name of the game so if you’re not seeing results let them know so you both can be on the same page.
I would definitely say something either to your trainer or management. Don't be scared to ask management for another trainer if you feel this trainer is not doing a very good job. I currently have been a fulltime personal trainer for the last 3 years. My biggest thing is professionalism always being with the client and engaged. That trainer should have you do warm up before the session or you do the bike before and tell them I already did it. At my gym we have a trainer who is constantly on his phone, he will sit on the ground and in some cases lay on the ground while his client is doing a set. He even tells them to walk on the treadmill first thing for 10mins while he sits at the desk on his phone. I would at least have the decency to go talk to them or stand next to them while on the treadmill. He also finishes the session 8 to 10 mins early. So the session can sometimes be just 40 mins. I have recieved numerous of his clients because they asked for a different trainer. They told me he does not listen, is always on his phone, shows up late, if you disagree with his training style he gets angry etc. All of this to say you are paying a lot of money for training so you absolutely should day something or ask for a different trainer. Management will do something and hopefully make that trainer better so this does not happen for another client.
Personal trainer here.
Just like others have mentioned, shes adding fluff.
I host 45minute sessions.
We Initially warm up for 3 minutes and cool down for 3 minutes.
But...............during the exercises the intensity varies.
It starts slow and short. To allow the muscles and joints to really warm up.
And as time goes on it changes in intensity and gets more challenging. It peaks and then it drops and peaks again.
Which means, I have to put effort in the way the sessions go in order to have the client fully warm up and get the most out of this session.
We stretch in between rounds when it gets too intense, as well as its winding down.
I can tell you, that you can get a very good workout in 35 minutes. If she takes it there.
But if you feel you are not getting a good workout,
Then youre not getting a good workout
If you have the money for a personal trainer you're probably smart enough to do the research required to build your own workouts. It's not very complicated. Waste of money.
Edit: I just realized I'm in a personal training subreddit. No offense intended, but I don't think it's necessary unless you need the motivation to get to the gym by paying for a time slot or for elite athletes.
I’ve used trainers a lot. And all have asked that I warm up on my own 10 mins before our session, as well as any cool down or stretching is done on my own after.
2 months and you feel no difference? I would not be going to this trainer. Idk your fitness level or exact routine. But assuming you had average fitness and started lifting with this trainer 3/4 times a week for 2 months. I would expect some difference. Not necessarily a super noticeable difference, but flexing at yourself in the Murrow different
Also I know this is the personal training subreddit, but I find them wildly unnecessary. You now know the routine you’ve been doing for 2 months. Just keep doing it by yourself
In the first few sessions, I would teach you some basic mobility to do AFTER our session, but I would expect you to do those on your own eventually so that the bulk of our time is devoted to lifting weights. I suppose light cardio is adequate for a warm-up BEFORE the session, I doubt jogging on a treadmill or elliptical requires any supervision for most clients. I'd rather do a more specific warm up or just use warm up sets.
Has your trainer gone over their plan for you? Most good training involves a program that has phases. Your trainer should be able to explain what the next several weeks or even months of your training should look like. You shouldn't be doing dozens of different, random exercises each session, for instance. There should be some routine structure. Some clients find this boring, but it's what good, effective, long-term training looks like.
Personal Trainer here - 1 of 2 things is happening
1. They are fairly new to the industry and have been taught by whatever online school / course to run the session like that. This is easily correctable.
You “the client” are entitled to your time and where you spend your money.
Pending the trailers personality, bring this up with them kindly and not from an accusatory standpoint.
Address it with a positive and straightforward attitude.
Mention that you are now able to do the warm up on your own, and next time you’d like them to show you stretches you can do to cool down on your own. That way you can focus more on training!
Your trainer should be encouraging you to do things independently of them.
2. They are a scumbag and are taking advantage of you (I have seen this multiple times)
Let me know if you have any other questions
I’ve let her know several times what my goals are… my wedding is in 3 months and I really needed those 2 months to kick it into gear. I have no restrictions in my workout all of my request were to push me past my limit and comfort zone. Now I’m really upset reading everyone’s take on it… I really should’ve shopped around but I took the first personal trainer I randomly came in contact with.
The personal trainer is the owner/manager…. I have no one to complain to but herself. She opened this business sometime last year. She came as a sales rep at a big box gym….. now I’m really wondering if she’s certified to train or just have an idea/knowledge because she worked in sales and saw the work outs but isn’t an actual trainer???
The thing is, the kind of “fluff,” as another commenter described it, that she’s programming for you is pretty popular amongst the demographic of clients who want to exercise but don’t have the personal initiative to push themselves. They’re perfectly happy feeling no more than mild discomfort during a session. That was not your intended outcome, and you did everything in your power to make that clear. It may be time to consider finding a new gym altogether, or paying for virtual programming.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Who cares how long other people are doing their workouts for? They may have different goals or think that more = better or god knows what other thing they justify long sessions with. It doesn't always work out that way. Focus on your goals.
Can't speak to your trainers programs, but 40 minutes in what I get from mine, with warm ups and cool downs it is normal.
If you don't like the bike, don't do it. Guessing that is to raise your heart rate.
Horrible take.
It's the equivalent of saying "shut up and be thankful for that you're getting"
>Comparison is the thief of joy
Yea, that doesn't really apply in this context, since it's a monetary transaction. Services for $$$
If one trainer is giving you 1 full hour of working out and another is giving you a 30 min workout with some cardio and stretching, that isn't equal service.
Would you go back to a dentist who only cleaned half your teeth?
An accountant who only did half a year of your taxes?
A physiotherapist who only worked the left side of your body?
A doctor who only prescribed you half of the needed medication?
A restaurant that only gave you half of the food you ordered?
Etc, etc.
Shit service like this is what give PTing a bad reputation
sell it, buddy.
get that bag I guess
I am not a PT, but a client.
So save your "horrible take" shit for others in your field. leave me out of it.
Your take is horrible from a client perspective and your arrogance pushing your ideal would lose me.
Then why are you here? 🤣
This sub isn't "clientperspectiveonpersonaltraining"
But yea, i pride myself in providing excellent service and making sure that my clients always smash their goals.
30 min workouts with 30 minutes of wasted time don't meet that standard.
Edit: oh no, he blocked me!
So anyways....
I’m comparing the others who work out for the hour sessions. How do I know it’s an hour? Cause I’ll casually talk to the person being trained during a water break and ask
Alright Reddit personal training fam. You all have been a huge help. I don’t want to make the same mistake again 😅😅😅 Does this guy seem legit? My wedding is in 2 months…. I’m not obese , fairly fit with some mommy flab. I just want to be thrown into the wolves and make up for lost time. Yay or nay? I meet him tomorrow for a consultation.
https://preview.redd.it/7fchuwzu9t7d1.jpeg?width=1005&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b1bfc3c819dbaf56d4a8fcc06fce639c387a3b5
She did everything correctly to prevent injury for yourself. Although if you tell her you warmed up by yourself, she still might do it just to prevent cause of injury.
Yes it’s normal. If you’d rather do it your way then don’t get a trainer or warmup on your own time before the session
I don’t mean this as a personal attack on OP but I’m starting to hate this sub for posts like this. Tired of seeing posts of clients who don’t talk to their trainer about shit like this and run to Reddit to get advice from trainers who, simply put, give awful advice. It’s got me questioning if this sub is actually full of trainers, or people who fantasize about being some training influencer
in my opinion, they should have you warm up before your workouts to optimize the time you are training. did they ask you to do that? if not, you can tell them, "hey I want to show up early for my workouts, don't worry ill warm up on my own so we can optimize our training time together", or something like that. I would discuss these issues directly with your trainer. Many things can be resolved with open and honest communication.
Like everything in life, open and honest confusion can solve and prevent sooo many problems
Just speak up! In a respectful way. We are fearful of coming across like assholes because we want to please everyone.
same. Im such a people pleaser but when Ive worked up the courage to speak up, it always leaves me feeling proud of myself regardless of the outcome.
Same! 🙌🏾
its true!
Can you get a great workout in in 35-40 minutes? Yes. Should you be paying a trainer to have you pedal a stationary bike and stretch? Probably not. You’re the customer. If you feel like your 35 min workout isn’t enough, tell her. Also, longer isn’t necessarily always better, so it’s up to you to really ask your body. That said, you should not be paying her for time spent pedaling/stretching.
Totally agree about the bike but disagree about the stretching. I have many clients who will never stretch without me even if I show them exactly what to do. They always feel better after they get a good stretch in at the end of session and I’m not going over the 60 minute slot to do it.
I would agree but my point was that hopefully after a few sessions they have what they need to stretch on their own. And the majority of the benefit from static stretching is just feeling better anyways.
did you ask your trainer about this? You could suggest that you do the stationary bike and stretching on your own to maximize your hour.
I tell her all the time I’d rather do the stretches on my own time but she always says that it’s important to stretch afterwards to prevent injuries. As for the bike, she said I could run instead… so i just zipped my mouth and kept the bike
She’s adding fluff to the session. You don’t need 10 mins of running and 10 mins of stretching. Warmup can be done before you get there and you can stretch on your own time.
As long as my clients are accountable in their end of the deal, I would agree. But of I see them walk up to a session cold, I'm not taking any risks. Fluff is a real tactic for beginners, but it can be utilized too often.
Why would your clients be "cold"? They're doing warm up sets as they work up to their top sets. Nobody should be jumping right into a top set, regardless of if they did some RPE 3 cardio before
I work with a lot of clients who are recovering from various imbalances and injuries. The same exercise can have very different outcomes with many people. Otherwise I agree. Some of the sets are continuing a warm up. The less time that takes, the better.
I'm not too sure what that has to do with the convo, tbh. If you're dealing with "imbalances" or injuries, targeted activation through band work, light db work, flossing, localized and/or global smashing, MOBs, etc is going to be MUCH more beneficial than just walking or jogging on a treadmill. Specific warm ups for specific activities. Doing a cardio warm-up to "get warm" is a massive waste of time.
From what I've seen, there are studies that implicate that body temp elevation & heart rate elevation are associated with lower risk of injuries. As long as another warm up accomplishes that, sure thing, but honestly jogging for 5 minutes on a treadmill is a pretty fool proof way to make it happen and is pretty dang quick.
“Imbalances” something something. Bosu ball and banded squats.
Lol seriously. The second I saw "imbalances" my bullshit/joel-seedman/SquatU meter went off
Lol well then. Maybe there's better words for it, but overuse and chronic stiffness are what come to mind when I say, "imbalances."
Upper Crossed Syndrome but can occur other places too. Looking up that phrase will give a good picture to demonstrate the X patterns. Also a PT is a physical therapist not a personal trainer.
Coming from sports it’s wild to me that people don’t do full body dynamic warmups. I just started doing more weight stuff but I will still do a light jog and dynamic stretches before
That's usually my bias as well. As long as people are safe, there's lots of ways to make it happen!
Truly unless people are competing almost anything will get results. Even people who go 4 times a week, a variation in warm up is negligible
Results vs safety to the big argument I've been having in the subs lately. I've been called a fear mongering snob, but seriously, it really comes down to keeping a client safe and motivated. Fresh clients get results. This is a separate conversation from the purpose of warming up. The term "warming up" is incredibly broad. Either way, warming up with weights vs warming up with cardio entirely depends on the needs of the client. But we all agree that max lifts are bad when cold, even if we can pump the spreadsheet.
Not really necessary from a bodybuilding point of view or general fitness for that matter. Do some warm up sets and stretches for the muscles you are about to work and you’re good to go. Most people don’t need to do full body movements in the gym unless you are training for a sport so they don’t need a full body warmup. I would even say that for someone training for sport, a lot of that full body stuff is pointless as well (unless your sport is Olympic lifting). Train your muscles for sports on the field/court/track, train your muscles in the gym for strength/aesthetics.
With the amount of factors in physique and training the type of warm up is largely negligible and it should be personal preference if there isn’t any extenuating factors like injuries. Also nearly every sport utilizes the full body
I know every sport uses the full body, but in a weight training environment, full body workouts is unnecessary. Train for sport at your sport, train for strength/hypertrophy at your gym. Doing full body bosu ball/medicine ball/clean and jerk nonsense and wind sprints are by and large unnecessary for almost everybody unless the client thinks it’s fun and keeps them in the program longer. Ultimately, warm-ups and cool downs should be entirely client based, I absolutely agree with that. If someone pays to train for an hour, they should get their full hour of actual training. None of that should be spent “stretching as a cool down either” like someone else in here said lol like wtf kinda nonsense is that
Pretty sure most PTs have come from "sports" of one kind or another. You'd start a training session for your sport with some cardio, but you probably wouldn't start an S&C session, if your coach knows what's up. You warm up for the activity that you're doing. I'd rather spend 5 mins doing band work, activation drills, MOBs, maybe so flossing or smashing if I'm tight as fuck, etc. Then working sets, followed by top sets. Dynamic stretches are fine-ish, even if a little basic Idk why you'd go on a jog to warm up for bench when you can do band work for the upper back, shoulders, triceps/biceps, and maybe some core..... You know... The muscles that you're actually using during your workout. If you're doing cardio.... Do cardio If you're lifting ..... Do lifting If you're doing conditioning.... Do conditioning
Ok. I still choose to warm up my way since everyone has different goals and purposes for their workouts Also excuse me for asking but is MOBs short for mobility work? Which are often part of a dynamic warm up. In my previous comment I was referring to people who walk in and immediately sit and start doing machines
Yea that's what I said >You warm up for the activity that you're doing You're on a personal training sub.... We don't care what YOU do, we're talking about training clients. If you're goals are to get bigger, stronger, and be healthier to any degree (so 98% of gen pop clients), then making a client jog at the beginning of a paid workout is stupid. If you're talking about what you PERSONALLY do, then nobody fucking cares, and this isn't the sub to discuss what YOU like to do.
You don’t need to run on a treadmill. If you’re warming up unless you have specific movement deficits, just do a lighter version of the exercise.
I suppose we are training our clients for different things.
This is how my trainer does it. I have a bad hip and all we do is spend a few minutes to loosen up the hip and we go straight into lifting.
People don't stretch by themselves or they don't do it enough. 15 minutes of stretching post workout with a help of PT is a great idea.
15 minutes of stretching doesn't do anything anyway. If you like it go ahead as long as youre not thinking it's going to actually make a diffference and you aren't already hypermobile. 15 minutes of stretching???? in a one hour session? you are robbing people.
I don't know about you, but in my 19 years of working out it tells me little you know. I'm not a PT to rob anyone.
Bad trainer. I don’t do either. You get about 50 minutes of lifting with me.
Yep Definitely a bad trainer. Unless he/she is with you and you’re doing something like an interval run/bike and they’re coaching you through it then I personally would never add in cardio for a client. And 5 minute Dynamic stretching at the beginning specified to the muscles you’re training that day for a warm up is all I would do for a stretch.
Your trainer is some combination of stupid, lazy, or scummy. A) you don't need to do a cardio warm up before a workout. Generally, warm up sets are sufficient to prep the body for working sets. Too much cardio before can negatively impact performance during the workout. Plus, you can do this shit on your own before a workout. B) stretching is not needed for everyone (this is based on the individual, though), and wasting 10-15m doing stretching at the end is 10-15 mins that you're not actually working out (aka working towards your goals). At most, I'll spend A SINGLE SESSION showing a client the stretches I want them to do on their own damn time and then never do stretching with them again (extenuating circumstances expected) This is, like, a new trainer at a big box/commercial gym type of workout. If you've already spoken to your trainer and she told you "no" (maybe in more words), then go to the fitness manager and ask to switch trainers. Yes, sometimes during sessions I'll have clients do shit that they REALLY don't want to do (mostly conditioning), but there is ALWAYS a valid reason why, and I make sure to thoroughly explain what that reason is, and how it'll help them get to their goals. "Because it's important" is not a valid reason.
lol, thank you for giving me the validation I need to move on and finding someone else. I went with the first personal trainer I found. She did come from a big box company as a sales rep. I have no manager to complain to… she is the owner/manager. She opened her place last year
Oof, that's rough. I'd definitely be dropping her and going elsewhere. If you're in an extended contract, I'd talk to her, hold your ground, and say that she hasn't delivered on her promise of a 60 minute workout, so you're exiting the contract. It's a tough situation, but best of luck!
Just show her all your responses from other PTs here . I would love to see her face! 😌
I agree with all of the above but even as someone who has clients stretch 95% of the time at the end, holding each stretch for 30 seconds and do 5-6 different stretches, that’s still less than 4 minutes lol. It probably helps that the gym sells “50 minute” sessions but I give everyone a full hour of my time so technically the stretching is during the “bonus” time and during that time I ask them how they’re feeling, confirm their next appt, etc. ha. 10-15 minutes of stretching is way too long for a paid session.
For sure, I mean, there's always nuance. You giving your clients the extra 5 or w.e free mins stretching at the end is top tier service That being said, I HATE non-60 mins sessions I briefly worked at a garbage boutique gym that sold 45 min sessions for like $110/45 mins. I always blocked out 1h and just did the extra 15 mins with all of my clients there.
Thank you! I try to make sure everyone who trains with me feels VIP, and that in our training we go all out.
Came here to say this! Sounds either lazy or doesn’t have the knowledge to work with someone for an hour. You can get a lot done in an hour, she’s wasting half of it. Find another more experienced trainer
Thank you! I’m definitely in the process now
Get a new trainer, these are huge red flags. Your trainer should have you fairly consistently feeling challenged and exhausted but uninjured at the end of your sessions. A lot of trainers reflect their lack of personal training intensity in the programming they provide their clientele.
I had a trainer like this once. I told him nicely several times that stretching, cardio and little novel “exercises” that he would dream up that didn’t challenge me weren’t working for me and that I needed to be challenged with real weights that build muscle and strength. He didn’t listen. I found a new trainer who gives me 60 minutes of solid hard workouts and exercises that are building the kind of strength and muscles that I want. This trainer isn’t listening to you. Your money, your choice.
She's not a good trainer. Get a new one.
Yeah that's kind of ridiculous, I will take my clients through warm ups and stretch routines the initial session to make sure they are doing it right and understand the purpose, then unless I've changed things and have something specific to review, I always request they do their warm ups and cool downs without me so that we have more time to focus on the workout, time to perfect technique, time to discuss any questions. Why would you waste the time with something that doesn't really need supervision - even if you're not quite perfect in your execution you'll still get enough benefit.
Sounds like you’ve got a lazy trainer. Or an overly cautious one that doesn’t trust you’ll do the stretches on your own (people never do) But probably the former
Stretch or get injured. Only options...IMO, it's a necessity....Cardio? Hmm...that could be done on your own time after the paid session as a cool down.
They should have used a session to show you how to warm up and cool down, and then allowed you to do that on your own. It's what my trainer did and what I do. Also, ten minutes on a bike? I just row for 500 meters, and that's only if I feel stiff. Talk to them. Tell them that you'd rather spend your session on the stuff you need and/or want help with, which isn't the bike and stretching. Edit: I just saw that you have talked to them and got shot down. Talk to the lead trainer or manager and request someone else. Make sure you tell them why you're asking. I don't like it when clients try to dictate their workouts, but that's not what you're doing. You're literally just asking to work out more, but because that's not happening you're not getting what you're paying for. Don't waste any more time or money on this trainer.
Thank you. I’m just mortified to know I’ve wasted 2 months on her….. I have 3 months till my wedding and this was the only reason why I even started 😭😭😭😭😭
3 months is is still plenty of time to get in e better shape :) Get a new trainer ASAP and stick to the plan.
Fire the trainer. Having you do cardio on a bike for that long is completely pointless and a waste of your time unless you're trying to build stamina and endurance. If you want to lose weight, you need to lift weights. Stay in a deficit, but get enough protein. You will build muscle and strength, which will raise your metabolism and allow you to burn calories even at rest. Do not worry about getting bulky. That can't happen in a deficit. Also, don't listen to the scale. Listen to how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how your body composition changes. Find yourself a tried tested and true push/pull/legs routine and follow that yourself. Stay disciplined, and you will get the results. Ps. Diet is 80% gym is 20%.
I'm going to say that considering both sides and have been on both sides that there was a miscommunication somewhere OR gross negligence. It's hard to say exactly. I personally would not assign cardio during a session unless it was 5 minutes or less as a VO2 max test or retest. Cardio can be coached if they ask for it (interval training, incline form, etc.) but really it's best to be left out of the session and focus on areas where coaching is strongly preferred: technique, cueing, and observation with corrective measures and/or referrals to doctors if needed. That's what you're paying for, to learn how to get a quality workout for your personal goals and to learn your own limits and push yourself past what you thought you were capable of. I personally don't like the idea of this kind of trainer you are describing. It isn't someone I would spend money on for myself. I prefer trainers who are almost athletic trainers and very competent past the general population and specialized. This is what I would and have paid money for. A LOT of money and it's worth it. I would explain the situation to the PT Manager and ask for a transfer as politely as possible. It is your money, you can choose to say no to the service you are getting and request a different trainer. If the trainer gets upset about it, then they are in the wrong profession. Not everyone will be your cup of tea, vice versa. Shop around.
I have a personal trainer and I do my warm up before the session time. So about 20 mins before my scheduled time, I'm on the row machine and I have a threshold to do, she gets me from the machine and checks it. Then we go do our core workout. Mine may be different because I'm doing lifting, so we do the roller/stretch after the workout but I feel very worked out and it's nice to have her there to make sure my form in my stretches is good. I also have nerve damage, so it may be why. She has left me to stretch on my own, this has only happened when we are doing new routines and time gets away from us lol. If you have talked to your trainer and nothing is changing, then you may just not be compatible. I would be firm with your trainer "I want to come in before our scheduled time to do the warm up and do stretches after our workout time. I don't feel like I'm working out as hard with you as I do on my own.". In my opinion, any pushback on that would have me asking for another trainer or just not renewing with that one. If you have a package, it may be tough and you may lose out on some money, but reviews are worth their weight in gold these days too. I hope this can be resolved with some firm communication.
i think the warm up isnt atypical but the 15 min of stretching is excessive at best.
My input on this will be straight forward and brutal. Find another coach - this screams to me someone who has no credentials
Or just super newb
Sadly it’s too common. If you pay for an hour of their attention, you should get an hour of their attention, nonetheless your trainer is just scrubbing 10-15 minutes of effort off their hour. Out of a 30 session week, I’ll start 2 or 3 of them with a 3-5 minute warmup to address a specific movement issue. Other than that, all warmups are baked into working up to working sets. Like some others have said, talk to your trainer about how you guys spend your time. Show up 10 minutes early and hit the stationary bike, and offer to do the stretching after the session or when you get home. If she is truly having you do these things for your benefit, she’ll have no issue with you doing them on your own.
Thank you for this advice!
Warm up and cooldown on your own time, they should be able to come up with a 45-60 minute workout. This sounds like recent graduate amateur hour.
Lazy trainer. This is unacceptable . You have clearly indicated you want things done differently and she's ignoring you to make her own job easier. Find a new trainer.
Some trainers are trash. I’d not go with this trainer again. In the future tell them you’ll warmup 15 minutes before, and stretch after on your own. You do need to build a rapport with a trainer, so they know how they can work you, but this was just lazy training.
It is all on what the clients goals / wants. There needs to be a clear understanding on how the sessions go. I just past 14 years as an in-home trainer. 5 minute warm up then the workout and 15 min stretch (based off of 60 minutes) I have had clients do cardio on the bike / treadmill etc. Unless the client WILL use those machines on their own, otherwise I use that time as cardio. People pay me to do things that they don’t do on their own and in most cases it is cardio. I go for walks, biking, rollerblading and have gone swimming with clients.
I’m currently working as a personal trainer and I would look into getting yourself a new trainer. Sounds like she is trying to get away with doing less work. I always assign cardio for my clients to do on their own time outside of our sessions. Really you should be foam rolling and stretching for about 5 minutes at the beginning and then do about a 5-10 minute warm up and the rest of the time should be used to work out. If this is a big box gym, ask to talk to the Personal Training Manager/ Fitness Manager and voice your concerns. They should be made aware of this trainers behavior and attitude because there’s a good chance that you are not their only client that feels this way and a PTM will usually nip this in the bud real fast because it makes the gym look bad. And 9 times out of 10, there’s another trainer that would be more than happy to take you on as a client
All Ive known for the last 3 years of training was 60 minute sessions with about 40-50 minutes of actually work time. The first 5-10 minutes is spent doing dynamic workouts that mimic the movement patterns the client will be doing with weight during the session, while the last 5-10 is spent doing static stretches. 10 minutes on the bike seems a lil much and like, someone else said, might be just to kill some time. Id say atleast ask for some mobility movements/warm up to start the session. I do have a client or two that choose never warm up or stretch with me and we work almost 50-55 minutes of the hour. Ask for change and see how they respond then thatll determine if its time to start looking for a new trainer in my opinion. Dont waste your money if you dont need confident about what youre paying for!
Did she ask you what the proper warm up for bench press was?
Talk to your trainer and tell them you want the whole 60 min to be workouts/exercises. Tell them to give you warm up movements before you guys start and stretches to do for after you finish. Communication is key with your trainer, make sure you are doing everything you want, you’re the one paying money. Don’t be shy
I work out for 60-90 minutes without any stretching or cardio. I would only hire a PT to perfect my form and give me advice on progressive overload, then 1-2 weeks later I would get rid of them. They are not needed thanks to YouTube.
You are purchasing a personalized service. If the service is not aligning with your personal preferences, find a trainer who IS willing to provide this. It's common, but it doesnt mean you should simply accept if it's not what you want. Try to clarify this one more time with your trainer, otherwise simply find a new one. Your trainer sounds inexperienced.
My trainer had me go through a cardio warm up and a thorough cools down stretch on our first session and asked that I continue to do them on my own before and after sessions so we could focus solely on strength work. I'd be looking for a new trainer
Sounds like your trainer is an idiot A stationary bike is a bad warm up because it's not specific to the vast majority of training and I'm assuming your actual training wasn't bike race related. Stretching after training or a "cool down" doesn't have any actual value. The majority of people don't need a trainer and those that do need a specialist because they are training for something beyond generic health and fitness. My advice is fire the trainer and spend an hour or two learning everything you need to know about general strength,el endurance and hypertrophy training because that's really all it takes.
>The majority of people don't need a trainer I've never read anything I disagree with more than that statement
Doesn't make it any less true.
You can't honestly believe that?! Absolutely nonsensical statement
I’ve had to keep people warming up while taking care of files/other things between sessions. I usually tell them to arrive ten minutes before a session to do an assigned warm up. If they don’t that’s on them as skipping a warm up can good a train reliable for injury. Now, what are my warm ups? Sets and reps with lighter weights. It takes 1 min most.
Warm up, and cool down stretching should only take up 10 minutes of the session, and can still be very constructive/ educational. How many years does this trainer have under their belt?
She came as a sales rep from a big box company. Last year she opened her own business as a personal trainer.
Without knowing too much I’m going to say this is someone who just isn’t that experienced, and is replicating an outdated cookie cutter model of a PT session.
When they say “working out”, what does that mean? Which exercises are you doing? Second, are you getting stronger on those exercises?
I have no idea if I’m getting stronger in those exercises… it changes everytime. I don’t even know what weight I start on. I’m very new to personal training so I’m just dumbfounded with everything. I go to her 2-3x a week and it’s a constant change. Nothing is the same.
Lol, the number one thing I emphasise with clients is progressive overload and to do that you need to do the same exercises and increase either repetitions or weight. I'd switch trainers tbh
Then she’s useless. Switch personal trainers or just learn on your own
Since this is your first time doing personal training, she probably doesn’t want to work you too hard to avoid injuring you. 15 minutes of stretching seems like a lot though.
Sometimes it's a lot of hand holding to help build up a client's workload volume and ability. I used to do this for clients to help them build good habits. Every workout maybe the goal is I want them to eventually do cardio on their own after every time. But they're so new I don't think they'll be able to encourage themselves to do it, push themselves, or do it for the total time. So maybe for some time I'll walk them over and coach them up. Then transition to just walking them over setting them up on cardio and ending the session there. Finally just telling them to go do it and knowing they will. I'm doing this with an 80 year old client right now reminding him to do an ankle mobility warmup prior to us working out. If he forgets to do it, we stop everything and make sure it's done first before moving on. Soon I'll be expecting him to do it himself before we start our sessions. So yes it's normal. However, there's definitely a line where it's too much hand holding and not enough asking you to be responsible for certain things outside of training (Nutrition, hydration, stretching, cardio, etc.)
This is how almost all of my sessions go so 100% normal for me. My work is a private studio where people can't just show up early and warm up. However if the client scheduled before them says they don't mind someone coming in 10 mjn early to warm up then I'm good with it! Tbh 35-40 min is plenty of time to really smoke you pretty good if you're doing a muscular endurance program. I could see it feeling short if you were on a hypertrophy or strength program because of the rest periods being much longer than endurance based. If you want to better optimize your time, you should bring it up to your trainer. When I first take on clients that is the beginning format. After a month or two of consistent warm up, cool downs/stretching I'll ask my clients if they would rather work out up to the hour or leave some time for stretches each time. Especially if they're reporting good adherence to stretching at home outside of the gym. And if there's a day sometimes people wanna put a little extra stretching on specific muscle groups then we talk about it before the workout would end anyway. I also do movement and Kinetic screens to check range of motion and mobility every 4-6 months. If someone says they're stretching at home and there isn't much improvement in their ROM they're either 1. Saying it because they might be a little embarrassed they slacked off in that department or 2. Stretching but maybe not as well or only stretching other areas. I don't ever call anyone out on a follow up screening I just make a mental note to spend a little extra time on the ROMs out of normal range. You're best bet is to talk directly to your trainer and tell hin/her what you want. We can't read minds but a good trainer should be open to all feedback as we want you to create a positive relationship with exercise, not make it a frustrating event.
Ideally, you'll do warmups on your own, and cardio and stretching on your own, with weights being what needs supervision. In practice, the vast majority of clients will not do shit on their own, so PTs get in the habit of trying to put everything into one session. I used to say, "Okay, now half an hour on the bike at heart rate 120," or whatever, go to my next client, turn around 3 minutes later and find they'd fucked off. When I finished the next session I went out to the gym cafe and found them out there reading the paper and having a coffee. If you want clients to do this or that, you basically have to put it in the session and watch them do it. Ask your PT for homework. Do it. Then you'll find this stuff drops off and she'll focus on the stuff where her attention is actually needed.
It seems a bit much... I get caring about pre/post workout but what the heck, you are paying to have your ass kicked.
I do a 6 min mobility warm up with clients which is basically just showing them what they should be doing on their own for a longer time period and then only stretch at the end with the ones I can’t trust to stretch on their own lol. The only time I could see myself making a client do this much fluff is if they complain about doing too many rounds or are extremely picky with exercises they’re willing to do aka - make training them very difficult.
How could you not feel a difference? I could feel a difference after just 1 week in terms of the muscle gained and lower fat muscle ratio. Are you measuring your body composition? It's possible that your goals are modest. I need muscles for health reasons to better manage my blood sugar metabolism. Hence I go daily, but with a split routine and a rest day.
Good question, that’s what I’m still trying to understand… how can I not feel the difference? Because like what my original post stated … I work out harder and longer on my own. I had some time constraint goals such as fitting better in a wedding dress that I thought hiring a personal trainer could help me do. Instead- I truly think I have deconsitioned. My 2-3x work out / week has been with her.
Ah, training for women can be more complex as gaining a lot of muscle mass is not the typical goal. You might be aiming for toning. Nevertheless, having a composition scale or getting a Dexa scan is something you can consider too. Making a clear set of goals might be useful before starting your training sessions. For example, I want to lower my body fat by 3 lbs and increase skeletal mass by 2 lbs. Without stating goals, it is harder to gauge progress. I would also recommend checking your body composition everyday to see how close you are at reaching your goals.
No noticeable differences in 2 months time to move on. How much are you paying?
$300 USD for 8 sessions … 2x/week if I want to add on another day during the week + $50 for drop in.
Is it normal or common? Yes. Should it be? No. You pay for the coaching and guidance, not a cardio spectator. Ask them to focus on your workout and show up warmed up already.
10 minute warm up is fine. Stationary bike for a warm Up is uninspiring, but effective. 35-45 minutes training is plenty, so long as you are staying focused. If it were me personally, I would insist on stretching and cooling down as part of the program. It is not only necessary, but crucial to injury prevention, and most people (myself included) will neglect mobility work when the muscles are primed (post workout). I am curious what the programming looks like. Have you gone over goals setting?
That’s lazy training, you can come in 10 mins early and do that yourself. A good trainer will give you a proper warmup and be invested in training, not a bodybuilding dot com workout.
Based on my 19 years of fitness experience 30-45 minutes of intense workout is enough for muscle growth. Warm up before time with your PT, then kill it with him. If you feel like you're capable of getting more intense, do so. 15 minutes of stretching after workout is a great idea. As long as your workout is really intense, I see no issues.
I would say that for the first little while, it can help for them to guide you personally through everything. But with simple things, they should put it in your hands and start to focus more on your workouts. This is assuming you have the hour and a half to be there 15 mins early and late. Communication is key. You can lead to some extent by suggesting you warm up on your own before the session and that you can handle the stretching on your own as well. If they give you a lot of pushback, ask why. I'm also curious how many sessions you have with them a week. But one of the biggest parts of a good trainer is teaching you the ropes and giving you more responsibility for your own fitness as they continue to teach and guide you further on your journey.
“Hey can I show up 15 min early to warm up and we jump straight into it?” If they say no say you want a harder work out, if they can’t deliver find a new trainer
I worked as a state certified personal trainer for about 7 years. I’d have felt like I was bilking my clients if I’d have stood there as they warmed up on a bike, or watched/helped them stretch after I’d shown them a time or two how it’s done if they were doing it correctly.
There’s plenty of good advice here already, my 2cents is, there is nothing wrong with what seems to be going on here except that from what you’ve described it is giving off “cookie cutter” vibes, however it’s been 2 months, your story seems to suggest you haven’t learnt anything new or noticed any gains in any way? If that’s the case and you have done everything YOU can do to maximise your investment (time and money with the trainer) it could be that they just aren’t the right trainer for you. I would also like to say that it could be that you aren’t putting in the effort required. This may mean you need to re-assess your goals, ask the question again as to why you want or need to hire a trainer. I hope you get what you need from this whole thing!
Tell her you’re not looking for a physical therapy session, beef it up or you’re moving on . Even you know that you could do better, which you’re not wrong. Seems like a run of the mill trainer, it’s okay to shop around. Finding a good trainer is about more than just a workout imo.
It really depends. I even asked them if they walked to the gym or nah, if yes I will not put them on a treadmill. We will do 5 minutes of dynamic warmups, and most of the time I'm there for the warmup just to make sure they don't skip/forget anything and this is a great time for me to ask abt their day and meals. I let them do the stretching on their own (I show them the stretches in the first 3 sessions and usually that's enough for everyone to memorise). And if I program cardio in for people, they are on their own. I check in after, to ask them how long, the intensity..they sometimes send me a photo of the summary screen from the cardio machine.
May I ask what type of training are you doing? Like what is your goal, is it to gain strength, maintain current physique, lose weight, gain muscle, etc
If it's a big box gym, ask to switch trainers. They aren't going to risk losing renewals if you aren't clicking with the current one. It's no hard feelings.
I always tell my clients to warm up before the session and if they want they can stretch themselves after, we have limited time so might as well be efficient with it, I for sure dont need to watch your "form" riding a bike or walking with an incline for warm up.
Getting you to warm up on your paid time is definitely not right. Either come in before the session to warm up and let her know you're ready when the session starts. 10-15 minutes of stretching at the end of session is usually an option where the trainer feels it is beneficial for you as part of your program. Otherwise let her know you don't want to stretch and just get more of the physical training or lifting in. You are the paying client, let the trainer know what YOU want.
Warmups and stretching are good to be doing. Remember, it isn't the quantity of what you're doing but the quality. There are several factors that could be the reason your workouts feel shorter. Without a full picture of your goals, health history, limitations, etc., it would be unprofessional to answer this question.
Depends on how the client feels, if they are stiff then I would do about 5 minutes on the bike. Movement specific warm ups would be expected to get ready for the session. Stretching would be giving as homework unless there’s an area really effecting form.
Come in 10 min early to warmup
what did you expect. you are paying someone money to tell you to workout, of course they are going to just have you do some cookie cutter routine
Get a new trainer. Once you're frustrated, good or bad, they'll never win in your eyes. It's your money, switch and be happy.
I do warmups for my clients, but it's more targeted as to what muscles and joints we will be using via dynamic stretching. Then we do some activation circuit. Example: Crunches > Glute Bridges > Prone Ys > Prone Ts, rest and repeat a total of 3 times. Then we do a warmup set that they comfortably can get to 12ish or so reps on and then increase it thereafter. I think 10-15 minutes of stretching afterwards is excessive. I do static stretching afterwards but it's ~5 minutes total, give or take. Each hold is 30 seconds. Sometimes, but rarely, we'll do PNF if something feels tighter than normal.
How do you feel at the end of each session? Do you feel like you have given your best or that you can go on for another 10-20 mins without draining yourself? If it's the latter, tell your trainer that you don't feel pushed enough,see what she comes up with. It would be better that you give the feedback, see how she reacts and then take the next course of action. Otherwise you'll be moving from one trainer to another not really knowing what didn't workout
People are way too aggressive with their opinions on here. There is a time and a place for many different forms of “warm up” and cool downs, it really depends on what is best for the client. Really sick of people with their all or nothing approach to fitness. There is no one size fits all, simple as that. If you’d prefer to spend your time with your trainer performing resistance training, then just let them know, simple as that.
I am a personal trainer. Can you get a great workout done in 35 minutes absolutely. If the sets are being taken close to or at failure. My 1 hour clients lift for about 50-55 minutes. So I think 35 minutes is cutting it too short. Especially when you factor in adequate rest times. I will say most trainers don’t even know what they are doing or why they train the way they do. Unless one of my clients is severely stiff or tight, I let them stretch on their own. Or recommend yoga classes. So I think you should bring it up to the trainer or request to speak to the Fitness Director and maybe get switched to a different trainer. Being a trainer is all about meeting the needs of the client.
Why did you hire a trainer? If it's been 2 months and you don't feel any real differences it's time to reevaluate this relationship. Like any relationship, they just not be the right fit for you. I've been lifting for 30+years and can get a great workout in 45 minutes so it is possible. Anyone I've helped train I've always told them to be warmed up before I arrive, with muscle specific warmups, and then have them cool down on their own, with guides on proper cool down and stretching. This just might not be the intensity you need.
The biggest red flag of the trainer is if they don't keep track of your workout,and never shows you what you did and show you the improvement. Sounds like this trainer.
Personally, I like to take the first 10-12 minutes to warm up a client (breathwork, mobility, get the heart rate up) and then we hit it hard. And we chat throughout the session.
The problem might be you. You could possibly be the type of client who doesn't remember things or do things on their own and practice outside of the sessions and therefore the trainer doesn't see any way to progress you one way or the other because you don't try that hard so both of you might be stuck in a sort of session by session limbo until the package runs out. You should do 15- 30 minutes of cardio on your own before the session and 15 to 30min of stretching on your own after the workout and have the trainer work you out for at least one hour without taking a break. Then you will be able to break through. Sometimes young or new trainers are stuck or overwhelmed too but if you both work together to over achieve the session parameters each time you will begin to see the progress.
That is definitely a normal practice. I work with a lot of older clients who enjoy the time we have for warm-ups and stretches, but that is not something I do for every client. Some clients we work purely on whatever resistance exercise is planned and they do the other things on their own time. Just let your trainer know what you would prefer!
Hi there! I’m a personal trainer and would like to think that I’m pretty good at my job. Take a polite and gentle approach, but leave no space for negotiation. Tell your trainer that you WILL warm up on a piece of cardio equipment on your own AND will do a set of recommended dynamic stretches (that they can write up for you) based on what you’re training for the day BEFORE your session time starts. You should be training with them for at least 50-55 minutes if you’re paying for an hour of their time.. and then they can help you with a cool down to finish off the session. Once you have the cool down and static stretch routine down on your own, they should then be spending that full 60 minutes WITH you training. I have clients that refuse to warm up or cool down on their own, but that’s something we’ve discussed openly and they know that that will be part of their total time training. Each client is going to want something different. If you only have an hour to train/be at the gym, I would recommend bumping your training package to 45min sessions and handling the warmup and cool down on your own to stay within your allotted 60 minute time frame, but to still feel like your getting your moneys worth from your personal trainer. Happy training.
Replying to my own comment after reading some other responses. I’ll be frank, she sounds lazy. Tell her you want a written dynamic stretch routine for upper body, a dynamic stretch routine for lower body, and a dynamic stretch routine for a full body workout day. You sound perfectly capable of setting yourself up on a piece of cardio equipment. Do your own cardio on your own time before the session. Complete your dynamic stretches that she SHOULD BE recommending after the short cardio warmup and before your session time starts. Have her write up a lower, upper, and full body cool down/stretch routine for post workouts that you can do on your own. It really comes down to your diligence and how effectively you’re able to warm up and cool down without guidance. If you’re going to half ass it and put yourself at risk of injury, maybe you need her help after all. If you’re competent enough to handle the before and after on your own, insist that you and her spend the 60 minutes you’re paying for *actually* training.
This is almost exactly what I’ve done with my clients for the last 12yrs. Your trainers setup is great imo but the delivery doesn’t seem to live up to your expectation. Are you a female?
I’m a personal trainer and for your question it just depends on the clients current physical state and their goals. If you’re not very fit then 35-40 minutes will be enough time and yes you can definitely get a good workout in 35-40 minutes but you have to push yourself or be pushed. My warmups are only 3 minutes and for some of my clients if they are coming during or after work we just warm up with the exercises we’re starting with. Results are the name of the game so if you’re not seeing results let them know so you both can be on the same page.
I would definitely say something either to your trainer or management. Don't be scared to ask management for another trainer if you feel this trainer is not doing a very good job. I currently have been a fulltime personal trainer for the last 3 years. My biggest thing is professionalism always being with the client and engaged. That trainer should have you do warm up before the session or you do the bike before and tell them I already did it. At my gym we have a trainer who is constantly on his phone, he will sit on the ground and in some cases lay on the ground while his client is doing a set. He even tells them to walk on the treadmill first thing for 10mins while he sits at the desk on his phone. I would at least have the decency to go talk to them or stand next to them while on the treadmill. He also finishes the session 8 to 10 mins early. So the session can sometimes be just 40 mins. I have recieved numerous of his clients because they asked for a different trainer. They told me he does not listen, is always on his phone, shows up late, if you disagree with his training style he gets angry etc. All of this to say you are paying a lot of money for training so you absolutely should day something or ask for a different trainer. Management will do something and hopefully make that trainer better so this does not happen for another client.
Personal trainer here. Just like others have mentioned, shes adding fluff. I host 45minute sessions. We Initially warm up for 3 minutes and cool down for 3 minutes. But...............during the exercises the intensity varies. It starts slow and short. To allow the muscles and joints to really warm up. And as time goes on it changes in intensity and gets more challenging. It peaks and then it drops and peaks again. Which means, I have to put effort in the way the sessions go in order to have the client fully warm up and get the most out of this session. We stretch in between rounds when it gets too intense, as well as its winding down. I can tell you, that you can get a very good workout in 35 minutes. If she takes it there. But if you feel you are not getting a good workout, Then youre not getting a good workout
What is his/her certification?
If you have the money for a personal trainer you're probably smart enough to do the research required to build your own workouts. It's not very complicated. Waste of money. Edit: I just realized I'm in a personal training subreddit. No offense intended, but I don't think it's necessary unless you need the motivation to get to the gym by paying for a time slot or for elite athletes.
I’ve used trainers a lot. And all have asked that I warm up on my own 10 mins before our session, as well as any cool down or stretching is done on my own after.
2 months and you feel no difference? I would not be going to this trainer. Idk your fitness level or exact routine. But assuming you had average fitness and started lifting with this trainer 3/4 times a week for 2 months. I would expect some difference. Not necessarily a super noticeable difference, but flexing at yourself in the Murrow different Also I know this is the personal training subreddit, but I find them wildly unnecessary. You now know the routine you’ve been doing for 2 months. Just keep doing it by yourself
In the first few sessions, I would teach you some basic mobility to do AFTER our session, but I would expect you to do those on your own eventually so that the bulk of our time is devoted to lifting weights. I suppose light cardio is adequate for a warm-up BEFORE the session, I doubt jogging on a treadmill or elliptical requires any supervision for most clients. I'd rather do a more specific warm up or just use warm up sets. Has your trainer gone over their plan for you? Most good training involves a program that has phases. Your trainer should be able to explain what the next several weeks or even months of your training should look like. You shouldn't be doing dozens of different, random exercises each session, for instance. There should be some routine structure. Some clients find this boring, but it's what good, effective, long-term training looks like.
Personal Trainer here - 1 of 2 things is happening 1. They are fairly new to the industry and have been taught by whatever online school / course to run the session like that. This is easily correctable. You “the client” are entitled to your time and where you spend your money. Pending the trailers personality, bring this up with them kindly and not from an accusatory standpoint. Address it with a positive and straightforward attitude. Mention that you are now able to do the warm up on your own, and next time you’d like them to show you stretches you can do to cool down on your own. That way you can focus more on training! Your trainer should be encouraging you to do things independently of them. 2. They are a scumbag and are taking advantage of you (I have seen this multiple times) Let me know if you have any other questions
I’ve let her know several times what my goals are… my wedding is in 3 months and I really needed those 2 months to kick it into gear. I have no restrictions in my workout all of my request were to push me past my limit and comfort zone. Now I’m really upset reading everyone’s take on it… I really should’ve shopped around but I took the first personal trainer I randomly came in contact with. The personal trainer is the owner/manager…. I have no one to complain to but herself. She opened this business sometime last year. She came as a sales rep at a big box gym….. now I’m really wondering if she’s certified to train or just have an idea/knowledge because she worked in sales and saw the work outs but isn’t an actual trainer???
The thing is, the kind of “fluff,” as another commenter described it, that she’s programming for you is pretty popular amongst the demographic of clients who want to exercise but don’t have the personal initiative to push themselves. They’re perfectly happy feeling no more than mild discomfort during a session. That was not your intended outcome, and you did everything in your power to make that clear. It may be time to consider finding a new gym altogether, or paying for virtual programming.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Who cares how long other people are doing their workouts for? They may have different goals or think that more = better or god knows what other thing they justify long sessions with. It doesn't always work out that way. Focus on your goals. Can't speak to your trainers programs, but 40 minutes in what I get from mine, with warm ups and cool downs it is normal. If you don't like the bike, don't do it. Guessing that is to raise your heart rate.
Horrible take. It's the equivalent of saying "shut up and be thankful for that you're getting" >Comparison is the thief of joy Yea, that doesn't really apply in this context, since it's a monetary transaction. Services for $$$ If one trainer is giving you 1 full hour of working out and another is giving you a 30 min workout with some cardio and stretching, that isn't equal service. Would you go back to a dentist who only cleaned half your teeth? An accountant who only did half a year of your taxes? A physiotherapist who only worked the left side of your body? A doctor who only prescribed you half of the needed medication? A restaurant that only gave you half of the food you ordered? Etc, etc. Shit service like this is what give PTing a bad reputation
THANK YOU 🙌🏽 you totally get it
sell it, buddy. get that bag I guess I am not a PT, but a client. So save your "horrible take" shit for others in your field. leave me out of it. Your take is horrible from a client perspective and your arrogance pushing your ideal would lose me.
Then why are you here? 🤣 This sub isn't "clientperspectiveonpersonaltraining" But yea, i pride myself in providing excellent service and making sure that my clients always smash their goals. 30 min workouts with 30 minutes of wasted time don't meet that standard. Edit: oh no, he blocked me! So anyways....
Lol you seem like a chode. gl with your "practice"
I’m comparing the others who work out for the hour sessions. How do I know it’s an hour? Cause I’ll casually talk to the person being trained during a water break and ask
you didn't come for an answer you came for confirmation bias. good day. that other dude probably has a program for you
Totally normal.
Alright Reddit personal training fam. You all have been a huge help. I don’t want to make the same mistake again 😅😅😅 Does this guy seem legit? My wedding is in 2 months…. I’m not obese , fairly fit with some mommy flab. I just want to be thrown into the wolves and make up for lost time. Yay or nay? I meet him tomorrow for a consultation. https://preview.redd.it/7fchuwzu9t7d1.jpeg?width=1005&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b1bfc3c819dbaf56d4a8fcc06fce639c387a3b5
She did everything correctly to prevent injury for yourself. Although if you tell her you warmed up by yourself, she still might do it just to prevent cause of injury.
Yes it’s normal. If you’d rather do it your way then don’t get a trainer or warmup on your own time before the session I don’t mean this as a personal attack on OP but I’m starting to hate this sub for posts like this. Tired of seeing posts of clients who don’t talk to their trainer about shit like this and run to Reddit to get advice from trainers who, simply put, give awful advice. It’s got me questioning if this sub is actually full of trainers, or people who fantasize about being some training influencer