Would you hire a personal trainer (PT) if he/she were out of shape?  I know I wouldn’t.  I have a motto that I use: “I don’t take advice from anyone that’s in worse shape than I am.”

The personal trainer I’m referring to actually works at the gym I belong to.  He’s actually a very bright guy when it comes to fitness.  I’ve spoken to him on many occasions and must say he understands nutrition and the art of lifting.  When I tore my rotator cuff, he came in with a bunch of printouts on how to perform the physical therapy to rehabilitate it.  For all you doctors out there, my MRI showed it was only a grade one tare and didn’t require surgery so I didn’t want to hear that a rotator cuff can’t be rehabilitated.

Anyway, I just can’t see myself getting advice from someone that can’t practice what he preaches.  I’ve watched him train members and feel they’re not getting their monies worth.  While the member is performing their set, the PT is just staring around the gym and never critiquing their form.  The member is doing nothing more than going through the motions.

On the flip side of this story is the other trainer that is probably in his mid fifties and is ripped beyond belief.  I’ve known this guy since I was about 18 years old….that’s 30 years ago!!!! (Damn, now I feel old).

The latter PT comes in every morning and makes his client work, and I mean work!  If they are late, he rips them apart and reminds them on why it’s important to be on time.  The former PT could care less, he’s still getting paid.  In the end, it shows which trainer makes the difference.  After about a 2-3 month difference, it’s clear by looking at the client and seeing their progress.  They lost fat and are more muscular.

And for you ladies out there, I don’t mean muscular as in female bodybuilding.  Most women are afraid they’ll “get big.”  It doesn’t happen.   But then again that’s another story.

If you want to lose weight by hiring a personal trainer, my recommendation would be to find one that is in good shape and then watch how he trains his/her clients.  If the PT is enthusiastic and gung ho, then, he/she may be the one to hire.
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Loukas
“No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” – Abraham Lincoln

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