Quote (dirTyMan @ 7 Mar 2017 19:45)
I agree with you.
When I said trainer/coach I meant someone who is a certified strength and conditioning coach with years of experience, with containing education.
I guess this will vary based on location so if you don't have a reputable gym to go then I understand using the other options suggested in this thread.
I train at a gym where the owner has worked with pro athletes and learned from those who have so he isn't an average joe with a basic pt cert.
It's safe to say that finding good information on fitness is like finding a needle in a haystack. Usually, someone with more certs and XP is going to be a better trainer/coach than someone without any certs at all, yet there are some truly legit gym bros out there who basically grew up lifting in their mom's basements. Actually, I got my start in my mom's basement, lifting and reading my Bible (a.k.a. Arnold's Encylopedia of Modern Bodybuilding), along with a book on vitamins. That was it, except for a stack of bodybuilding magazines. Back then most kids had no internet access, no interest in the library, and very few other lifters to follow and learn from. It was only later than I started to learn in a more formal, professional way. Even in high school, the guys I lifted with would just share secrets and theories. Looking back, I can say that I learned a lot of great information back then. I was wise enough to filter out bad ideas and test out questionable ideas.
Even now I find guys quoting from journals and bragging about their certs who spout absolute nonsense--just fashionable bullshit. Maybe that's the best tip we can give a new lifter: if it's fashionable, if it's for sale, there's a 99% chance it's useless bullshit. If it's testable, if it makes sense, or if the science is actually good and the experiments are well-designed, OK now we have a lead.
Where I think we agree is that
it's really important to get the best possible information available on the level at which you're ready to receive it. I still learn new stuff all the time, and I'm absolutely fascinated by how mcuh good information is out there, waiting for support and confirmation
This post was edited by RewtheBrave on Mar 7 2017 06:59pm