1st, $30/h is a pretty cheap PT -- I don't mean that in a bad way. Choosing a PT is about choosing someone whom you feel can change you. If your PT can't provide you with added motivation/coaching, knowledge and results that meet your needs, there's no point in it. I am a PT and I'd say at least 90% of the PTs I know/have met really aren't that good. I've seen their techniques, I've seen them in action, I've trained them, etc.. That's not to say great PTs don't exist. I've met several of them, too. But chances are, if you don't see something special in the PT, it's not going to be worth your time. And that's much more important than your money.

Here's another alternative:



- do you like the PT?
- are you sure the PT knows stuff that leads to results? tons of PTs can tell you their BS for hours and make it sound compelling, but are they any good?

My pt works at my university. All pts there charge $30-$41/hour depending upon the package you buy (you can pay for 1 session, several or 20). They also all have degrees on top of their certifications which IMO is an added bonus.

In my personal opinion a man with his knowledge would probably be safe to at least try for a session or two. Even if the workouts themselves aren't anything too special I am sure he can give you the motivation or wake up call in an area that can help you improve your physique.

THe fact that he made such a comment about making sure to train all 3 types of fibers as if they're recruited independently of one another would already make me leery of his education.

Based on your goals i would say you could spare the money and do it on your own.

Trainer being there with you is unnecessary and much more money imo
especially assuming you're paying you should work out with adequate intensity and form, etc. That shouldn't be a problem.

Thus, the real benefit would be keeping up with them to tweak your routine, diet, etc

Lol really though

PTs are great for learning the lifts and etc... but we can't help you with your specifics. I'm a certified PT and the only reason I can help with powerlifting is because I'm also a high level powerlifter who has read a great deal of material pertaining to the sport.

If you want to be a bodybuilder/powerlifter/etc you need to find a coach who specializes in those.

Not very knowledgeable then

2nd, define "high level" (not hating on this part, just curious)

This post was edited by Balla on Nov 11 2014 05:33pm

The part about the specifics is, I hope, a general reference. Most of the trainers I know really aren't that great. Trainers recommend their national food guide info, (maybe even) learn the basic lifts, and get continuing education from horrible magazines and poorly arranged, fad-oriented conferences. I'm at a point where I've thought about creating my own licensing for Canada because the standard is incredibly low.

Just more ranting from me, but from what I see the situation isn't much better in the US, except that there are more people and therefore more pockets of resistance (i.e., people who care about quality).

As a PT I hate saying that most PTs are a waste of time and money. But I could say that if I belonged to a lot of professions. It's just that, in particular, PTs are fed bad info, and, worse, they don't even understand the bad info they're being fed ... but there's a lot of potential. Good PTs can be positive life-changers: a bit like good teachers.