The dirty little secret is that personal trainers, largely,
are a waste of money, particularly if your goal is merely to “get in shape.”
They are glorified rep counters whose only real job is to make sure people show
up and actually go through the motions. If you are someone with a disability or
definitive need, you are better off seeing a physical therapist who can
prescribe the necessary exercise and educate you in proper movement patterns to
avoid aggravating the injury and to rehab what you do have.
If the goal is weight loss, diet will be the biggest factor,
in which case a dietitian (well, one who actually knows what the fuck they’re
doing) is needed more than a trainer. And even in that case, the bottom line on
weight loss is not difficult – get enough protein, and keep calories in a
deficit. That’s it.
Now, if you want to actually accomplish a physical goal, the
necessity for a coach rises, depending on what it is you want to accomplish. If
it’s merely “I want to run a marathon,” then the only requirements are
sufficient money in your account to pay the entry fee and any travel, as well
as a pair of shoes and clothes. Then you just need to build up enough work
capacity and mental fortitude to endure the event. If the goal is a specific
time, again, this is when a coach or trainer comes in handy. However, depending
on just what that time is, you may be very well served to simply give it a go
on your own, as there is nothing special required from a programming standpoint
to run a 4 hour marathon. More power to you if you do, just know that it’s not
a particularly great accomplishment.
So, after all this rambling, the point is this – know what
you want to achieve, then seek out the right person to help you achieve it. If
it’s weight loss, save your money and buy something from Lyle McDonald to learn
how to set up a diet properly. If it’s an actual physical ability you want to
get better at, seek out a coach who can get you there.
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