Hi! I’m new in this website. Found it through surfing. And I think I need some advise regarding Personal Training. I’m not sure whether this is the place for me to write my concern… but since I saw the ’submit comment’, I might as well try!
I’ve joined a local gym few months back, and am now undergoing Personal Training sessions. My session is soon to expire. Now I’m in dilemma - my PT session is 1 month (total of 12 sessions) and the cost is about RM1200, which is very expensive for me. I dunno why the hell I joined in the first hand. Maybe because it’s been my dream to get 6 pack abs (or at least flat abs) since I was 17 years old. (I’m now 26) However, I’m amazed with the results coz I have a flatter stomach right now, which I’m very proud of! :)
Second is, I like the motivation which the PT gives me. He really motivates me to go to the gym and I don’t want to spoil the ‘momentum’ of going to the gym 3 times a week. I’m not sure whether I will go to the gym 3 times a week after my PT session expired. Then I’ll go back flabby again. After 1 month hard work-out, everything will be back in the drain again.
But, to renew my session means to pay another RM1200! Do you think it’s worth it? Do you think I should continue?
mary jane
Thanks for writing in! Firstly, well done on your results! I love it when people see the results of their hard work - it’s a feeling that’s just something else, especially when it involves sculpting your own physique - its just something that money REALLY can’t buy, and I know you’d agree.
Mary Jane, let me ask you this - why are you afraid that you won’t be able to repeat your success? Although your Personal Trainer DID play a role and is partially responsible for your success, but in the end, it was YOU who pulled it off. It was YOU who did all the hard work and had the discipline to adhere to your routine and diet. So have no doubt that YOU have what it takes to reach your goals.
I’m certain that after 12 Personal Trainer sessions, you MUST have picked up many valuable lessons that you can use to help you progress further, or AT LEAST maintain what you’ve achieved so far. No? You should not think that you CANNOT do without a PT.
As for the lack of motivation - I’ve always believed that if you want something BADLY enough… YOU WILL be able to motivate yourself to get your butt to the gym. And remember, that its not only about exercising, but also what you put into your mouth the rest of the times. So, just because you can’t make it to the gym often enough DOES NOT MEAN that you’d get out of shape. Eat sensibly, and exercise moderately. Everyone can do that!
My answer to your question is:
Spending RM1200 for another 12 sessions that will only leave you hanging once again in the end and not being able to carry on like before - THAT’S A WASTE OF MONEY.
Spending RM1200 and getting to understand what the LIFESTYLE is all about - now THAT IS SOMETHING VALUABLE. As I always say - fitness is a lifestyle - it’s not a hobby, or a trend.
I don’t know where the problem lies… and I’d rather not blame anyone to not have empowered you to lead a healthier lifestyle, cos I’d expect you to be independent at least to a certain extent after going through 12 sessions. And don’t be disheartened over your previous decision to sign up for the sessions - because OBVIOUSLY something works - he successfully motivated you and you saw great results, so its not about switching to another Personal Trainer, but perhaps if you do decide to sign up for another 12 sessions, you should make it a point to get MORE out of your trainer - talk to him, and understand what it REALLY means to have a gym membership.
I wish you success!
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For me is simple. Last time i was over 40 inch of waist. I am stingy. I joined gym, paid in full for one year membership and 12 session personal gym. Now i am 33 inch and never look back. So the bottom line is really depends on each INDIVIDUAL!
hmm i on the other hand am very skeptical when it comes to personal training or even personal trainers. prolly because i have encountered some that don’t know what they’re doing and as a result, give false information about weight-loss etc.
i question the credibility of a personal trainer, especially those that work in the gym i go to. unless someone cares to enlighten me..i will remain pessimistic towards them.
no offence to personal trainers who do a hell of a job with their trainees tho. :D
I signed up PT (only 6 sessions) when I signed up my first gym membership package. I took the minimum number of 6 PT at first to give it a try. Now, I am going to gym almost everyday as it has become a lifestyle to me now. I completed 6 sessions within 3 weeks and renewed for another 12 sessions which again were successfully completed (PT almost 2X per week). Now, I have just started another package of 24 sessions.
In my opinion, I felt that the PT sessions were very effective as I have seen good results in fat loss (from 34% to 27% in 2 months). PT is just a tool to get us started especially for beginner like me to learn all the basics in weight training and fitness. I was overweight since I was a child and never thought that I can ever loose weight. It was quite scary last time as I used to see the weighing scale kept going up with no sign of going down.
Now, with my PT sessions and of course my sheer determination I have now become more confident and felt overall improvement physically and spiritually.
An alternative to PT would be to join classes such as cycling (RPM/ Spinning), Body Combat, Body Pump and Yoga. Speak to the instructors of the classes that you attend and they can help you too in sharing valuable tips and advice.
The most important thing is to enjoy the whole process of working out and lifestyle change towards a healthier and fitter person !
Hey…I’m still confused of how to post my new comment in this website. hehehe….pardon me if my comment ended up somewhere else. :)
So it has been quite some time since I last visited this website. And I have completed almost 24 PT sessions (12 last time). My trainer got transferred to another branch, so I did not continue my PT. (In fact, I thought that that’ll be the last time for me to sign up for PT. Pokai dy..*sniff-sniff*) Since then, other trainers have been approaching me, asking me about fitness stuffs and some of them try to persuade me to sign up new PT with them. I dunno about you guys, but I always think that these PTs are not really that genuine when they talk to you about fitness. Pardon me, but I think it’s because of the company itself. I can conclude that this company is focusing more on hard-core selling rather than the members’ full benefits. I don’t even want to touch on that topic…. So, I always have that kind of thinking, whereby, the trainers talk to you because they want to close sales. Agree? I dunno….maybe I’m a bit skeptical, but do change my view.
Anyway, I went to workout last night and I’ve been approached by 3 PTs. One of them tried to close PT with me, another one showed me a video of his lady client doing shoulder press using dumbells with all the muscles bulging out (which I like it..toned!) and another one, suprisingly, advised me to do on my own first after learning stuffs from my previous 24 PT sessions. Now this is my kind of PT! (I’m ashamed to admit that I really didn’t manage to work out that much coz we talked too much!! I can’t really work out if there’s somebody talking to me. Can you talk and do workout, counting your reps, at the same time? I don’t think so!) In total of 1 hour workout, I only managed to do 15-20 mins?? Mad, I just thought I might as well go back home and try again tonight!
Sorry for being so long-winded, but now only I talk about my main point. hehehe… well, just some sharing about my fitness lifestyle. So, the 3rd PT told me that, I have to work on my primary muscles, then only secondary muscles. (I’m into toning). Only yesterday I learnt that chest and shoulder are the primary muscles, which I have work out FIRST. Then only comes the biceps and triceps, which is the secondary muscles, so that I can get the fullbenefits of it. So which other parts of the primary muscles that I need to work on as well for a total toning body workout? Calf? Thigh? Buttock? And what about the secondary muscles? What about abs? Which category does it fall into? I’m really confused about all these “workout programme”. The trainers always advise me not to focus so much on my abs at the first of the workout (since I’m targetting on getting 6 packs). Any suggestions? Like, the proper way to do total toning body workout so that I can see results? Which comes after which? I don’t want to end up signing up another 12 or 24 PT sessions, and yet, I don’t want to lose all my previous hardwork.
i remembered reading one of the articles mentioning about a female trainer at IOI mall & some ppl making fuss of it..hmm…I was a member there & i personally do heard from other members, think that her name was ciass or something..what did i saw compared with other trainers, she did called her clients to jump n run around; while other trainers dun do that..and what make me confuse is that..when I was working out, I notice she can train two clients at the same time! she was halfway training the 1st client about 30 mins , and suddenly, she trained another 2nd client. after an hour, she went back continue training the 1st client for 30 mins. is this how a trainer train ppl? i tot when members purchase PT, the trainer shld focus a session for only a client..I dun c others trainers do that..is she famous bcoz of this?
i am confused…
mary jane, what a name ! :) by primary muscles, they mean u shd do the compound workout first, which is for the large muscle n inlolved more muscles in the movement, it takes more energy so u shd do it first, n also they burn more calories than the isolation workout, etc, compound workouts ” Squat, Bench Press, Military press” “deadlift” for example, Isolation worouts ” shoulder side lateral” “leg extenstion” n etc.
I’ve got a PT friend who trained a new client till he puked. Not a really relevant update for this particular topic, but i guess it just serves as everyone a reminder that PT come in alot of forms and since it does mean PERSONAL training… all sessions are tailored n customed to fit YOU. do not hesitate to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. YOU paid for it, YOU are responsible that you make the best of it.
Cheers for the new year everyone!
but my PT is very focus to train me….. i think ok if sign up a PT.. i train for one month onli and start to see the transform…. but i sign up for RM 85 for a session… from california…
David, i think the best way to maximize your PT sessions is having the trainer explain and teach you to understand the basics of working out, so say when your PT sessions end, at least you can already use those information/experience gained to continue on working out on your own (not that you cant hire the PT for more sessions… but to me thats just being lavish)
ask them on how to use all the machines, ask them how to workout using the free weights, ask on how to manage and create routines that would lead to your goals, ask about NUTRITIONS, rest and recovery.
the more you ask, the better. They would appreciate more feedback anyways, as that would benefit and improve them too.
never stop asking!
i know i wont… hehe.
i just saw a guy collapsed at manulife today hehe
Hi, I’m sorry if I come across as someone who moans about things and not doing anything about it but I do need some advice on my current dilemma.
Right.. here goes:-
1. I just join this so called gym and on the first day of my “free” session with the PT, straight after my workout, I was shown all the stats of my unduly body fats and what nots.. I weight at 53kg, standing at 152cm and I’ve gotta get my weight down to 46kg.. (ideal weight)
2. My PT then brought her Supervisor, who came over and talked about the PT sessions and prices. At first, I told him that since I’ve signed up for 2 years, I’d like to have the chance to work out and if I dont see any improvements on myself, then I’ll consider taking a PT.
3. This supervisor was so adamant, even brought out other files and showed me pictures of people who he has trained and lost the weight. What he failed to consider was, I’m not at the point of obesity that if I train normally, there wont be any changes in me. He said to me that, through his experience, he has seen so many people who comes to the gym, does some cardio, but doesnt really gain much accept the burning of cardio from one machine to another is pretty much “warm up”, says he.
Also, diffferent people come with different motivations right? But as a rule of thumb, everybody wants to look good thus leading to feeling good about oneself right? Once taught, I can pursue it on my own volitions. This is me after going through my “free” sessions.
4. Call it duress, insecurity, taking a leap or just wanting to get out of the conversation, I then told him that ok then, I’ll join the 12 sessions and I said that I’ll come back and pay the next day saying at that time that I’ll pay 6 months cash, 6 months on credit card.( my excuse to myself was perhaps go home, do some financial planning and consider).
I know, I know, should not have agreed to anything at that time. I don’t blame anyone but yea this is now my dilemma…
5. At this point in time, he quickly ask my PT, ( who is new to the establishment) to get the registration form, ask me to fill it and sign.
Questions:-
a. Is it valid now that I signed it?
b. I have yet to make any payments but he insisted that I sign to secure that RM120 per sesssion plus 5% govt tax that “might” not be there if I was to wait.
7. I went and approach my point of Reference who was the Sales Consultant and he seemed a bit bothered. I know dont what’s the deal with them but apparently one said that the other has no rights over the other. Totally seperate. As far as my limited knowledge can take me, doesnt the Sales people bring people into the establishment and the PT are there to support the Sales people? Make the customers happy and retain them for long term thus both party wins, right? I know people are working on comissions but come on, what about protocols? Or that doesnt exist at all?
8. Anyways, my Sales consultant said that it’s ok if I dont take it up and he will let them know. And then I said to him that if I wanted, I’ll go through him.
a. My Sale consultant is a nice guy. I FEEL comfortable with him because he seemed like he CARED. He didn’t force me to sign up and after we paid, THEN we signed the T&C forms.
b. The Supervisor of the PT seems like he is after one thing and one thing only. Played on people’s insecurity for his benefit of earning basic salary of RM1700 PLUS attractive commissions (Maybe more because he is a Supervisor). I don’t blame him to make whatever kind of living he wants to make, but as a PT, i thought you should atleast show that you CARE. Build rapport and I’m sure people would want to come back for more.
c. I was schedule for “free” sessions right, dont you think it would be much appropriate to come to me after I finish the sessions and ask what it was like and if i was interested in continuing 12 or 25 sessions for x amount of price? You tell me.
9. On the second time of my schedule “free” PT session which was yesterday, after I completed my 1 hour training, I was yet asked to sit down again and this time ANOTHER supervisor came around to see me.
I told him again that after some consideration, I have decided to put my PT sessions on hold. I told him what I told the other Supervisor the day before.(remember, I’ve signed the form without payments) He then told me that, the forms are all numbered and his superior might question him what happen to this applicant. He insisted that its ok that I put it on hold but I need to pay up my 2 sessions fees as a downpayment and then they will stamp it.
My thoughts + partner’s advice:-
a. The supervisor from previous time has now dug himself a hole as asking me to sign the forms but received no payments yet
b. To cover their arses, they want me to pay now.
c. I find it odd that the previous supervisor who insisted that i sign didnt follow up with me but instead got another supervisor to attend to it.
d. I smell a rat.. the big black types that crawls in sewers…
10. The thing is, I dislike disharmony. I joined the gym with my friends and now I’ve got the short end of the stick. I feel demotivated to go as I FEEL that I’ve annoyed some people and i didnt mean to cause anybody any harm. I asked the other 2 people who joined the same time as me, and they are happy with their PT. Their PT’s explain to them basic things ya know.. but mine doesnt really. If I dont ask, she wont tell. Yes she does tell me some facts, but I dont see her writing my progress at all. I had to fill 2 forms on my own where as the others just sign on a form to say the PT has done their job.
And, she has a cellphone with her, txting away or answering her phone. At one point, I had to count on my own as she lost track while txting.. come on, is this the kind of service I’m expecting for RM120 per hour. First impression counts right? I know I’m getting this “free” sessions but I’ll judge you from how you treat me with the free sessions. Funny thing about humans are, if you make them FEEL comfortable, they will instantly like you. Now I’m thinking, if this is the kind of treatment I’ll get for paying RM120… Hmmmm mmmm
Whoa..I think I’ve blabbered enough. Before I send this off, please respond to my post and I send you all my good wishes and gratitude for taking your time in reading.
~Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love ~ Lao Tzu
E.H. Rose, I’ve sent you an email to address some of your questions.
I am truly upset that you had to go through such an experience. Believe me, there are many who are pressured into signing up. Sadly, such is the focus at most fitness centres - your money and sales is all they want so that the trainer can meet their monthly targets, and also that the supervisor can also meet their club targets. Not only that, but the Trainers may not even have the necessary qualifications/certifications to provide their client with the minimum standard of care.
I like your choice of words in describing a PT - someone who shows they care, and builds rapport with their clients. That is EXACTLY what we should be doing. Unfortunately in your case, you didn’t have that experience. Your PT may be new - but then again its no excuse to treat you that way.
Trainers in clubs undergo a lot of pressure from their supervisors/management - they are constantly driven to get more sales, sales sales! And when this happens, no matter how good the trainer may be, it will come to a point where they lose focus, and are unable to provide their clients with their 100% dedication and care that they are supposed to. Many trainers I know are pulling off 12 - 16 hour shifts daily just so they have a better chance of making more sales. Do you think their client at 9pm will be getting the same amount of attention from them compared to their 9am client? Definitely not.
This is why I for myself, have chosen not to be attached to any health club. Instead - I freelance :)
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