A Personal Trainer's Failure

One of the most important roles of a personal trainer is to guide a person in staying fit and healthy. He/she should be able to provide a good exercise program or workout routine that will help the person lose weight or develop muscles to become stronger. He/she should be able to come up with routines that are applicable depending on the orientation of the person especially if the trainee has physical conditions such as heart ailments, hypertension or even injuries. The trainer should also act as a counselor when it comes to motivation and dieting. He/she must be able suggest a balanced diet plan.

Those are just the basics. A trainer should also be able to monitor the development of the trainee. He/she should be able to analyze results and be able to adapt to certain changes such as the need to increase or decrease the intensity of the workout or modify the diet plan. And of course, he/she should be on top of everything until the goals have been met.

However, I had an experience with a personal trainer who, in my opinion, failed miserably in training me. Back in 2001, I was near my heaviest weight and I am not used to exercising at all. He just told me what my ideal weight is supposed to be and then laid out a workout program for me then that's it. He wasn't even significantly concerned about my diet plan. He just told me to stop eating junk food and did not say anything about what I should eat and how should I eat everyday.

I didn't know what to do. It was a new experience for me to work out at that time so I didn't mind. He just told me how to use the machines and how to do reps properly when lifting weights then he left me on my own. The following days were worse. He just showed me the program and told me to do them and then left.

Thus, I lost my motivation. The workout was too tough for me and all he did was to show me my workout monitoring card. I gave up after a month. He didn't even approach me to ask how I was doing. If he did his job properly, he should have modified my workout. He never said anything like, "How's your diet?", "Have you lost some weight?", "Are you feeling better?", "Are the routines too tough for you?"

After I left that gym, I took care of my programs and diet plans. I formulated my own routines and it worked a lot better than when I was at the gym. I also had more freedom since I worked out at home. And until now, with enough research, I can do well on my own.

Well, I may just be unlucky to have had him as my personal trainer. Had it be a more caring and professional trainer, I would have achieved better results. I worked with a few more trainers afterwards and they helped me more in a day than what the other one did in a month. And just in case you are experiencing the same thing that I've had, go and change your trainer. That will always be your choice.