Personal Trainer Recommendations?

Hi everyone,

I've finally decided to join a gym.

Since I’ve never been much of an athlete, I think I’m going to need a personal trainer.
I'd love to hear from anyone here who has worked—or is currently working—with one.

For the last two months, I've been working out right in front of the TV... a 30-minute power walk—which people tell me is about 2 miles, though I'm not quite ready for running yet—plus 20 minutes of Pilates.

By cleaning up my diet, I managed to drop 75 pounds in 11 weeks.
I'm incredibly proud of that progress. That said, I still have nearly that much more to lose. 🙄 😁

I enjoy walking, but I know it won't be enough on its own.
This isn't some passing whim—I don't want to shed all this weight just to slide back into the old eating habits that caused it. I'm looking for a total lifestyle shift.
Essentially, I need someone who will actually motivate me, rather than someone who makes me want to quit.
So... how do you spot a good trainer, and what (and how much) should I realistically expect from them?

Thanks for the advice. 👋

Everything regarding fitness, aerobics, Pilates... basically all types of exercise...
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northernraven4 said:I'm super curious to hear about your experiences with coaches—whether you've worked with one before or are still training with someone now.

With my coach (she's a woman), she doesn't really yell at me much, but she's definitely always giving me orders. 😁

northernraven4 said:So, I shifted my whole perspective on how I eat, and somehow, eleven weeks later, I’m down 17 pounds. It's a weird feeling. Like, you spend all this time thinking food is the enemy or some kind of constant battleground, but once you stop fighting it and just change the approach, things start moving. It wasn't a sudden lightning bolt moment or anything—just a slow pivot in how I look at my plate. Now, here I am, seventeen pounds lighter, wondering why I didn't just try this months ago.
I’m actually pretty proud of myself for that. But honestly? I've got almost as much left to lose as I just gained. 🙄 😁

northernraven4, you really nailed it. Respect. 🙏
It’s honestly refreshing to see people actually getting to work instead of just sitting around complaining about their weight. Just talking about it doesn't change much. Taking action? That's where it's at. Keep that momentum going.

northernraven4 said:It’s not about a diet. I mean, seriously, what's the point? You drop a massive amount of weight just to go right back to the exact same junk that put it on you in the first place. That's just spinning your wheels. It’s about changing your entire way of life. A total lifestyle overhaul. Otherwise, you're just waiting for the rebound.

It’s good that you finally realized it. Honestly, changing your lifestyle is pretty much the only real move here if you want to stop playing this endless game of yo-yoing back to your old weight. Everything else is just noise. 😉

I can't really give you a masterclass on picking a trainer, but if I were in your shoes, there are a few non-negotiables for me. First off, they need to actually look like they know what they’re doing. I don't mean they need to be some meathead bodybuilder looking like he’s about to pop a vein, but they shouldn't be out of shape either. It’s just common sense, right? You want someone who looks capable. More importantly, though, it’s about the focus. If I’m paying for an hour of someone's time, I don't want to spend that hour listening to them ramble on about their weekend or some random drama. Every single minute of those sixty minutes should be centered on my training—nothing else. It’s easy to get distracted by trainers who treat the session like a social hour at a Starbucks, but that’s just wasted money. Honestly, I'm not sure what else to add. Someone with more mileage in the fitness industry will probably have a better list for you.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you some props... Seriously, just keep doing exactly what you're doing. 👋

Way to go!

In most gyms where they actually bother to employ trainers, they can moonlight as personal coaches outside of their regular shifts (I think it's about $80-$$100 an hour if I recall correctly). But if you're already at the gym during their hours, they'll definitely spend those first month or two keeping a close eye on your form and designing custom workouts tailored to your specific goals—like dropping some weight—until you finally "find your footing."

Have you ever thought about looking into one of those specialized weight loss clinics? You know, the ones where you get a whole team consisting of a doctor, a nutritionist, and a trainer all working together? Since you’re clearly thinking seriously about this lifestyle overhaul, I suspect their professional guidance and structured plans could be a massive help to you...

Either way, keep up the great work.😉

The forum has been acting up for a few days, so I’m just now getting around to posting.

Thanks to everyone for all the replies and the support. 🙂

I finally joined a gym a few days ago—I have my first session with a trainer scheduled for Saturday morning.
For now, I’m just hitting the treadmill and trying to get used to the whole idea of being an active person. 🙂

nimblesurfer20, obviously I’ve consulted with both my doctor and a nutritionist.
Since I've spent my entire life eating the "wrong" foods, I didn't exactly have a better baseline to work from.

swiftcanyon5, once you finally realize things can't go on like this, you can actually start making moves. I was a smoker for years, and it wasn't until I started exercising that I realized why I had zero motivation—I simply couldn't catch my breath. Anyway, I'm already 21 days smoke-free.

Man, if I started listing everything that feels better when you're thinner... 🙂

Wow, talk about being ghosted... my post is getting totally ignored 😠

Ryan Alvarez2 said:Talk about ignoring my post... 😠

unknown, sorry there, Ryan Alvarez2.
If nothing else, I suppose Tina is busy working on her vocal cords🙂
And you?

So, she’s all about the lacrosse scene, while I’m mostly into surfing (online, obviously) and a few other combat sports.

I’d really love to know who you think you're actually talking to here... 😁 👋

If you need my number, just shoot me a DM. You’ll end up with the best—and most charming—personal trainer in all of NYC 😉

crimsonmason42, I’d reach out if I were actually in New York right now 😁 😁

Ryan Alvarez2... you rascal... actually, scratch that—you rogue. Where on earth did you pop up?
You almost had me convinced with all that talk about martial arts. What exactly are you training for? Fighting off yawns? 🙂

Anyway, let’s not derail the thread—how’s the treadmill treating you?

Take care... 👍

The treadmill is just kicking up dust while I’m busy stacking up jokes for the winter.

Like you can tell from this update, things are getting pretty hectic, so I might be MIA from the web for a few days...

Later!