Does having a trainer make you lazy?

[The Shadow]

that, or when she should just leave me be if I can't finish.

"remember harder is not better - better is better" - sigh. I don't understand Corn When I put up the thread about short intense sessions, and most people said I was overtraining on volume, I dropped the volume, and increased these types of techniques to compensate, but now you say that's not necessarily best? What is BETTER, then? If longer is not better, and harder is not better, then what is better? Of course I know what is BEST - that would be what I discover through months/years of trial and error to be fitting for ME ...

Intensity is a learned technique - sounds like you and the trainer go above and beyond intense.
My point is this - you WILL RAPIDLY lose size and strength unless the intensity techniques are kept to a minimum......

Training to a little shy of failure to failure should be the goal 80% of the time.....

...think of someone who wants a tan...staying white represents too little intensity...too much equals a burn.


I guess I am saying it is just as easy to over train as under train

 

[wilson6]

"My point is this - you WILL RAPIDLY lose size and strength unless the intensity techniques are kept to a minimum...... "

Glad to hear that someone else who knows their shit thinks this way as well.

A good trainer knows when to push you and when to hold you back. Many think that having a trainer means getting your ass kicked week in and week out. If that is what your trainer believes in, then get another trainer or you'll be burned out inside of a couple of months.

W6

 

[The Shadow]

....word.

 

[MS]

The Gospel according to Corn. Amen.

The best 'trainer' is a training partner with similar goals and commitment. Training without a training partner is like cooking a candle-lit dinner for one IMHO.

Having a training partner does not prevent (both of) you from enlisting the help of a "trainer" from time to time to learn new techniques, make new training programs etc....But to use a hired trainer as a replacemnt for a good training partner is costly and still doesn't give you the support/spotting and encouragement that you need every training session.

 

[wilson6]

"But to use a hired trainer as a replacemnt for a good training partner is costly and still doesn't give you the support/spotting and encouragement that you need every training session."

Don't agree with the second part.

W6

 

[MS]

Apologies Wilson6, I was actually referring to something more inutitive/touchy-feely than anything in your physiology textbooks. After several decades hitting the weights, it is easy to get slack, miss workouts and generally lose your focus. A good training partner puts just enough pressure (and encouragement) to get you to the gym and continue to push yourself years after the initial infatuation with bodybuilding has worn off. And of course they are also there to spot you on the odd occasion when you DO feel like training to concentric failure and beyond.

Technically I acknowledge that self motivation is enough to get you through most sessions, especially if you are training sensibly and not max-ing out constantly. But psychologically it gets boring and pretty unmotivating over the years. However, SteelWeaver (and most folks on this board) is clearly a long way from the psychological 'need' for a training partner. The majority of personal trainers I see have clients that are purely using them as hired training partners. If you have the money and that's what you want out of your trainer then fine! But if you just want someone to spot you, tell you you're making good progress and make sure you show up for a session regularly, then a training partner is a much economical and satisfying in the long run.

 

[italianbabe]

by any chance does any1 know a great trainer in the nyc area im in the bronx..thnx

 

[SteelWeaver]

OK, well I'm not out there to get my ass kicked every week, no - I'm perfectly capable of kicking my own ass if need be.

I hired this woman initially because I badly needed someone to help me through the last weeks of my contest prep., with posing practice, routine polishing, etc. She was recommended by my gym staff. Then I found out that she happens to be a pro, who has competed for the last decade or so at the highest levels of FBB, and we also developed an intuitive rapport very quickly. Sure I know just because someone's a pro doesn't mean they're a great trainer, but this one definitely knows her shit, and she doesn't push me past where I can't go. If I tell her I need to stop a set because of the wrong kind of pain, she accepts that just fine. That's only happened once though, and it was because I foolishly did deadlifts the day before leg day.

Since the advice I get here and in all my textbooks is often contradictory, confusing, inadequate and unsatisfactory, I decided to keep her on for a couple of months in order to learn as much as I possibly can in a practical sense. Everything I've learnt has been from books and Elite and just trying stuff myself. I need PRACTICAL help. She is helping me to develop perfect form, teaching me how to target exactly the muscle I'm aiming for, showing me different techniques, different moves, etc, etc. Eg. I've finally learnt how to contract my lats properly. She's also helping me get over some of my resistance to certain moves - you know how there are certain exercises or ways of working one avoids just because you don't like them? And, of course, she is helping me reach new levels of intensity.

Anyway, my original question here is more to do with developing too much reliance on a trainer I guess ... I don't want to end up not able to generate enough intensity on my own because I've become too dependent on a trainer. Believe me - if I start shrinking, I'll be making changes quickly. For now, though, I can't believe how lucky I was to stumble upon this woman - she's totally amazing.

I have a bit of a bone to pick here, though - on the short intense thread I put up back a while ago, Realgains said he could put me through 3 sets of squats and I'd be toast - wouldn't want to or be able to do any more. Now when I turn up and say that my intensity is at a level where quads are toast in 6 - 8 sets or so, folks are saying it's too intense. On the CNS thread W6 says to train to absolute momentary failure, but now Corn says shy of failure is fine ...

See why I need a trainer

Anyway, would be interested to hear more views here ....

 

[spiderwoman]

Everybody has an opinion.
Everyday I go to the gym I see this guy with his paid trainer, seems like, for maybe a coupla years now. I see all the cash he's doling out and I thank god I am NOT. I think having a trainer for a few sessions every now and again is great for new ideas/motivation, just like changing your workout. But, to be dependent on your trainer is silly as a trainer does not know you as well you know yourself, and has biases and limitations. The first time your trainer/training partner misses a workout, you may be screwed and end up having a crappy workout.
Trainer$$$ LOVE it if you're dependent on them. Keep that in mind.
this is just my humble opinion

 

[grlpwrd]

Maybe you just like the idea of having a dominatrix. I'm kidding, of course. Maybe it's just a gender thing. If you have a personal trainer of the opposite sex maybe you try harder. I know it is that way with my hubby. When he trains me I feel compelled to show him how strong I am.

I see it in the gym, too. Ladies will work out harder if they have a fine looking trainer...or it could just be in my imagination...