Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

I've Started Doing Workouts with a Personal Trainer



Recommended Posts

I've been doing really good, 90 minutes a day of cardio, since Jan 1st but decided that I needed to incorporate some weight lifting and strength training into my daily routine.

My gym membership is free under Silver Sneakers, so I don't pay for it and they have trainers that you can pay. I've never used a trainer before, but I decided to give it a try. It's $30 for a 30-minute session if you sign up for 12 sessions, so I did. The first session was free to get to know the trainer, see if you got along, describe your goals, set a plan, etc.

I've done 3 workouts with her so far and it's WONDERFUL! Not only does she show me how to properly use the dumbbells, barbells, and cable machines, but she encourages and supports me and directs me what to do. She mixes it up so I'm not doing the same muscle group all the time or get bored with the same routine.

I don't know how long I can afford it but I like it for at least these 12 sessions. I'm doing them 3x/week. Maybe I can do 1x/week for the next month and then after that just incorporate everything I've learned and do the exercises myself.

Have you ever used a personal trainer? How'd you like that?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

our gym had a special last fall where seniors could meet with a personal trainer three times. I got enough out of that that I was able to put together my own strength-training program, so you should do well with those 12 sessions.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used a personal trainer at a gym 10 years ago, the last time I got close to the weight I am now. Of course, that was before I had surgery. I don't remember for sure, but a probably did 2 or 3 dozen sessions. It definitely made me feel better.

I've been thinking about doing it again. As I near the supposedly ideal BMI of 25, I notice that my legs and especially my arms are looking pretty scrawny. I also have some wrinkly skin on my arms and legs that could really benefit from adding back some muscle mass. (Of course, at 68, I'm a certified Old Guy, so maybe the wrinkles are par for the course, but they weren't there when I was bulked up with fat. )

And though I look good in clothes, I still have a couple fat places that could really look a lot better when I'm standing shirtless in front of the mirror to shave.

What I've been wondering is whether I need to find somebody who has experience with bariatric surgery patients, and if so, how to find such a person whom I could afford.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have spent so much money on personal trainers. From local to private gyms where the head trainer was a former olympian. My experience of it was all over the place. What stuck with me was the weight training, bought 10kg dumbells to use at home to keep up my strengh. The funnest was the trainer who warmed to me, he advised and talked to me like a friend. He use to do these vulcan death grips on me because my shoulders were so tense and no joke I would squeal because it hurt!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, GradyCat said:

I've been doing really good, 90 minutes a day of cardio, since Jan 1st but decided that I needed to incorporate some weight lifting and strength training into my daily routine.

My gym membership is free under Silver Sneakers, so I don't pay for it and they have trainers that you can pay. I've never used a trainer before, but I decided to give it a try. It's $30 for a 30-minute session if you sign up for 12 sessions, so I did. The first session was free to get to know the trainer, see if you got along, describe your goals, set a plan, etc.

I've done 3 workouts with her so far and it's WONDERFUL! Not only does she show me how to properly use the dumbbells, barbells, and cable machines, but she encourages and supports me and directs me what to do. She mixes it up so I'm not doing the same muscle group all the time or get bored with the same routine.

I don't know how long I can afford it but I like it for at least these 12 sessions. I'm doing them 3x/week. Maybe I can do 1x/week for the next month and then after that just incorporate everything I've learned and do the exercises myself.

Have you ever used a personal trainer? How'd you like that?

Great to hear! keep up the good work. I have worked with a trainer in the past but prefer to just do the workouts on my own. You will learn the exercises and how to mix it up on your own. I go to Planet Fitness- only $10/month and personal training is free if you want it. I have been consistently weightlifting at least 5 days per week since late Summer/Fall of 2021 after fully recovering from gall bladder removal and I think it has made a great difference in how my clothes fit, how my arms/legs/stomach skin looks and how I feel overall.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×