[Freebird Flying]

My experience so far with live trainers is that they don't really get into the nutritional aspects of training beyond very basic information. They can be great about helping with form, pushing you, and mixing up your workouts. Also, having to be there at a set time can help to stay on track as well.

There seems to be some really talented and smart online trainers I have been following. I have some friends that made progress with online trainers, and I am considering hiring one.

If you have actually had a personal trainer before, what works best for you, and why?

Note: Feel free PM me if you know some awesome online personal trainers.

[Steelex]

I learned a lot working with an online one for a while.

I also offer online training and diet consult. I've worked with a couple members on here, Kaotic and H1N1, and they have made good progress.

[General Stalin]

It's all about your personal preference and level of involvement. I had an in-person PT for a few months to sort of show me the ropes. Show me movements, basic workout principles, form and technique, etc. I also had him write me 2 months worth of programming. After that I was off on my own.

An online trainer will be cheaper generally and they will just write you programming and meal plans if you want. If you have issues on form or questions about certain excercises you will send them videos of yourself for them to critique. I know quite a few people that use online trainers and they seem satisfied, but essentially you are just paying someone to write your workouts for you and evaluate your progress.

If you're new to lifting or you feel really stuck in your progress I can see the benefit, but at some point you likely want to be able to do it on your own.

[DeadliftOrDie]

I used to have an online trainer. Never really liked it. I thought it was something that I could have googled and gotten the same results. So I quit and started to watch youtube videos about how the strongmen lift, and started to to the same exercises as they did, and started to eat as much and often as I could of healthy food. It was first then when I started to see serious progress, got stronger and heavier each week.
But what Stalin said is true. If you are new to lifting it's important to let someone watch over you and make sure you do the lifts right, but after a couple of months I think men should have learned enough and have good enough motivation by themselves to make good progress.

[treypound]

bumping this

I have been using a in person PT over the past few months, and while I am starting to see results regarding my strength and physique, the nutrition/diet aspect of it is missing. My original goal was to stay with him for 6 months and then branch back out on my own, however I didnt know of an online trainer option.

[Jameson Ranger]

Diet is really all on you... that old saying applies, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." My personal favorite is the Paleo diet, but it's super strict and you have to be serious with yourself. Add a cheat meal (anything you want) on leg day. Makes both leg day and the diet a bit easier to deal with.

[roid]

i hired one of the bodybuilding champions that advised me on nutrition and steroids aside from giving me normal training. that's the kind of advice you wanna pay. not whey protein bs and bcaa.

[JackinMelbourne]

Real trainer for form and correction. Online for info and knowledge.

[Ballr]

I had a personal trainer for a few months and shed a LOT of weight. 100% slim and fit now. Was chubby before!

#1 Always have breakfast, lunch, and dinner (or at least decide between lunch or dinner)
#2 All you need is 1 hour per day. Get it done early in the morning so you can move forward with the rest of your day
#3 Use in person trainer for correct form and exercise ideas
#4 Give him a picture of someone you'd like to mimic body type and he should work towards that goal
#5 Stay away from protein, sugar, carbs, and if you must have meat keep it at fish, turkey, or chicken

WHY DID IT WORK FOR ME?

1.) I didn't want to let him down, so I would not be late or miss sessions (directly impacting my results)
2.) Increased will power
3.) Learned better form (I was doing it all wrong for years)
4.) You make powerful contacts because generally lots of businessmen have a trainer