Personal Trainer

Has anyone worked with a personal trainer prior to surgery or after?  I believe I should to develop a fitness routine.  I had an initial session today at a great place but it costs more than my rent per month.  I want to consider all my options so if you could share what has worked for you and other resources, that would be extremely helpful. Thanks

I have been working with a trainer for about 2 years now and love it.  I am not an excercise freak, so I really appreciate the one on one attention and encouragement.  Also, my trainer works up my excercise routine so that I am hitting all muscle groups and wroking on strength and aroebic fitness.  The results have been amazing.  I definitely am in the best shape of my life.  It is not cheap by any means, but really worth it.

People tend to use personal trainers in two different ways.  I'm really self-motivated but didn't know much about exercise physiology, so what I need from a trainer is information about how to change up my program every 8-10 weeks so I continue to see improvements.  Other folks really get benefits from actually exercising with a trainer; it helps keep them motivated and can get folks to push themselves in a way they might not if they were just working on their own.  So it depends on your style and what you're looking for.   I worked out on my own for about 2 years, then just didn't know enough to take my fitness to the next level.  So I met with an exercise specialist from my gym, who helped me tweak my strength training program and made suggestions about cardio duration/intensity/frequency.  I've been doing the revised program for just over 4 months now and have seen great results.  I'm meeting with the exercise specialist again next week to review and revise my program.  I plan to meet with her every 8-12 weeks over the course of this year, and I hope to learn enough so I can change up my program on my own on a going-forward basis after that.   BTW, I'm very, very lucky that these sessions with the exercise specialists are included at no additional charge with my gym membership.  I can say that if my situation were to change, I've gotten enough benefit from working with her that I would pay for sessions with a personal trainer to help tweak my program... Good luck on your continuing journey - Kellie

I have been very pleased in working with a personal trainer.  The individual attention to my specific needs has been awesome.  She has helped me tweak my diet to fit the demands of wls and weight workouts to stay strong and get the max benefit of what I have been doing.  For instance, I was suddenly complaining of nagging aches that were more than the expected and she picked up on some tweaking I needed with amino acids and made me double check my protein levels.  She was right; I had slacked off a bit on protein and while I was at the supplement store, she was on my cell talking with the owner and I heard him repeat something the trainer said about my egg, brewer's yeast and soy allergies.  Duh, I had forgotten to consider those. Plus, the 5 months I have worked with her have taught me so mu*****luding the how to's but also an awareness of my body and of what works and what is myth in exercise.  I have also seen more results in this time frame that in the 11 months I diligently worked out without a trainer. It does depend on the trainer of course and their willingness to work with you on your own personal goals. You might check with your surgeon or hospital.  My surgeon exclusively uses a hospital where he helped develop a special exercise facility and program for bariatric patients.  Of course, I live a bit too far away to use it but I am guessing it isn't the only program like it. Good luck, Katy