Advice needed on Lifting Max weight

Smilee21

Exotic is Erotic...
IMO-no matter How Light the weights are or how heavy the weights are. Isn't proper form and control of the weight needed?

I have had a Personal Trainer working with me since Oct. We meet up for 1 hr, 3 times a month.

I am currently in a Phase of Training where I am suppose to be Maxing out my weights.

This Weeks Sets are (5 sets of 5 reps) and tempo is Fast as I can. When my Trainer is trying to show me (IMO just trying to show off) how to perform the exercise.

(example Leg Extension)
He looks like he is getting an electrical shock treatment, his form is horrible and looks like half his body raises up, and he is jerking his body when trying to complete the movement.

He said he doesn't care how I lift it as long as I complete the sets/reps.

To me it looks like it would cause more Bad (injury wise) then good.

Maybe it's my lack of knowledge (I don't normally lift my max- this is only my 3rd week in this phase) but I believe proper form/technique is important the entire time.

Please provide any input on this... I am Confused...

My Training partner thinks my personal trainer is a joke and doesn't know what he is doing. And at times I am feeling the same way, I am paying this dude to show me the correct ways to lift and to educate me and provide instructions on proper form on exercises I should be doing for the types of Events and Race I am trying to Strengthen my body for.

I don't know If I am just still a Newbie but when I observe others around me, they don't perform their lifts in the same manner.
 
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you should only "max out" maybe once every few months... meaning finding your 1RM.

i'm all about going 100% effort - but it HAS to be controlled. this bozo really doesn't seem to know much. some movements at some times IMO have a little more leeway than others but form is real important.

you should be struggling for sure on your last reps but that doesn't mean get the weight up any way possible for 5 sets of 5. thats just dumb.

eventually your form will break down and its ok to get an extra rep or two, but within reason. if you can't do the exercise controlled and with proper form you shouldn't be trying to put up the weight. your targeted muscle group should be doing the work, not your whole body.



if you're trying to stay injury free, you need to kick this guy to the curb.
 
you should only "max out" maybe once every few months... meaning finding your 1RM.

i'm all about going 100% effort - but it HAS to be controlled. this bozo really doesn't seem to know much. some movements at some times IMO have a little more leeway than others but form is real important.

you should be struggling for sure on your last reps but that doesn't mean get the weight up any way possible for 5 sets of 5. thats just dumb.

eventually your form will break down and its ok to get an extra rep or two, but within reason. if you can't do the exercise controlled and with proper form you shouldn't be trying to put up the weight. your targeted muscle group should be doing the work, not your whole body.



if you're trying to stay injury free, you need to kick this guy to the curb.

Thank you for your input. I do not follow his logic completely BC I don't believe that I will reap any benefits doing it the way he does it.

The Training Program I am following seems to be working so it's not a complete loss. But if I am paying $195 a month on Training I better get the proper training and education out of it. I told my Training partner I will pay him BC I seem to be getting better results when I train with him than I do with MY Personal Trainer. Lesson Learned... Observe the PT's in Action before I get STUCK with one of them.
 
Personal Trainers

Just because he works at a gym doesn't mean he is a licensed or even knowledgeable trainer. I see a lot of trainers at the YMCA where I go and I know which ones are good and which ones aren't. I saw one trainer working out today and he barely lifted any weights during his workout. He was more interested in talking to people and other workers then working out. Now I know we all have our off days, but every time he works out it's the same. Now another trainer, a female trainer that I see all of the time works with both males and females but IMO is much better with the females. If I were you I would switch to a female trainer or a more knowledgeable one or go with your friend. $195 a month seems expensive for someone that doesn't know what he's doing.
 
Just because he works at a gym doesn't mean he is a licensed or even knowledgeable trainer. I see a lot of trainers at the YMCA where I go and I know which ones are good and which ones aren't. I saw one trainer working out today and he barely lifted any weights during his workout. He was more interested in talking to people and other workers then working out. Now I know we all have our off days, but every time he works out it's the same. Now another trainer, a female trainer that I see all of the time works with both males and females but IMO is much better with the females. If I were you I would switch to a female trainer or a more knowledgeable one or go with your friend. $195 a month seems expensive for someone that doesn't know what he's doing.

I have a contract with the gym for my Personal Training and it's for 9 months. So until the End of July I need be paying the $195, after observing ALL the trainers at my specific facility I go to I would rather continue Training and following my Training partners program he does and use the Gym's CBT program as my Double day routines on the weekends.

My Trainer needs to do more observations and studies before he tries to Train anyone. IMO-I am the only one of his Clients that has visible results but that is BC I always give 110% plus increase my knowledge, do research, and ask others for assistance and guidance.

I should have thought more about the PT training, before I agreed upon it and signed the CONTRACT, sealing the agreement legally.

My $195 a month (Is my tattoo money) but I am an act on impluse type of person and just went for it BC the person selling me the training package was a GOOD talker and I thought he was the one who would be training me. I am NOT HAPPY with whom I was stuck with...
 
I have a contract with the gym for my Personal Training and it's for 9 months. So until the End of July I need be paying the $195, after observing ALL the trainers at my specific facility I go to I would rather continue Training and following my Training partners program he does and use the Gym's CBT program as my Double day routines on the weekends.

My Trainer needs to do more observations and studies before he tries to Train anyone. IMO-I am the only one of his Clients that has visible results but that is BC I always give 110% plus increase my knowledge, do research, and ask others for assistance and guidance.

I should have thought more about the PT training, before I agreed upon it and signed the CONTRACT, sealing the agreement legally.

My $195 a month (Is my tattoo money) but I am an act on impluse type of person and just went for it BC the person selling me the training package was a GOOD talker and I thought he was the one who would be training me. I am NOT HAPPY with whom I was stuck with...

Complain. Is he an employee of the gym? If so, ask for someone new. Is he an independent contractor who is allowed to work in the gym? Still complain to the gym. But come armed with knowledge!
 
Complain. Is he an employee of the gym? If so, ask for someone new. Is he an independent contractor who is allowed to work in the gym? Still complain to the gym. But come armed with knowledge!

He is an employee at the gym... not an independent contractor. It is getting to the point Where my Training Partner wants to confront him due to the Fact that He isn't showing me things properly. AND when I am with my Training partner my PT trainer thinks he can just come in and interupt my set BC he thinks I am not doing it correctly. Wasting our time, BS'ing with this Bull crap about Technique when his sucks.

The tension between my Training partner and my PT is building BC my PT is getting jealous I am chosing to do my Training partners workout regimen more than the CBT programs. I only do 2-4 days of the CBT programs training plan (only on Double days)
WHILE I do the other program (my training partners) every day.
 
Do you know how this guy is certified? That should have been your first question. Either way Id complain to the gym and ditch this dude.
 
there are a few personnal trainers who know what they are doing but unfortunatley most are like yours and useless as boobies on a boar hog. the problem with poor form is that it can cause injury , take care of your health 1st even if it pisses him off. maybe go to the manager of the gym or owner and ask for a different trainer.
 
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There is a trainer like that at the gym I goto. His wide grip pull down should be called a full body swing back or something like that. He is seriously going to hurt himself. To top it off he has whoever he is training that particular day pull the bar down with him. Everyone makes fun if him and I feel bad for his clients. I would suggest a new trainer asap
 
I agree with all of you... thank you for your input on this. I will speak with the Fitness Manager at my Gym and see what it is They can do. I am legally bound to the contract and if I choose to cancel before my contract ends I will have to pay 80% of the Training as apart of the Early termination fees. I will inform them that I do not believe I am getting trained properly and my results (which have been extremely well) are not BC of the Training I am getting from my Trainer. It is BC I myself am making the proper changes and tweaking my diet and incorporating into my own daily workout regimen tthat the CBT program isn't providing.

It gets really frustrating when I know how to perform the exercises correctly, I got a PT thinking that since I want to get physically fit enough to compete in Triathlons (that maybe a PT might be able to help me out)... This is not my first time hitting the gym and lifting weights. I have been active and competing in sports since a little girl. It's just been a while since I have done it and wanted someone whom I thought had expertise in the Field to assist me.

I dislike ppl who are all talk and cannot deliver.

I have 5 months left of the CBT program, I will continue following the Phases BC they were good exercises to perform, I had a nice variety of exercises I performed monthly.

However, being the type of person I am though, I am a perfectionist and always give it 110% so in my eyes I will continue Training with my gym Partner doing his workout regimen (plus the CBT training programs phases), I have been observing the other PT's at the gym and I would not benefit from any of them.

Next time, I will go with my gut instincts and recruit my own Coach/Trainers to assist me reach my goals I am setting for myself. I know a lot of individuals who I use to compete with in High School and College that still Swim and who also Train for Triathlons. (I will see if they all want to start our own Triathlete training Group).

I need a Triathlete coach... not some dude that Isn't specializing these training programs to fit his Clients specific needs. I am not there just to lose weight so he should not have me doing the exact same thing as his clients that weigh 300+ lbs...

I am there to yes, drop my bf% but to gain strength, endurance, speed, and BUILD more LEAN muscle.
 
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I agree with all of you... thank you for your input on this. It gets really frustrating when I know how to perform the exercises correctly, I got a PT thinking that since I want to get physically fit enough to compete in Triathlons (that maybe a PT might be able to help me out)... This is not my first time hitting the gym and lifting weights. I have been active and competing in sports since a little girl. It's just been a while since I have done it and wanted someone whom I thought had expertise in the Field to assist me.

I dislike ppl who are all talk and cannot deliver.

I have 5 months left of the CBT program, I will continue following the Phases BC they were good exercises to perform, I had a nice variety of exercises I performed monthly.

However, being the type of person I am though, I am a perfectionist and always give it 110% so in my eyes I will continue Training with my gym Partner doing his workout regimen (plus the CBT training programs phases), I have been observing the other PT's at the gym and I would not benefit from any of them.

Next time, I will go with my gut instincts and recruit my own Coach/Trainers to assist me reach my goals I am setting for my first.

I need a Triathlete coach... not some dude that Isn't specializing the training programs to fit his Clients specific needs. I am not there just to lose weight so he should not have me doing the exact same thing as his clients that weigh 300+ lbs...

I am there to yes, drop my bf% but to gain strength, endurance, speed, and BUILD more LEAN muscle.

persistence is the key , if you never stop you dont have to get started again.
 
persistence is the key , if you never stop you dont have to get started again.

Very Very True... I veered off my path for a while, wasn't deliberately but did happen. I will not give up and will continue to make the neccessary changes to make sure my goals are achieved.
 
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