Could you use a personal trainer? Maybe, maybe not. As someone who’s self-motivated, I’ve often viewed personal trainers as nothing more than a knowledgeable spotter - I’m into weight-lifting and can only imagine one purpose to hire a trainer, to help me with “forced reps” when “working to failure.” This technique involves wringing every last ounce of strength you’ve got, literally giving your 120% (or 200, in the case of your tough guys out there), the goal being to have a spotter help you go beyond your usual “diet” and take on some truly “big game meat” for a change!

This intensive technique is not to be used often - depending on the training protocol, it is only to be used anywhere from twice a week to once a month! Conflicting theories exist as to the wisdom of this strategy for gaining strength and lean body mass, but enough successful lifters and bodybuilders do it for its tenets to seem valid: it works for them!

But outside of something like this, a trainer is probably only needed for encouragement. The typical client is a neophyte and aside from motivation may be only looking for enough instruction to work out on his or her own in time. For this category of people, I suggest that a book - many books, in fact - would be a better investment of your time and money than the typical trainer. Even hundred-dollar-an-hour trainers may not be any more knowledgeable than what a decent book on exercise may offer. Again, what you’re really paying for is for the facilities and the person’s time. That’s the main part of your bill; everything else is chump change. Why not just save the money and spend some time learning for yourself? Unless you learn best through face-to-face interaction, I would suggest that you save your money.

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