Opinions on trainers?

Hey guys...it's been a while but I'm glad to see everyone still fighting the good fight!!  I have to confess that earlier today I signed my life away to the tune of $1300 for 24 PT sessions at my local gym.  I know Jerz has had considerable results with the help of a trainer, but what about the rest of you?  I did this primarily out of frustration...I am within 5lbs of my lowest weight and I'm STILL an 8/10 (looser, but in the neighborhood nonetheless)...I've been a 5/6 at 140 and 5'3"!!!!  I just feel like I'm at the point where I need some professional guidance to get where I want to be so I can maintain it on my own.  I have belonged to a major gym for over 8 years and never even thought about personal training because I thought they were all jokes with little to no knowledge of what they were doing.  I felt really good about the trainer I signed up with--he has a business degree, but he's a professional bodybuilder and has been training for almost 4 years. Bottom line is I made a commitment to be diligent about this fitness thing and stop watching those numbers on the scale.  I just figured I'm not getting any younger and it'll never get any easier so I might as well take a step to get where I'm trying to be...which has totally shifted from a weight range to the lack of movement my butt makes AFTER the rest of my body has stopped moving!

I have never had one - mainly due to no $ to designate that direction.  And, my motivation is pretty strong.  Sure, a trainer could likely push me more.   For free, I have had several workout buddies who helped me greatly here and there - one of us would read about form and watch and count for the other person.  I really loved weight training, but if you ever read my posts, you may recall that after 13+ years, my ole body (51 soon) is very achy...not saying weights caused it, but it sure aggravated it. I did get results - not weight loss, but body shaping and wonderful basic conditioning.  I do yoga now, so if there is to be money spent, it will be on that.  I would love to go to a yoga camp/retreat for a long weekend! I'd say if the money is not a big issue, then why not try one. As you say, I have a hard time with the young guys/girls on credibility (they push gym gimmicky products mainly - hate that).  I would overhear them spewing lines and would have crapped up my back if I had been paying them and heard all that junk. Most of them have zero idea on what it is like to ever have been fat. I get the idea that for the most part, they tend to be ex High school football players/wrestlers and have no idea how to work out for life habits - we all know how most high school coaches are! sorry guys - hold the letters! There are ones in town that if $ were not a big consideration, I'd give it a whirl to see what the differences are on my own and having a driving force.  And you, so close to goal and maintenance, this may be exaclty the big push you need!

Ultimate opinion on trainers? Your results will mostly be about strength, flexibility, endurance, and the side benefit will be muscle tone and your body shape.  Don't look at it as lbs but as overall results. I think it's important also to realize "results" are 80% nutrition and 20% exercise, so know going on that the nutrition is on you. I think also folks make a mistake of thinking a trainer is about getting a good base for working out.  IMO, it's all about progress.  They help you with the basics sure, but the greater reward is that they guide you forward...constantly.  It's not about a set core of exercises that you will do forever, it's about what your goals are as you grow.

I have spent way too much money on training, but likened it to paying out of pocket WLS expenses.  FOr me, it's been worth it.

Thanks for your input guys...Neecee, I don't think many of us have the money for PT (with the nation being officially in an unofficial recession and gas at about $3.35/gal!), it's definitely gonna require heftily dipping into my "stash" !  Like you said Jerz, this is no longer about weight, toning, flexibility, and conditioning is truly what I'm after for the first time in a long time.  As far as the diet, the trainer was good about not pushing anything in particular.  I told him I had been following the South Beach plan and he was fine with me continuing that if I wanted to.  I was surprised that he okay'd brown rice and sweet potatoes since according to that handheld fat thingy, I'M A WHOPPING 31% FAT!!  I know they can be inaccurate based on a number of factors, but trust me, all this jiggle I'm jangling has me convinced it can't be too far off...I'm only seeing him 2x/wee****il school's out (2-3x on my own) and I'm planning on staying on phase 1 of South Beach for the next 6 weeks...I shall keep you posted!

Depending on your height 31% fat isn't bad.  It's borderline healthy, so congrats!

WOW $1300 for 24 sessions?!  We go to the YMCA as opposed to the "gym" and it's only $135 for 12 sessions with a personal trainer. It's REALLY helped out my wife, her trainer does a great job and she's lost 30 lbs in the past 6 weeks with her help.

She got a good deal in my book.  Mine is 1200-1400  for 20 1-hr sessions with NO room for under the table negotiations.  However, I reason I would have spent 10K+ on WLS on my own or in OOP, so I'd rather stay "whole" and do it. As expensive as it is, I'd do it again.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Y, but they have never been convenient enough for me with location or hours.  Not only that, their membership plans are more costly for me (I pay $17/mth with all classes and childcare free).  But that price for training is awesome!  Even though they're paid, WE have to do all the work, so hat's off to the Mrs...she's working it!

Yea I guess it's different everywhere but our Y is awesome, open early to late, free childcare, 2 olympic sized swimming pools,  full court indoor basketball, big cardio and weight rooms, cheap personal training, all for only about $50/month for the whole family (you dont pay individually).

Different is an understatement...the closest to me is $125 to enroll, $77/mnth for a family and $639 for 12 PT sessions!