@greenbutton, the cost you have been quoted for 24 sessions is a reasonable one. As a general matter, the benefits of working with a trainer for those new to fitness or coming back to after many years are 1) learning to identify appropriate goals, 2) learning how to structure a safe, effective and balanced exercise program to achieve those goals, 3) learning a variety of exercises with proper technique and form to build a program and 4) being guided through a process of behavior change that results in your fitness program becoming an intrinsically rewarding lifestyle change that promotes adherence over time measured in years, not just the weeks or months you may work with a trainer. Because your financial constraints make it likely that you would not renew after the 12 weeks are over, one thing I would ask about is whether the program the center will structure for you will be one that you can sustain outside of their gym. I would be concerned if their program is going to make you reliant on equipment that you will not have access to once the 12 weeks are up. If that is the case, what are you going to do when you exhaust your budget for a membership at their facility?
This is something I discuss with my clients routinely. Many of my clients for one reason or another are not going to join a gym and some of them have very limited space and a limited budget to buy home equipment. While it’s great that they can come to my studio and get exposed to all the neat equipment I have, I tell them from the outset that one of my goals is to make them self-sufficient so that they can continue their fitness program on their own outside of my studio. In addition to the variety of programming I can do with them using the equipment I offer, I also teach them how to structure a routine using minimalist equipment and body weight resistance that can be done easily at home or when traveling.
I noted your comment about buying a high end rower. Unless you are someone who can and will do cardio work outside year round, if you are limited to spending a big hunk of money on one piece of equipment, I usually recommend to my clients that they get a good high quality cardio piece. Resistance training is a critical part of of any fitness program and shouldn’t be neglected in favor of cardio, but if you are limited to one big expense, make it for a cardio piece. You can get tremendously varied and effective resistance training using body weight exercises, common household furniture and, if so inclined, minimalist, relatively cheap exercise equipment like a TRX suspension trainer, some dumbbells and an adjustable step bench.
So my advice would be to think through an honest appraisal of what you need to launch yourself on a fitness program, ask some more questions of the facility and prioritize how you want to spend your money. In this regard, something else to think about is that many people are taking advantage of home training with access to a personal trainer utilizing online coaching through Skype and similar technology. This can be a very effective and cost efficient way to get the benefits of professional coaching with the convenience and lower costs of training at home.
If you have any questions that you would like to kick around, feel free to send me a PM through this board.
Michael- what is your experience with rowers? Over all my years of being involved in running and fitness, I’ve seen very few people who stick with a rower long term. It’s difficult and boring and winds up gathering dust. I think treadmills and ellipticals seem to have a higher rate of retention.
Thanks Michael…Your questions are exactly the ones I have — I need to be able to learn, and then transfer that knowledge to life outside a gym. I don’t doubt the cost is reasonable; I hesitate to spend it when it may not be the most cost-effective change I can make. And I’ve never belonged to a gym, so I have little actual knowledge
I have an elliptical we use pretty faithfully in combination with walking, dancing (I clog/tap) and run-of-the-mill workout tapes (aerobics). Probably 5 of 7 days I get 30-40 minutes in, and as you have suggested, I am trying to gradually increase the intensity of what I am doing (rather than just spend more time) I thought a rowing machine might provide a little variety, and I can see that the cheaper ones are just that -cheap. Is rowing not considered cardio?
Many posters on here will have a laugh of the day on this. I renewed my driver’s license. In AL, the counter gals are very good at getting one to ‘fess up’ about additional weight. I put 10 more lbs on my license.
My DL has been web-renewed with my old pic and weight twice! It says I weigh 148, which is 20-25 lb more than I do now on any given day! No wonder the TSA are always suspicious… At least I have a nice hairstyle in DL photo - I went to the DMV right after pampering myself at Gene Juarez.
H and I will continue to use Passport for TSA. In AL I would have to pay again for a ‘Star ID’ and go to a DL place where I would have quite a wait in a line too. For those w/o a Passport, it is cheaper for them to get the AL DL Star ID. The new domestic flight TSA ID regulations go into effect Dec 1, 2016. H has to renew DL and he can go to our local office around 4 pm and get it with little or no line (they close at 4:30).
MOWC and greenbutton, I have an older model Concept II rower. The Concept II and WaterRower are 2 of the dominant brands out there with the Concept II finding broad acceptance in the rowing community - they even hold national and international indoor rowing competitions and events linked via the internet.
The essential difference between them is that the Concept II uses a weighted flywheel and wind resistance for the resistance and the WaterRower uses a bladed flywheel in a water tank. There is a split among users over which has a more “natural” feel. From my own experience of using both, I like the resistance curve of the Concept better. The WaterRower is a quieter machine and the Concept can generate a good bit of wind noise. If I were in the market to buy one today, I would still go with the Concept II in its latest incarnation.
MOWC, I used the rower extensively for quite awhile and always enjoyed the challenge of the workout. The rhythmic nature of it was very calming notwithstanding the intensity levels I could generate. Once I became serious about cycling, I stopped using it for myself. I use it today for cardio work for my clients who have balance or mobility issues or want to do full body cardio with some arm toning.
Greenbutton, rowing is a great cardio exercise that also works upper body. It will tone and improve arm and shoulder endurance but I would not view it as a substitute for resistance/strength training.
Wow, what a great day off - wonder if I could be this productive everyday?!
It was a nice day so that helped. Sunny and about 60. Tomorrow, 50, rain and 50mph winds - high wind warnings. What a mess it will be!
My Fitbit Charge is showing 25,000 steps for today. I believe it! Long walk this morning with pup because we could. Treated him to a walk at the park near the river (beautiful!) after his good vet visit. Another walk at dusk. 30+ minute run midday. An hour+ of yard work with the leaves. Several errands, shopping and some several trips up and down the stairs doing the little cleaning I had time for.
I’m telling you, good weather makes all the difference. I shutter to think how I’ll have to battle to get my steps once winter hits. I’m going to have to committ to regular walks through the tunnels at work. I’ve done that before - when I need to use the restroom I’ll take a 10 minute break and walk across campus to another bathroom!!!
My lunch date with DH was canceled today, so I canceled my plans to run, ate a hearty breakfast, packed a snack, and hit the trails for a long walk. I have to remind myself sometimes that being able to hike is one the the main reasons why I want to be fit! Most of Florida is a giant sand bar; on the trails one doesn’t find the typical dark humusy or clayey soil; rocks–even pebbles–are scarce. I mention this because today, before I could really start walking, I had to trudge through a mile or so of some very recently graded trail–think 2 to 6 inches of loose, dry sand. Hard work! The state park system does this for fire break, maybe (?), or to keep it less compacted for horses (?). Alas, my feet are not hooves (yet!) so it was a job. Altogether though, I walked about 7 miles. Stopped for flowers, wild turkeys, a few bugs Beautiful day. Wore my Columbia short shorts, sleeveless Nike top. Warm, but less humid. Yay!
A package of GU gels arrived. DH is VERY skeptical of their value. Lulu clothing he’ll go along with, but gels…he thinks I’ve sipped the wrong kool-aid
I have some Gu gels that I got in race packets to try - I usually use the Clif shot bloks but want to try the Huma gels as well.
Got home from work, ran the dogs in the back yard, fed them dinner, then we went for a big walk. Letting them run off some steam makes them more manageable when we’re walking! Really wishing today was Friday. I envy everyone who had the day off today!
Best of luck PG on your pre-procedure tomorrow and procedure Friday! Had my first one done a couple of months ago.
I get pretty anal about meeting goals like steps. One reason I wanted to get the Fitbit - but I also try and be conscience of having a good bit of my steps be from “exercise”. Walking around our small office - not exercise! Even if I walk it 20 times! I bumped up my step goals to 11,000/day - usually not a problem at all, but again, we will see what winter brings. My weekly report has shown a consistent 130,000 + steps per week. I do wear my Fitbit on my dominant wrist and do KNOW that a portion of those steps are NOT steps - unloading the dishwasher, brushing teeth, etc. But I figure as long as I know my “average” I need to be sure to keep those numbers coming - and above.
I swiped a gel packet from my group run this weekend & tried it out - ugh! Are there some that taste good? I used some gummy lifesavers during my 15K & those tasted great! Probably missing all the nutrients of the gels though.
Good job, abasket. Plantmom- walking in soft sand is really hard.
Sabaray- I didn’t have off today, either. We leave tomorrow afternoon for NC and my women’s running group meetup at Thunder Road Marathon/half.
I walked my old doggie tonight, too. He had a longer walk earlier with H, but I wanted to get out with him a little bit.
Huma gels taste really good, and they have a good consistency- like applesauce. At the race last Saturday, I was ripping into one as I approached the mile 5 water stop and a man working the water stop yelled to me, “That Gu will give you diarrhea!” I told him it was Huma gel, but he yelled it again. It was pretty strange, really.
