For Personal Trainers or Serious Fitness People!?!
Question:
I just recently started seeing a personal trainer and he is kicking my butt! I mean I am not a wimp, I can handle the workouts but I am feeling horrible when I get home and the day after. I think he is working my muscles too hard because I have had pins and needles in my right arm for 2 days and it's only when I stretch that muscle. How do I bring this up (I mean he is the professional) without sounding like I am a know it all. I want his help working out and getting fit, but I am in so much pain I have been popping 800 motrins and the occasional percocet to numb the pain so I can fall asleep at night. Is this normal for a pretty active 5'6" 128 lb person? Do you think he is working me too hard, or does everyone get THIS sore after the starting of working out? PLEASE HELP!
Answers:
WOW! While I am a huge fan of endorphins and I love the sore feeling (I know it may sound nuts) I totally disagree with that kind of pain. I have been an athlete all my life and I am now a trainer. Day after a strenuous workout, you should feel sore when sitting (like on the pot) or when lifting and even a little tingle when you stretch in the morning. YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL PAIN! Most definitely not to the point of needing a pain pill. You need to let him know you are hurting. You are using too much weight or resistance or maybe going too hard too long. You could be doing damage to your muscles that is permanent. Your body is not able to replenish your muscles with the needed nutrients that is lost during a work-out and that is needed to expand the muscles and help burn calories because it is being damaged. You need to stop this NOW!
Other Answers:
It's always bad at the beginning. But there is a chance that you are getting hurt. It is impossible to be sure from your question but it may be that you have crossed the line. Tell him how much pain you are in. If you don't like his answer get a new trainer.
you will be sore from a workout but it should not disrupt your sleep thats to hard. and the pens and meedles is a pinched nerve and that should not really happen. i would tell your trainer that the work load is to much and you need a longer run up time to really hit it hard. it may also be that he is working you like the pro magazines say which quit honestly depending on the mag may be designed for roid users who have a longer work out to gain more and have considerably less sore time as the roids help you recover very fast from a workout.
and if nothing else you are paying this guy to develop a plan for YOU. so tell him your concerns and if he gives any flak get another one there are plenty and they may be better at it than your current one.
when i started workin out it was hell at begining, just bcuz your muscles are getting used to it they will hurt the next day, the day after and other days, its normal, ive been workin out for 2 years and whenever i get a hell of a good work out i get the soreness the next day, and i got to love that feeling, youre gonna get used to it, if something work out everyother day if hes workin you out everyday, get **** load of rest, lots of sleep, thats when you regenerate.
Did you establish your goals initially with your personal trainer? If you're already active why did you opt for a trainer in the first place? Is he certified?
As with any relationship the key to a good one is communication. You're paying this guy for a service.if you're unsatisfied with it in some way you need to let him know. Tell him what the deal is tell him that you hurt and ask him if you're supposed to feel like that.
I know when I seriously work out my muscles tend to get very sore 2 days after. I relish the pain cuz I know that I worked out hard - this comes from the tearing of the muscle and after comes the healing process. Yesterday I woke up and fell outta bed cuz i couldnt stand without feelng this deep tension in my claves - I walked on tip toes to help relieve the tension. I had to slowly stretch it out to feel better. It's a bit better today.but be sure i'll be back at it again tomorrow ripping some more muscle.
It sounds to me you may be a pretty fit person already - do you really need someone pushing you? Or can you do it on your own from now on? Unless you plan on gaining some significant muscle - I'm confused to why you are being trained so hard - but hard for you may not be for someone else..so tell him how you feel. He can't get mad or upset - lol - you're paying for his service..If he doesnt change - find another trainer who suits your needs.
PS any trainer who trains the same muscle group on simultaneous days probably isnt a good trainer - yur muscles need time to recuperate. Try taking a post workout protein shake to promote fast lean muscle growth as well.
I'm not a PT but am studying exercise medcine and love to work out, but here is my take. Pain is not good period. If you are out of shape soreness is normal, if you are in shape (sonds like you are) then soreness should be minimal. Talk with your PT. His goals should mirror your goals. If he refuses to listen then get a different trainer. Good luck, and happy working out!
You bring it up by telling him what you are experiencing. Specifically and without drawing conclusions. You don't start by saing "I think I need to back off.." Start by saying "I'm having some symptoms that are concerning me." and go from there. See what he has to say. Don't give up the right to come to your own conclusions, but don't put them right up front -- give him a chance to hear the data and offer his point of view. Once he's done, you can decide what to do.
After you've heard him out, if you need to think about it, then take the time to think. Tell him that you're going to pay him for today's session, but you need to think about what he's said and decide what to do before you work out again. In other words, you treat him the way you would want the client to treat you if you were the expert.
A good trainer will put *you* in control of your own fitness. He will educate you about your options and explain to you why he recommends a certain course of action. If he's not willing to do that, find one that will. Your body is made to move, and it knows how to move -- it may have just forgotten a few tricks. Good coaching is important, but *good* coaching is always aimed at putting you back in charge, and working the coach out of a job by educating you to the point where you don't need him anymore.
A trainer that won't explain what he's up to, and won't listen to what's going on in your body, is not going to help you regain control of your own body. You don't need that kind of "help."
Be careful with yourself. Like the wise man said, "Take good care of your body. If you ruin it, where will you live?"
Pain is your body telling your something! In this case, yes, your PT is working you too hard but you must tell him/her or get another PT!
Source(s):
360.yahoo.com/tresarose
www.ThePerfectYou.us
All personal trainers should be aware of the Gradual Progressive Overload principle and should always be aware when they are over training someone. You are the client and have all the power. Let him know that you're motivation is dropping fast (A sign of over training). Another way to determine if you are in an over trained state is when your rest heart rate rises, but i do not think you need go this far. You are on the verge of letting him go or quiting all together. Tell him it is to difficult right now and that the intensity needs to be lowered.
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