Is a Personal Trainer or Nutritionist for You?

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Certified personal trainers and/or nutritionists might help you lose that stubborn 30 pounds (or more). They may help to alleviate that back pain when all else has failed.  And sometimes you can make more strides without either one.

Lisa  Celeski, a teacher and personal trainer in the northwestern PA area cautions that we need to pick a trainer with care.  First , look for certifications in the area. The trainer needs to be knowledgable in exercise and also in nutrition. Second, pick someone who  matches your personal goals, not theirs. She emphasizes that your goals can be met best by following a gradual process, not a series of quick, hard exercises.  Know that the process will involve help but also discipline.  The client must eventually move away from the trainer and continue the regimen individually. Lisa reflected that in this area, the average cost for a personal trainer is $40 per hour, realizing that the cost of an in-home personal trainer help will also depend on travel time. Lisa has helped several women of all sizes in the northwestern PA area.

A review of YMCA locations across western PA, in Tampa, FL, and in San Antonio, TX showed just one Y offering the interesting Mobile Fit program (Sewickley, PA YMCA).  The client and the trainer work mainly by communicating through the laptop, ipad,  iphone or other web-based contact process. This could work well for those of us who are way too busy to travel to the Y three times a week while we attend to jobs and family.

Sometimes, having a bouncy, size 0  22-year-old trainer or nutritionist can be very depressing.  One of our contributors began with a nutritionist, became disillusioned and decided to tackle her weight problem by another means.

She remembers, " It began one day when I saw myself in a mirror, stuffing my face. It was not pretty, and during the next 10 months, I committed to reducing my food intake and increasing my exercise. I don't do any of that now. I still rarely drink sodas, very rarely eat ice cream, eat slower and quit when I feel full. I tried going to a nutritionist, but I would pig out before going to her.  She seemed so critical with her size 3 attitude.  More stress was created by knowing someone was judging my progress regularly.  This is also the reason a personal trainer would not work.  I did not want anyone seeing the fat.  At Curves, it was just women."

Dottie continues, "Drinking 8 oz of water before each meal, did not drink for 1/2 hour after my meal.  I did "Walk-a-Way the Pounds" tape and 3 times a week at Curves.  I ate healthier, making sure I ate from all food groups.  When I went a period of time with little protein, I did not lose at much weight.  So I had to make sure I ate at least the minimum portions.  When I cheated, I ate more veggies, cut out sodas and ice cream all together. (Note:  Dottie has lost more than 30+ lbs and has kept it off for two + years. She looks fabulous!)

But, then, there's good news about using a nutritionist.  Many insurances will pay the cost.  Joan D. has just begun with a nutritionist.  She's in her second month and says, "Regarding the nutritionist—I see her once a month.  So far the cost has been absorbed by a program that Highmark does at St. Vincent.  I am supposed to do my log which I must confess I didn’t do all last week.  I woke today and measured, wrote down, etc.  We review the log and the problems I am facing with this process.  The nutritionist gives me an honest overview of how she sees my past weeks and then gives me some tips on how to face the challenges that I might face during the days ahead."

Snap Fitness advertises that they participate in the Highmark Silver Sneakers program as do many other fitness centers and Ys-and many former teachers have one of the Highmark plans offering it.  The Snap Fitness free month offer includes a session with a personal trainer.

Finally, Dr. Jim R. also adds that there is an online certification process for those of us who might consider becoming personal trainers ourselves. Those of us already teaching yoga classes or those having background in physical fitness and exercise might help women start on the path of better health and fitness(  with the incentive of adding a little income to the personal coffers!)

(Our thanks to Dottie, Pat, Joan D.,  Lisa  and Jim for their insights into personal trainers and nutritionists.)

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)