Weight Training Nightmare: The Deadly Myth About Personal Trainers and Weight Training

One of the biggest ‘misconceptions’ people have about personal trainers sounds something like this…

“If I had the money to hire a personal trainer I would be in perfect shape.”

Having been in this industry for over 20 years – I’ve come to learn that this is actually just a cop-out excuse for most people. Plain and simple…

But, today – I want to show you the hidden danger in this excuse disguised as a ‘misconception’.

Let’s assume you have the money to hire a personal trainer to get you – and keep you in shape. It is extremely important that you are aware of the fact that all trainers are not safe trainers.

Case in point – Pam just forwarded this email to me from a ‘Joey Atlas Client’ in the UK.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Can I workout now?
From: kathleen c…… – ‘anonymous’@yahoo.co.uk -
Date: Fri, February 13, 2009 8:43 am
To: “Your Trainer: Joey Atlas”

Hi Joey,

I had been doing your Ultimate Lower Body workouts and (in addition) went to the gym with a PT (personal trainer) a couple of times a week.

I was in good shape and ‘well’. However, I injured my neck during a weight training session with my PT and had to rest a while to recover.

On starting back training, I was passed as ‘fit’ by my PT to lift weights again.

It was a disaster.

I have had chronic pain in my neck and shoulders and now I’m having physio (therapy) to improve things (rehabilitate).

Long story made short, I have not been training for 4 months now. All my gains in fitness and general shape are lost. I just walk every other day for an hour.

Do you think I could start back with the Lower Body workouts and be safe now? I don’t want to do upper body work as I am so frightened of further damage.

Regards,

Kate C…….
———————————

Pam answered her email directly – so I’m not going to rehash the answer here – but here are a few valuable lessons I want you to take from this:

1 – A certified personal trainer is not necessarily a ’safe’ trainer. Frankly, some trainers are downright psychotic – I can say this because I’ve seen them with my own eyes in all types of settings. **NOTE: There are also many EXCELLENT trainers all over the world.**

2 – If a trainer injures you – Don’t ask them if you are well enough to resume exercising (see the proper medical pro.)

3 – If a trainer injures you – don’t go back to the same trainer – if you “must have a trainer…”

4 – Traditional weight training is not for everyone – as a matter of fact most people can work amazing wonders on their body with a program that only consists of about 15% weight training – most of the rest is bodyweight and band training.

5 – Learn to be your own personal trainer. Anything you think a trainer can do for you – you can do better yourself, as long as you have the right information.

6 – **this one is for you – Let me know if I left any ‘lessons’ out here – just click on ‘Comment’ below and let us know…

Your trainer for life,

Joey Atlas