I’ve been working with a PT for a little over a year now. I am also training to become one myself. I have set out below my most important learnings from this process should you ever decide to get yourself a trainer too.
- Never talk to them too much whilst you are exercising. They will take this as a sign that you are not exercising hard enough and will increase the torture level considerably.
- Whilst lifting weights, it is advisable to pull a few faces. Consider also including some ‘I am in pain’ grunting type noises towards the end of the set. Otherwise they will take this as a sign that the weight should increase significantly.
- When they ask you how you are feeling about the intensity of the exercise on a scale of 1-10 never, ever say less than 8. Otherwise they will take this as a sign you are not working hard enough and increase the torture level accordingly.
- If you have an injury or health problem you should always tell your PT. However, never complain about being sore from a previous workout or tell them that you are tired. This is a signal to a PT that you are being a big lazy wuss and need to be appropriately dealt with.
- Remember that it is their watch and their rep count that matters. And their watch is always, always slow. It is not advisable to tell a PT that you think a minute has passed. Because they might just make it two.
