How can I find a good trainer?

[Nancytmcc]

Hello everyone--
I was thinking that it is time I really started to get back to more intense weight training. I have been trying to walk on my treadmill 4-5 days a week and it is just not cutting it in terms of toning and weight loss. I am doing some haphazard dumbbell exercises but nothing consistent. In the past I have weight trained very intensively and it has always helped me tone and build lean muscle in great ways.
I would love to find a trainer who will help me design my regular workouts and also help me work on the nutrition from a low-carb point of view (in other words, I don't want to be told to eat from the food pyramid!!) I think it would be great to find someone on-line, as that would probably be the most flexible. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks so much in advance!!

[inatic]

I LOVE my coach. I've been working with him for almost two yrs now. You can find his info here. A few of the gals from this bb have worked with him Like Jackieleigh,liteweight (my training partner) and currently stargrabber.

He works with 'average folks' and has a lot of experience with competitors.

www.leanbodiesconsulting.com

[LoraJR72]

Originally Posted by Nancytmcc

Hello everyone--
I was thinking that it is time I really started to get back to more intense weight training. I have been trying to walk on my treadmill 4-5 days a week and it is just not cutting it in terms of toning and weight loss. I am doing some haphazard dumbbell exercises but nothing consistent. In the past I have weight trained very intensively and it has always helped me tone and build lean muscle in great ways.
I would love to find a trainer who will help me design my regular workouts and also help me work on the nutrition from a low-carb point of view (in other words, I don't want to be told to eat from the food pyramid!!) I think it would be great to find someone on-line, as that would probably be the most flexible. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks so much in advance!!

My trainer goes over my menus once a week and scolds me for going off the wagon. I incorporate more cottage cheese and Greek Yogurt in my diet and amped up the amount of protein. I eat 6 small meals a day every 2-3 hours. I drink Whey Protein, eat chicken breasts, hb eggs, turkey, salmon, shrimp, almonds, and sweet potatoes (as a snack by the way and not with anything else). I love fruit and the occasional banana, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, blackberries, plums, and grapefruit are a real treat for me. I am less likely to eat bad carbs by eating better.

If I want bread, I can have Ezekiel 3:9 bread. If I want mayo, I buy Trader Joe's Organic Full Fat Mayo.

I'm in the middle of a Stillman's challenge at the moment to shake up the plateau pillar. This is what I get for not listening to my trainer!

I was told that nutrition is 3/4 of the battle and with doing weight training with proper form you WILL see results. In the past 8 weeks, I can see many people doing the most simple exercises on machines and free weights in the wrong way. They go too fast or using weight that is far too heavy. What happens? They tire themselves too quickly. But, I don't say anything, yet! I'm studying to become a certified trainer myself and I've become my trainer's protégé.

Once I start tanning, I will see for myself how good my muscles will look. I'm very pale! I want to take bikini pictures when that happens!

Good Luck!

[Nancytmcc]

Thanks so much for the responses!!

inatic: I saw the info in your siggy on your trainer and got on his website yesterday, he sounds awesome and just what I am looking for! I tried to contact him through the website and it said it did not go through, and that I should email (erik@leanbodiesconsulting.com or something like that), which I did and have not heard back yet. Do you know what the best way is to get in contact with Erik?

LoraJR72: that sounds EXACTLY like the way I want to be able to eat and train!! I have been eating plain yogurt and having whey protein shakes with plenty of good fat (coconut oil and ground flax seeds) and wondering if this is screwing up my weight loss, but I have no idea and really want to work with a trainer who will look at everything with me, and who knows more than me. I am very good at following directions, but am at a total loss right now about which direction to go with my diet. So I want a good trainer to tell me, and also help me be accountable with my weight training.

[inatic]

Erik is currently on vacation in Mexico with little internet access. Please be patient. He will get back to you.

[inatic]

You can also check out his blog which is filled with awesome information Lean Bodies Consulting

[Nancytmcc]

Ileen--thank you thank you thank you!! I was wondering if he might be away. I will definitely check out his blog. I am particularly intrigued by the article he wrote on metabolic repair. I think this is exactly what I am struggling with. I am also struggling with my exercise program--I have always been much more oriented towards weight training, but I have a cardio-obsessed husband (who runs marathons every few months!) who tells me I must up my cardio (which I kind of hate--the cardio, that is, not my husband!). So I clearly need to figure out what is right for ME, as I know that everybody is different.
I also purchased the BFFB e-book a few years ago and never read it through, but I recall it was very interesting too. I cannot seem to find it, though (I printed it out and put it away!!) so I may have to buy it again!
I will keep posting here, this section in particular appeals to me!

[texy]

I e-mailed him too, based on the progress of the people on this board. I've been marathon training and have run two races (1/2 marathon and 10K) and haven't lost a pound on my own. My legs and behind are stronger and more muscular but that's about it.

Throwing out the white flag! help!

[stargrabber]

Just wanted to add I love Erik as my coach! And Ileen is a great role model for me.

[Nancytmcc]

Woo-hoo! I am so excited! I will be starting to train with Erik next week when he returns from vacation. I really am looking forward to this so much, and want to thank everyone here for pointing me in this direction! I'll let you know how it goes, but I am certain that the weight training and nutrition guidance will really help my weight loss program enormously.

[inatic]

wow that was fast. Is all your paper work in?

[stargrabber]

that is awesome! Be prepared for a way different way of lifting and good clean foods....consistency, focus and adherance to his plan is what has gotten me as far with him in 26 weeks. (down 37lbs and 37inches)

[Nancytmcc]

Originally Posted by inatic

wow that was fast. Is all your paper work in?

No, not yet, he's going to send me the paperwork to fill out when he gets back from Mexico next week (I feel guilty for "bugging" him while he was on vacation but he was very nice to me!!). So I guess we won't start the actual training per se until maybe the following week, but I am just so relieved that I have a good direction at this point. I have been muddling around for three months now with haphazard training and hit and miss food plans (too much fat? too little fat? dairy or no dairy? too much or too little protein? how the heck do I use this fitday thing??) I changed what I was doing with my food almost every other day based on what I was reading--no wonder my body is all confused !!! I am just so happy to finally have someone to consistently give me direction.
I love weight training too, and have been away from it for way too long!! I have been so unmotivated--all last year I was pretty depressed, I lost my mom to lung cancer in Oct. 2006 and it was pretty bad until the end of 2007. I cannot wait to get back to building lean muscle, and hopefully get out of the hour-long spinning classes my cardio-obsessed husband (I think I have mentioned him before, haven't I ??) keeps trying to get me to do!!
I will be a regular member of the BFFM thread here once I get started, it looks like a great place to get support and motivate each other!!

[LoraJR72]

Originally Posted by inatic

You can also check out his blog which is filled with awesome information Lean Bodies Consulting

Yes, very interesting indeed!

I'm glad my trainer has turned into my friend and one of my biggest supporters! The DB is jealous though!

[twinsplusone]

Do you need to belong to a gym to have Erik has a trainer, or is a home gym enough? I know his website says it costs less than a personal trainer, but can anyone give me a ballpark number? Do you need to commit to a year long contract or anything like that?
Thanks.

[stargrabber]

Originally Posted by twinsplusone

Do you need to belong to a gym to have Erik has a trainer, or is a home gym enough? I know his website says it costs less than a personal trainer, but can anyone give me a ballpark number? Do you need to commit to a year long contract or anything like that?
Thanks.

No year long committments but he does like at least 2 months. If you decide to work with him let him know what type of home gym you have.

You can feel free to e-mail him for prices...that doesn't lock you into anything

btw down 40lbs and 39 inches in 28 weeks

[inatic]

Originally Posted by twinsplusone

Do you need to belong to a gym to have Erik has a trainer, or is a home gym enough? I know his website says it costs less than a personal trainer, but can anyone give me a ballpark number? Do you need to commit to a year long contract or anything like that?
Thanks.

i used to train with a trainer 3x times a week/month and Erik is 5o% less. Some clients that use Erik train at home. I have both a home gym and a commerical membership. I use both.

[twinsplusone]

Thanks. I will wait and e-mail him when he is back from holiday.

[inatic]

He's not on holiday anymore..

[mom2twoboys]

Have you started working with Eric yet? If so how do you like it/him? Is it hard to not have someone next to you making sure you have proper form? Are you seeing results? Is there a nutrition plan too, Do you like the it? Did you have a strong training back ground before working with him or were you new to it?

Last summer I had one session with the PT at the YMCA and I did not like it or her to much. At that time finacially I could not stick with it and it had to wait. Now that summer is approaching I am re-considering. I do not have a strong weight training background (althought I have read a few books) so I am not sure if for me he would be the way to go. I know that some of the ladies on the board love him and have good results.

I am just curious to see, I hope it is going great great for you!

[stargrabber]

Originally Posted by mom2twoboys

Have you started working with Eric yet? If so how do you like it/him? Is it hard to not have someone next to you making sure you have proper form? Are you seeing results? Is there a nutrition plan too, Do you like the it? Did you have a strong training back ground before working with him or were you new to it?

Last summer I had one session with the PT at the YMCA and I did not like it or her to much. At that time finacially I could not stick with it and it had to wait. Now that summer is approaching I am re-considering. I do not have a strong weight training background (althought I have read a few books) so I am not sure if for me he would be the way to go. I know that some of the ladies on the board love him and have good results.

I am just curious to see, I hope it is going great great for you!

I didn't have a strong background in weights either fyi.

He has demo's on his site just for clients and I tend to google mine or post on his forums and plenty of people are very helpful.

I will say this....I have pushed myself more working with him and knowing I can handle the gym by myself then I ever did with my trainer in person...and yep I pay about half of what I did to see my trainer 3 times a week/plus nutrition for Erik's services.

Erik will do both nutrition and weights or just one or the other (I recommend both of course)

Lets hope Nancy chimes in so you can see how she likes it so far.

[mom2twoboys]

Thanks that is good to know. I think it would help me stay motivated and make progress instead of being stuck where I am.