Meetings with a PT

[Starseeker]

I’ve been visiting the gym more or less regularly during the past years, but I always only participated in group classes because it was easier, didn’t require creating a training plan, and most importantly – I don’t have to use the machines and weight in the gym ‘open space’, where I feel very uncomfortable.

Group classes have been getting gradually more crowded, and right now it’s impossible to get in unless I manage to sign up about two days beforehand, right after the registration opens. That’s one reason why I started looking for a personal trainer, the other being the fact that I want to learn to use the equipment on the open gym because it would make training independently much easier. I finally mustered the courage to get an appointment with a PT and I rather liked her, so we’re going to meet every week.

1-h meeting is ~$40. I asked if she could prepare me a training plan to train by myself, because obviously I want to work out more often than on once-per-week meeting with a PT. She said of course and a workout plan costs ~$30.

Now that’s why I’m looking for advice: I was convinced that a PT would make me a workout plan (and maybe even a diet plan, if they specialise in this area too) within the budget of the meetings (by which I mean $40/1h). I was surprised to learn that a plan would cost extra (and almost as much as one meeting). Do you know if this is common practice or not? Do all PTs charge extra for all the services apart from meetings at the gym?

You could probably tell me to go see some other PTs too to see, but the thing is that booking an appointment with this one was already way out of my comfort zone, and I don’t feel ready to go through meeting a new person, telling them about my life and visiting a new gym all over again, at least for now. Besides, I haven’t found many female PTs (a must for me) who work in gyms that have a good location for me to commute.
Technically there is some possibility for me to research this topic and make a basic workout plan for myself (I have some knowledge about physical therapy), but I’m not sure how well this would work.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter.

[This_is_the_greatest_plan]

Congrats on deciding to get comfortable with training independently! Thats a big step and I think you should be proud!
Is it possible that you and the PT misunderstood each other? I can see how you might have meant, 'when we meet and I pay you £40, can you include a training plan?' and she might have heard that as 'Can we meet for £40 and you also make me a training plan for whatever else that costs?' Misunderstandings can happen and I think its upsetting when a professional misunderstands us, but I guess it must happen sometimes.

[Moxie.]

Hey Sue,

Congratulations on going out of your comfort zone and starting to meet with a PT. That's a huge step and you should be so proud of yourself for doing that!

As Alyssa said, it's possible that there was a misunderstanding. While I personally don't have any experience working with PT's, I do have family members who have. Through that, I have learned that some PT's will create a training plan for a one-time fee for people who do not plan on becoming regular clients. Perhaps that was what your PT was thinking about? It might be beneficial to reach out to her or ask her about that at your next meeting. You could say something along the lines of "I just wanted to clarify the price point for the training plan I requested. Is that charge separate from the cost of the meeting, or is it included as part of one of our meetings?" When you have the most accurate information, you'll be able to decide what is best (and financially feasible) for you.

I hope this helped some!

[Starseeker]

Thank you for both your replies. I am sure there was no misunderstanding, it's just a fee that she requires for creating a training plan. I would like to know if others have some experience cooperating with PTs and whether this is a common practice.

[WhisperingSilence]

Hi, I have a PT who charges me £25 per session equating to £100 a month and in that a diet plan and training plan and weight management is included within the cost.
I can't say what's normal or not as I think each gym and PT have different charges based on what you need/want.
My PT also works with me on my mental health checks in with me how I am doing mentally, and when I first started attending the sessions I was anxious about being on the gym floor however now I am like totally fine to be on the gym floor using the equipment it took about 4-5months of intensive 121 work with my PT in a private room getting my confidence up to the point where I could be on the gym floor etc.

I think it's important to find the right PT for you, my PT gets me, knows my limits but also knows when to like push my a little bit more, we also have banter with each other too which helps put me at ease and feel comfortable around him.

[Dawn.]

Hi there,

Some personal trainers offer services which is part of what they charge, such as nutritional guidance, workout plans and progress tracking. But how much they charge is up to the individual.