Any personel trainers out there ?

[tightgit]

If there is, I would like some advice as to whether or not my trainer is giving me appropriate training sessons. For example, given that I am on medication for high blood pressure, should I be doing weight training on the chest and arms ? I thought I read somewhere that this could lead to increased pressure on my heart. :confused:

[Glad]

I'm not a personal trainer but............

make an appointment to see your GP and ask him what is appropriate, bearing in mind your current health issues, if your surgery has a physiotherapist they should also be able to help,
armed with that information you can go back to the trainer and set up a training regime,
there is currently no regulatory body governing personal training credentials in the UK, although the sporting world is aiming to introduce a register for trainers, it will be up to the individual to ask to be included on it, not mandatory.
When looking for a trainer referrals and reccomendations are the best way, ask to see some qualifications; A.P.T (Association of Personal Trainers), F.T.S.T. (Fitness Training Sports Therapy Diploma), P.T. Dip (Personal Training Diploma) or an Hons Sports Science (Degree) are the usual and make sure they have public liability and indemnity insurance as well as a current First Aid and CPR certificate.

[tightgit]

Thanks for your advice. I got this trainer through my local leisure center, so I did assume that they would have all the neccesary qualifications, but I should check this. My doctor has encouraged me to take exercise, but nothing specific, so I will go and ask him about this.

[Lucie]

tightgit

Without knowing much about your situation/exercise goals/health then I really can't say whether your trainer is any good or not.
My theory is that anyone with high blood pressure should not be be lifting above the head, as this can cause increases in blood pressure. Lifting weights is not strictly verboeten for high BP sufferers, but if you're not feeling comfortable with them then you shouldn't be doing them. Cardiovascular exercise is a better form of exercise for helping to lower BP (if that is what you are trying to do) & you should be doing at least 30 minutes for at least 3 times per week (as a bare minimum). Is the trainer monitoring your heart rate to see how hard you're working?
Ask the trainer if they're REPS registered. REPS stands for the register of exercise professionals & the industry is currently trying hard to standardise qualifications across the board. In my experience local authority staff tend to be of a poorer standard than those who work in private health clubs, but this is not always the case & some coucil run facilities have very good staff.
Please feel free to PM me with some more details; things like your age, weight, exercise history, any health problems, your exercise goals & the exercise programme specified by your trainer & I will try to help out all I can.

I am a fitness professional with over 10 years experience of devising exercise programmes for a huge range of people, so I amy be able to add something that your current trainer is missing.
As for seeing your GP - try it by all means, but most GPs need to take more exercise themselves & have a very poor knowledge of health related exercise & fitness.
Most of all don't give up - you are exercising & it's good for you!

[tightgit]

Lucie thanks for your advice. I have sent you a personal message.

[savvy]

Would also like to add to Lucies post that most Local Authority leisure centres operate a GP referrals scheme, the staff there are VERY tuned into excercise prescription eg cardiac rehabilitation etc and, as Lucie said, are far more qualified in this area than the majority of GP's!!

If you need any other advice, my friend works in a Cardiac Rehab unit and we both did a Sports Science degree ;)

[Bargainbabe]

My hubby is a Physical Training Instructor. Maybe i could ask him if you like.