3 ms·

I think he meant "you shouldn't skip gym just because you don't have a trainer. Gym is worth doing, so it's even worth doing badly (without a trainer)"

drewrv 11y ago
I agree with this idea but if you work out badly enough you can seriously injure yourself.
- iLoch 11y ago
  You're probably over analyzing this. I don't need someone to tell me how to run if I want to go for a run, regardless of my experience level. But sure, having a personal trainer is important for certain types of workouts.
  - thenomad 11y ago
    I agree for a one-off. But plenty of people have permanently damaged their knees by consistently running without getting advice on how best to do it. You don't need a personal trainer for that. But asking someone "to tell me how to run" ain't a bad idea, even if it's a question on a running board on the Internet.
    - pingswept 11y ago
      "But plenty of people have permanently damaged their knees by consistently running without getting advice on how best to do it." The people who read running boards all the time roll their eyes at stuff like this. Saying that running will hurt your knees is the running equivalent of "The GPL will infect your codebase." It's not true, but it sounds scary. Usually, if you ask runners how to run, they will say something like, "It's not that complicated. Run more miles, slowly." For example: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/wi8zq/want_an_easy_way_to_drop_that/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/wi8zq/want_an_easy...
      - thenomad 11y ago
        Interesting - thanks! OTOH, "Runner's Knee" does seem to be a serious condition affecting a lot of people (much like "Fencer's Knee", which I'm more familiar with). From the same subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/3hx43k/how_i_cured_my_runners_knee/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/3hx43k/how_i_cured... https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/26jaax/3_years_ago_i_blew_out_my_knee_in_a_marathon/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/26jaax/3_years_ago... https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1gdw5l/can_i_fix_my_runners_knee/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1gdw5l/can_i_fix_m... And a number of people, when discussing the problem, reference bad technique as a causative factor. However, you're absolutely right that it seems there's little evidence for permanent damage. I found this thread particularly interesting: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1fehx2/wife_trying_to_convince_me_running_will_ruin_my/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1fehx2/wife_trying...
- xerophyte12932 11y ago
  I totally get your point and I agree. I think fundamental point is not to use such things as excuses not to do things at all.
- douche 11y ago
  If you work out with the vast majority of badly trained, non-scientific, fad-chasing trainers, you can seriously injure yourself too.
  - vinceguidry 11y ago
    You can injure yourself even with a good trainer. I trained with one on the Starting Strength lifts for 4 months. Made crazy gains, but I ended up stopping after an injury. I was not listening to my body the way I would have if I hadn't had the trainer. I'm starting Crossfit now, and my number one goal is zero injuries. I like that it's more of a class format than it is a one on one training format. I can go at my own pace.
    - rangibaby 11y ago
      Crossfit is a dangerous joke because they prioritize massive sets over safe and correct form. https://medium.com/@ericrobertson/crossfits-dirty-little-secret-97bcce70356d#.rj1vnimqe https://medium.com/@ericrobertson/crossfits-dirty-little-sec...
      - vinceguidry 11y ago
        I used to think the same way. But gyms vary widely in quality and culture. And you can go at your own pace, nobody is going to make you do more when you're ready to stop. I personally would prefer to just lift. But unless you're pretty lucky, or are willing to invest the time and expense, you won't have access to a gym with decent equipment. Since convenience is a huge factor in lifestyle choices like working out, you need to choose amongst the activities that are close to you. Once I graduated from cardio at Planet Fitness, the only place to go really is Crossfit.
- mmsimanga 11y ago
  Allow me to please add another dimension to this discussion. First a couple of facts, South Africa is in top five set of unequal societies in the world (the rich are really rich, the poor very poor). Less than 1% can afford personal trainers. Obesity related illnesses now take up bulk of health budget. Not to discount the value of personal trainers but in certain countries/scenarios it is just best to get on with exercising.
  - zo1 11y ago
    That is also due to South African culture, and not necessarily just wealth inequality.
- coldtea 11y ago
  People have been working out without "professional trainers" for millennia. Yes, you can be injured occasionally (but you also can with a trainer), but if you don't overdo it you'll be fine.

drewrv 11y ago

I agree with this idea but if you work out badly enough you can seriously injure yourself.

iLoch 11y ago
You're probably over analyzing this. I don't need someone to tell me how to run if I want to go for a run, regardless of my experience level. But sure, having a personal trainer is important for certain types of workouts.
- thenomad 11y ago
  I agree for a one-off. But plenty of people have permanently damaged their knees by consistently running without getting advice on how best to do it. You don't need a personal trainer for that. But asking someone "to tell me how to run" ain't a bad idea, even if it's a question on a running board on the Internet.
  - pingswept 11y ago
    "But plenty of people have permanently damaged their knees by consistently running without getting advice on how best to do it." The people who read running boards all the time roll their eyes at stuff like this. Saying that running will hurt your knees is the running equivalent of "The GPL will infect your codebase." It's not true, but it sounds scary. Usually, if you ask runners how to run, they will say something like, "It's not that complicated. Run more miles, slowly." For example: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/wi8zq/want_an_easy_way_to_drop_that/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/wi8zq/want_an_easy...
    - thenomad 11y ago
      Interesting - thanks! OTOH, "Runner's Knee" does seem to be a serious condition affecting a lot of people (much like "Fencer's Knee", which I'm more familiar with). From the same subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/3hx43k/how_i_cured_my_runners_knee/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/3hx43k/how_i_cured... https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/26jaax/3_years_ago_i_blew_out_my_knee_in_a_marathon/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/26jaax/3_years_ago... https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1gdw5l/can_i_fix_my_runners_knee/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1gdw5l/can_i_fix_m... And a number of people, when discussing the problem, reference bad technique as a causative factor. However, you're absolutely right that it seems there's little evidence for permanent damage. I found this thread particularly interesting: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1fehx2/wife_trying_to_convince_me_running_will_ruin_my/ https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1fehx2/wife_trying...
xerophyte12932 11y ago
I totally get your point and I agree. I think fundamental point is not to use such things as excuses not to do things at all.
douche 11y ago
If you work out with the vast majority of badly trained, non-scientific, fad-chasing trainers, you can seriously injure yourself too.
- vinceguidry 11y ago
  You can injure yourself even with a good trainer. I trained with one on the Starting Strength lifts for 4 months. Made crazy gains, but I ended up stopping after an injury. I was not listening to my body the way I would have if I hadn't had the trainer. I'm starting Crossfit now, and my number one goal is zero injuries. I like that it's more of a class format than it is a one on one training format. I can go at my own pace.
  - rangibaby 11y ago
    Crossfit is a dangerous joke because they prioritize massive sets over safe and correct form. https://medium.com/@ericrobertson/crossfits-dirty-little-secret-97bcce70356d#.rj1vnimqe https://medium.com/@ericrobertson/crossfits-dirty-little-sec...
    - vinceguidry 11y ago
      I used to think the same way. But gyms vary widely in quality and culture. And you can go at your own pace, nobody is going to make you do more when you're ready to stop. I personally would prefer to just lift. But unless you're pretty lucky, or are willing to invest the time and expense, you won't have access to a gym with decent equipment. Since convenience is a huge factor in lifestyle choices like working out, you need to choose amongst the activities that are close to you. Once I graduated from cardio at Planet Fitness, the only place to go really is Crossfit.
mmsimanga 11y ago
Allow me to please add another dimension to this discussion. First a couple of facts, South Africa is in top five set of unequal societies in the world (the rich are really rich, the poor very poor). Less than 1% can afford personal trainers. Obesity related illnesses now take up bulk of health budget. Not to discount the value of personal trainers but in certain countries/scenarios it is just best to get on with exercising.
- zo1 11y ago
  That is also due to South African culture, and not necessarily just wealth inequality.
coldtea 11y ago
People have been working out without "professional trainers" for millennia. Yes, you can be injured occasionally (but you also can with a trainer), but if you don't overdo it you'll be fine.