preface with: I am not against trainers. I think they can be very valuable for the reasons you mentioned - encouragement, "managing" the technicalities, instruc

preface with: I am not against trainers. I think they can be very valuable for the reasons you mentioned - encouragement, "managing" the technicalities, instructing your technique/nutrition. With that said, I would recommend using a trainer in combination with at least one separate resource - like barbell medicine. I've had personal experience with trainers that pedaled pseudo science (or sometimes straight BS) as fact, or recommended methods that weren't aligned with my goals.