A question for those who hire a trainer for contest prep.

[Flex2019]

My progress is coming along nicely this year and I'm considering competing for the first time in 10 years next June. I have around 12 years of training/diet experience and did well in a low level natural show that I did my own prep for. I've been inspired lately by the grainy conditioning of competitors such as Alex A and in order to come in my absolute best next year, I'm considering hiring some help.

So my question goes like this: Do you find it mentally difficult to put your prep in the hands of somebody else, especially when they may want you to do things in a way that you're not used to? I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable when it comes to dieting and I've learned a lot about my body and what works/doesn't work over the years. Still, I know that I could benefit greatly from the help of somebody of a higher level. There's got to be others like me that feel a bit uneasy about putting their prep into somebody else's hands. How do you push through this barrier?

 

[pesty4077]

My progress is coming along nicely this year and I'm considering competing for the first time in 10 years next June. I have around 12 years of training/diet experience and did well in a low level natural show that I did my own prep for. I've been inspired lately by the grainy conditioning of competitors such as Alex A and in order to come in my absolute best next year, I'm considering hiring some help.

So my question goes like this: Do you find it mentally difficult to put your prep in the hands of somebody else, especially when they may want you to do things in a way that you're not used to? I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable when it comes to dieting and I've learned a lot about my body and what works/doesn't work over the years. Still, I know that I could benefit greatly from the help of somebody of a higher level. There's got to be others like me that feel a bit uneasy about putting their prep into somebody else's hands. How do you push through this barrier?

Answer: I haven't did a show in 18 years, so believe me when I tell you, I didn't know what to expect. I am just as knowledgeable, been training close to 30 years, but I always like to get an unbias opinion from someone who knows. I hired Alex Azarian, and did his 16 week prep. I consider his prep to be the easiest, when it comes to diet. You will have to work out hard and heavy and do cardio. I can tell you, I will be coming in the condition like I was at 1/2 my age. I am not a big guy, so condition was very important for me. I am 5 weeks out and I am very vascular and hard. I personally, think my mind plays tricks on me at the end. My conditioning is too good at this point to mess it up at the end. I will be using him for the off season too, for some additional size. Well worth the investment, IMO.

 

[hilly2008]

i think the hardest part is doing what they say 100% even if it goes totally against what your used to.

I looked at hiring a few different people and decided on phil hernon in the end as i like his no nonsense approach which i feel i need due to the kind of person i am. i am very hesitant and always changing my mind and having some1 give me a straight answere helps.

it has been a total change as the things i am doing go against most things i have read diet wise yet in the first 3 weeks i am down 8lb yet my strength is on the up. i am doing less cardio that i was before as well. its hard because i am so used to doing things one way but i havnt even had or wanted a cheat meal yet and usually by sat i am gaging for 1.

i think guys like hernon, alex a, shelby to name a few are well worth it because the knowledge you learn you have for life not just the time with them.

 

[SacToSD]

Answer: I haven't did a show in 18 years, so believe me when I tell you, I didn't know what to expect. I am just as knowledgeable, been training close to 30 years, but I always like to get an unbias opinion from someone who knows. I hired Alex Azarian, and did his 16 week prep. I consider his prep to be the easiest, when it comes to diet. You will have to work out hard and heavy and do cardio. I can tell you, I will be coming in the condition like I was at 1/2 my age. I am not a big guy, so condition was very important for me. I am 5 weeks out and I am very vascular and hard. I personally, think my mind plays tricks on me at the end. My conditioning is too good at this point to mess it up at the end. I will be using him for the off season too, for some additional size. Well worth the investment, IMO.

I was just curious, pesty, what are your stats? Height/weight and years training? You're in CA, too, eh? It's been surprisingly cool up in northern cal in the valley, I'm enjoying it. Too bad I'm in the gym so much and not able to ride my bike outside as much as I'd like Now would be the perfect time for that.

 

[SacToSD]

Shelby is supposed to be really good, too. **broken link removed** A friend of mine just hired him and said that the diet was very easy to follow, and that he's been getting better results than ever before.

 

[Dusty Hanshaw]

The key is to sit down and interview each trainer and decide who you feel best with. Once you have hired a trainer close your eyes and trust what your mind told you while fat and happy, not what it is telling you while you are depleted and nervous as the show draws near. You hired the person which means you trust them. Let them do what they said they could and let the cards fall where they will.

Dusty

 

[Flex2019]

Just what I was looking for...and another question.

Thanks for the replies so far-I'm glad to hear from the guys more experienced in competition...I'm going to try to suppress my know-it-all attitude when it comes to my training and hire some help for sure.

One more question - I'd love to hire a trainer nearby that could keep close eye on me throughout the weeks but I think I'll have an easier time trusting a trainer like Shelby or Alex, only because of all the amazing feedback I've heard on this board about them. Isn't it more difficult to work with somebody located far away that can't be there to assess you day to day?

 

[Shelby]

Isn't it more difficult to work with somebody located far away that can't be there to assess you day to day?

A good trainer can tell what's going on from weekly pics.

 

[VTliftVT]

Im working with Shelby-meister for a show currently. I send him pics every 5 days now for him to assess where I am and what needs to be changed. I feel I get plenty of help and he get's back to me very fast to all my questions. I feel the changes he makes to my diet/cardio/training are always positive and the changes when I look back on them always made me look better than the week before....meaning he's always getting me better. I highly suggest having someone to work with to tell you what you do bc otherwise you play headgames with yourself. I would rather put my trust in someone who depends on my results and outcome for their reputation as a trainer than my own.

 

[Alex A]

I will tell you this.....

I totally know what you mean here...

You know what the heck your doing..... and your going to just hand over some thing so valuable to someone you barely even know..... or never met and let them guide you to the top and hope that you will end up better than if you did it yourself. Its really tough.

It is a tough decision..... I would do this... I would invest in taking the time to find out if your style of prep works well with the person you are interested in work with..

The reason being.. you surely do not want to just abandon your own proven methods and just make a 180 degree turn and hope it comes out right.....

Before i even consider working with someone i lay out the cards on the table and make sure it all sounds good. No way in heck should you blindly walk into a big decision without feeling confident that the end result is going to make you happy!

The majority of the folks i work with are either foreign bbers or are not members of this board, so contact through pics and emails is crucial for me. I happen to type 60 words a minute and have no shame in over explaining things... I try not to use this forum as a posting ground to promote my business.... but my website needs to include about 30 new faces...

You seem to be doing great though ....Congrats on your success so far!

 

[chris250]

You have to be open minded on new idea's.. there is more than one way to diet, train, supplements, ect,ect...I have been trained by many people and each one has offered something new to me...So my knowledge is better becasue of it...

 

[homonunculus]

It's also worth noting that some prep guys will allow you do to a consult with them, rather than just all or nothing options: 100% guide of the prep vs. no help at all.

This way, you could lay out your plan, get an informed opinion at the start (and as needed along the way) and use what makes sense and pitch the rest...

The above depends of course on how open the person is to incorporating new ideas and how good / well founded the new ideas are...

-S

 

[db006]

for me it was simply looking at the my trainers athletes, the finished products. nothing more needs to be said. i think any style will work for anyone if you stick to the plan. but whether the plan suits what you like to do is a different story. i find it to be priceless to be able to email/text/call my trainer whenever i need an answer. and when your deep in the trenches that peace of mind can be a life saver.

 

[chris250]

for me it was simply looking at the my trainers athletes, the finished products. nothing more needs to be said. i think any style will work for anyone if you stick to the plan. but whether the plan suits what you like to do is a different story. i find it to be priceless to be able to email/text/call my trainer whenever i need an answer. and when your deep in the trenches that peace of mind can be a life saver.

yeah very true...Knowing that you can get ahold of your training for a simple questions makes a world of difference in your mind set

 

[Flex2019]

That's it

You have to be open minded on new idea's.. there is more than one way to diet, train, supplements, ect,ect...I have been trained by many people and each one has offered something new to me...So my knowledge is better becasue of it...

Funny thing is, I work as a personal trainer, and what you said right there is exactly what I have told many people. Just time to apply it to myself. Well I've made my decision. I've decided who I'm going to work with and will begin in the next couple of months. I want to show up in the best condition I can possibly be in next June. Striated glutes here I come.