How do you choose a REAL competition trainer??

I have two friends that are pushing me to have them train me for next years Southern States. I was not thinking in my wildest dreams that I could get top 3 in the heavyweights, but both say they could get me the overall. One guy is a well known Pro. The other was a top level national competitor and missed his pro card on 2 debated shows. Both are obviously in incredible shape and know their stuff, BUT both are incredibly genetically gifted. I am not. The national guy is now 44, hasn't trained in 4 months and at 5'11 he is 250 and ready to step on stage. He is shredded and eats whatever. Obviously it was different when he competed. Both are previous Southern States overall winners. The Pro wants $400 and he will plan meals, supplements, posing, everything from bulking now until showtime. The other will do it all for free and offered to train with me twice a week. My biggest hurdle is how much can these guys have in common with me considering I have seen both gain 20lbs of muscle in 2 months!!

It's a tough call Bro. I'd lean towards the Pro. You know he'll be committed through to the end because he's charging you for his services. He's made the step to the Pro level and knows what it took to get there.

20lbs in 2 months? Man, I should be so lucky. I'd agree with ChuckaZulu and lean towards the Pro.

saudades said:

20lbs in 2 months? Man, I should be so lucky. I'd agree with ChuckaZulu and lean towards the Pro.

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I'm torn in a couple ways.
1. They are both genetic freaks and I am not.
2. The Pro wants money and if I pay him and he doesn't hold up his end then what?
3. I would feel more comfortable with a "real" trainer. Like Dante. He isn't genetically superior and has worked with all types.

Then again maybe I am one of those asses who looks at a guy who looks great and instead of saying "its all from steroids", I'm saying "its because they have better genetics". Going to talk to both in the next couple of days and hopefully also get a chance to talk and send photos to Dante.

My main concern was #2 as well. I would probably work out a contract to pay it in installments, not all at once. That is fair since that's typically what do with trainers at the gyms. I'd rather work with a trainer like Dante, too, but you have to work with what you have, and what you have isn't bad at all. If you can get Dante, then that would be awesome. Good luck!

not to rain on anyones parade but its IMPOSSIBLE to add 20lbs of muscle in two months time, no matter who you are

Presser said:

not to rain on anyones parade but its IMPOSSIBLE to add 20lbs of muscle in two months time, no matter who you are

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True. I should've been more specific. Even if it was possible that would be a caloric surplus of 70K calories in 60 days. Obviously the body couldn't even process that. But I have seen both stay in good condition and tight and gain 20lbs in 2 months. Intracellular water, some bloat I'm sure as well as it was a rebound type of thing, but it was amazing none the less and something I am not capable of.

I charge $150 a month and if you want be trained by me or train with me is $50 extra per session like all my guys pay me, regular clients pay $60 to $70, you have to understand this is our job and you are taking our time as any other client.
It is not possible to gain 20 pounds of muscle in 2 months, unless they are just did a show and they are gaining water and fat and getting super big like i am doing right now just from start eating junk, water and salt after the hard diet.
I you want to come by the Olympia Gym in Aventura or have a phone conversation with me feel free to contact me.
Also check out my websites and my guys so you have another tangible option www.ironpeople.spaces.live.com/

bigheinz said:

I charge $150 a month and if you want be trained by me or train with me is $50 extra per session like all my guys pay me, regular clients pay $60 to $70, you have to understand this is our job and you are taking our time as any other client.
It is not possible to gain 20 pounds of muscle in 2 months, unless they are just did a show and they are gaining water and fat and getting super big like i am doing right now just from start eating junk, water and salt after the hard diet.
I you want to come by the Olympia Gym in Aventura or have a phone conversation with me feel free to contact me.
Also check out my websites and my guys so you have another tangible option www.ironpeople.spaces.live.com/

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I've used Big H and he provides a great service :thumbsup:
He covers both off season diet and training to contest prep :gold:

bigheinz said:

I charge $150 a month and if you want be trained by me or train with me is $50 extra per session like all my guys pay me, regular clients pay $60 to $70, you have to understand this is our job and you are taking our time as any other client.
It is not possible to gain 20 pounds of muscle in 2 months, unless they are just did a show and they are gaining water and fat and getting super big like i am doing right now just from start eating junk, water and salt after the hard diet.
I you want to come by the Olympia Gym in Aventura or have a phone conversation with me feel free to contact me.
Also check out my websites and my guys so you have another tangible option www.ironpeople.spaces.live.com/

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You are in FL?? I'll have to see where Aventura is. You seem to be a proffessional which is what I want if I am paying. The other guys are friends, but a little shady. Both are big partiers and fall off the wagon occassionally. Thank you I will definately check out the sites. Also just to cement it. I don't think I have a chance at top 3 at the Southern States. I just want to show up in the best possible condition.

The Dude said:

You are in FL?? I'll have to see where Aventura is. You seem to be a proffessional which is what I want if I am paying. The other guys are friends, but a little shady. Both are big partiers and fall off the wagon occassionally. Thank you I will definately check out the sites. Also just to cement it. I don't think I have a chance at top 3 at the Southern States. I just want to show up in the best possible condition.

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I think you're selling yourself short, but what do I know? You have just as much of a chance to finishing top 3 as anyone else.

id go with the person who has changed their physquie the most. the one who has constantly improves the most

anyone born with a good body can give advice, but ones who have came from a less than perfect physquie can show you more

jonflex said:

id go with the person who has changed their physquie the most. the one who has constantly improves the most

anyone born with a good body can give advice, but ones who have came from a less than perfect physquie can show you more

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100% agreed.

Presser said:

not to rain on anyones parade but its IMPOSSIBLE to add 20lbs of muscle in two months time, no matter who you are

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Actually, if conditions are right, it can be done. When I first went on HRT, I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. I grew so fast, I had to buy new shirts each month, and it kind of scared my wife a bit. Too bad it couldn't keep going. Granted, it was a specific circumstance, but it means to me that someone else could do it provided the conditions were just right.

LeatherHead said:

I think you're selling yourself short, but what do I know? You have just as much of a chance to finishing top 3 as anyone else.

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I would agree. Believe you can do it. It could make all the difference.

saudades said:

Actually, if conditions are right, it can be done. When I first went on HRT, I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. I grew so fast, I had to buy new shirts each month, and it kind of scared my wife a bit. Too bad it couldn't keep going. Granted, it was a specific circumstance, but it means to me that someone else could do it provided the conditions were just right.

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he means, 20 pounds of MUSCLE is impossible to grow in 2 months, 20lbs of bodyweight can be done in 1 month if you didnt really care what sort of weight you were gaining.

Both sound great..its a tough call though...I would lean toward the pro though...and I think he would keep up his end of the deal

big lifter said:

he means, 20 pounds of MUSCLE is impossible to grow in 2 months, 20lbs of bodyweight can be done in 1 month if you didnt really care what sort of weight you were gaining.

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correct i was talking about 20lbs of lean muscle which is absolutly impossible for a human bieng, sorry if i wasnt clear, i didnt mean just weight, i meant you cant gain 20lbs of MUSCLE in that time.

also I would hire heinz bro if ur serious he can take you to the next level and it doesnt matter what that level is, as long as its the next level!

I myself am facing this SAME Dilemma bro. I have a FRIEND who is a PRO and a DAMN GOOD ONE.. and He will Train me for FREE because he sees the potential and he's slowly phasing out of the Competing and MOVING to the Training aspect... The Cons: I have to MOVE.

I mean You obviously can NOT have a Trainer that lives thousands of miles away.. Nutrition advice, yes this is possible. BUT IMO ... a Trainer should be able to critique your routines.. be able to tell if You need to bring you CHEST up.. why it's lacking.. and it could be FORM. And if it is FORM how is someone 1000 miles away going to be able to help you with FORM of an exercise??

Or even better yet.. what about a SPOTTER?? You are Throwing 600lbs on a BAR to rep out 4hard reps.. WHO'S SPOTTING YOU?? Not the trainer 1000miles away.

It's the trainer who ATTENDS THE GYM SESSION W/ You ...

A Nutritionist is ONE thing...That can be done IMHO over the phone.. web contact.. or on a Webcam

But an ACTUAL TRAINER ... Nah that has to be a Face to Face thing in my opinion.

So back on TOPIC HERE.

I think you need to choose the one who you think will benefit you most. The one you get the BEST VIBE from. And from Reading what I read. You really AREN'T Comfortable with EITHER of them. You say they "Fall off the wagon" well yah some people do.. but someone SERIOUS about competing on the National or Professional Level.. doesn't FALL OFF THE WAGON..

Like I know what I want to achieve for my goals in this sport. They are already mapped out. I have the Genetic Structure to be a Mass Monster. I have the DEDICATION. The Drive. The Perseverance. WHAT I DON'T HAVE IS SOMEONE IN MY EAR GOING.. COME ON BRO.. 4 MORE REPS.. 3 MORE YOU GOT THIS.. DIG DIG DIG DIG !!! All this for ME comes from within.. I push myself..

And until I find that connection.. ( and it is my belief that you will know when YOU DO) --- Just like a ROMANTIC CONNECTION... It won't have to be Questioned, It will just BE.. You or Me.. or whoever else is looking for that OTHER HALF.. the Missing Link. You will just KNOW.


That's The Deuce's Opinion and THOUGHTS on this..

Let me put my two cents on this. For contest prep guy, find someone thats done it for a while and ask to see pics of their clients on stage. Not in the offseason or a few weeks out or even days out, but ON STAGE. Thats what it is all about anyhow. Also if they cant explain the reason for you doing something, wether it be training, diet, or depleteing/loading with anything, then they are more than likely just running off hear say or something they read, or was told to them. They need to have a reason, everybodys different.

Example: I had a guy wanting do train me for a show and I personally knew the guy he was training and was getting him ready for a show. So I told the trainer I would go and check out the show and see how his guy looks. This trainer brought this dude looking like shit. Hell to me he looked bigger and harder in the offseason. At the show the trainer is telling me what he did, and I just couldnt believe it. Sounded like he was just pulling shit out of his ass and talked a big game. Needless to say I didnt give that guy the time or day.