When I started I had never used a gym before in my life. This has been one of the harder RP things for me to do. I started out using free weights at home for ~7 months. I went from curling 15lbs to 35lbs (almost ready for 40lbs). I was really proud of this -- when I started, 45lbs (the max my home set goes to) seemed like an impossible thing to ever reach.

So reality kicked in and I realized that my home workout was not going to cut it. I finally got a gym membership and a personal trainer. This is where things went to hell. I transitioned off of my workout onto what the trainer gave me. Now I struggle to curl the 35lb weights!

I told the trainer that I want to do barbell exercises (like squats, dead lifts, ect). But he does not seem to do much of this with me. He has a lot of focus on the core -- and I think this is good to point.

It seems like he wants to do a lot of endurance training. I Think this has been good for me, but it has not really been what I was looking for.

Also, he keeps doing different exercises every time I go and fucking hate this. I think he just wants me to feel dependent on him since I don't know how to do 200 different exercises. In a way this has been good since I know exercises to substitute if something is being used.

He keeps saying that I need to workout my core more first.

I don't want to continue with him after the 3 months are finished. But I do want to get stronger.

I started to do (a shorter version) of my home workout again since he does not seem to do much lifting with me.

Right now I do:

  • 3 days a week the routine that he gave me (wide grip pull down, leg press, pushups, leg raises, dumbbell squat w/bicep curl and shoulder press (only 12lbs X15), sit-up on decline bench, plank, wide grip pull-up on smith machine, cable ration, on all 4's raise up legs/arms X20) 4 times on each of these

  • 2 day a week with him (lots of random shit)

  • 5 days a week morning (shortened) home dumbbell workout (curls, pushups, behind the back thing with weight)

  • 5 days a week 3 mile run in morning

What should I do? I have been reading starting strength. I want more squat/dead lift/press/bench press

I am very bad with the dead lift -- even with no weight -- I round my back.

The gym is still some thing new scary for me.