[netizen-936824]

Definitely start with a trainer. They can enforce good technique and give you the basics of nutrition and mesocycle planning. I personally regret not starting with a trainer, as I'm now fixing issues that I reinforced because I didn't have the proper external feedback.

[serjester]

As an anecdotal counterpoint of the 10ish people that I knew that started lifting in their teens and early twenties not a single one had a trainer. Preventing injuries through proper form is the main benefit of a trainer and everyone stayed fairly injury free.

You don't need to hire someone to explain good nutrition, sleep, etc. Does it help? Absolutely. But necessary? No. There's so much amazing content on the internet. Especially when you see how little training the average personal trainer is required to undergo. Someone truly competent will run you close a $100 an hour.

[Aicy]

Implying people need to start with a trainer is pointlessly exclusionary.

When I started training I couldn't afford a gym membership so primarily did bodyweight training at home, so a trainer was just completely off the radar as an option.

Sure, once I could afford the gym I could train a lot better, and the may have neen true if I could afford a trainer on top, but I couldn't.

[ikr678]

'get a trainer' is proxy for 'get a form check', which is fair advice to prevent long term injury.

There are many beginner friendly lifting resources online, and communities who will help you review videos of your lifts without needing a specific trainer.

[Aicy]

"Get a form check " is definitely good advice and if that's all the person I responded to said I would have agreed with them.