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Comment by suhailpatel | Hacker News Reader

Also read Starting Strength. I'd been lifting before I read it but my technique was very poor. The most I got out of the book was cues (such as actively push legs out when squatting to avoid cave in). Would definitely recommend!

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Getting a trainer is going to be better than trying to DIY from a book, at least to 'show you the ropes'. It's not like following a recipe or something where it's obvious if you have the right amount of ingredients; you might think you are doing it right when you are doing it wrong and have no way to tell.

I agree, as long as you find a good trainer. Most personal trainers are teaching extremely poor form.

I disagree about the trainer unless the user is a novice or is okay spending a lot of money on a trainer. In my experience all personal trainers are not created equal. The chapter on doing squats in Starting Strength is 80 pages long. Odds are it would cost you a couple of hundred dollars and many session to get that much information from a good trainer. Reading the book, watching the DVD and working with light weights to focus on correct form would be a better approach that hiring a trainer. After those steps are done it would be useful to hire a trainer to check your form and give you tips.

The problem is getting a good trainer. Sure if you can get Rippetoe .. :) The one at my gym is not great.

I think I would prefer a gym buddy who has read the book, watched the dvd or is a good lifter, because filming myself to check my form gets old quickly.

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