Do I Need A Personal Trainer

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are most certainly aware of the importance of exercise. You may have tried to embark on a fitness plan on your own, but still can’t seem to achieve the results you want. Do I need a personal trainer? A professional trainer will design a workout plan for you that is fun, safe, and effective. Finding the right personal trainer is your key to success in your fitness program and here’s why:

Tailor-made workouts

If you need a personal trainer, he or she will prescribe and guide you through a regimen perfectly suited to your needs and abilities. Whether your goal is to lose weight, finish a half-marathon, or tone your arms and thighs, a personal trainer will know how to help you achieve it. A good personal trainer will take all possible factors into account — such as your available time, medical conditions, budget, and even the types of exercises you like and don’t like — to come up with a plan designed specifically for you.

Getting the most out of your time

You may be unsure of what kind of workout is best for you. If you’re going to dedicate some time every week for exercise, be sure to get the most out of your time commitment! A personal trainer will make sure you make optimum use of your workout time.

Accountability

If you lack motivation or are prone to procrastinate, having a professional exercise buddy to motivate and encourage you will make sure you stick to your program. The mere fact that you’ve agreed to meet with your personal trainer at a certain time could be the one thing that will keep you on track. On your own, it’s all too easy to be distracted by other demands, skip workouts when you just don’t feel like it, or simply give up. With a personal trainer, you know you’ll have a scheduled, dedicated time for your workouts. When you know your trainer is waiting for you, you won’t be tempted to make excuses or to put off your workout.

Be happier

Experiencing progressive success in your workout will boost your confidence and make you feel great about yourself. Success breeds more motivation. We also know that exercise produces “happy hormones” like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. Working out will definitely help you become a happier person. Having a personal trainer to share your successes with you makes the journey all the more meaningful.

Measured accomplishments

When exercising on our own, we sometimes set goals beyond what we can realistically accomplish in a given time frame, leaving us discouraged and frustrated. You and your personal trainer can work together to set realistic and measurable goals. With a carefully outlined fitness program, you’ll have milestones to show that you’re making progress, and you’ll be less likely to lose your motivation.

Your best buddy

You may have heard that working out with a buddy will help you stay motivated. A personal trainer is your exercise buddy. Your personal trainer wants you succeed as bad as you do, and he or she will be there for you to give you a push or nudge whenever needed; to cheer you on when you feel like giving up; and to recognize and applaud each of your successes. When you feel lost or overwhelmed, your personal trainer will be there for you to help keep you on track.

Always something new to learn

If you work out long enough, you’re going to hit plateaus. Through the course of your program, you may suddenly feel that nothing is changing – you’re no longer losing weight, you’re no longer building any muscle, and worse, you no longer feel like working out. Your personal trainer will know when you’ve reached a plateau – probably before you realize it. Your trainer has most likely already gone through it and definitely knows how to overcome it. By putting variety in your drills, making tweaks in your workout as needed, and giving you tips to keep going, your personal trainer will make sure that you make progress steadily.

Learn tricks of the trade

Certified personal trainers are knowledgeable about exercise, health, and nutrition. They’ve also learned a lot from their own experiences coaching lots of clients over the years. Good trainers are continually learning new concepts and techniques that they will share with you. You will learn fitness tips that you will benefit from for the rest of your life.

Gain without pain

“No pain, no gain” means that hard work – and some discomfort – are necessary dues to pay for progress. You will have some sore muscles. You will push yourself beyond your comfort zone. But a good workout does NOT go hand in hand with getting hurt or developing chronic orthopedic problems. One of the reasons you need a personal trainer is to teach you and correct your exercise form so that you don’t get injured.

Anything is better than nothing

You don’t have to commit to multiple workouts each week, or sign any contracts for a certain number of sessions in order to benefit from working with a personal trainer. If you’re unsure about the expense, we start at just $25 for a private half-hour session. You can just pay as you go – there are no packages, no memberships, no commitments. Whatever amount you are interested in investing for a trainer, the expert advice and guidance you will receive will be well worth it.

What the research says about personal training

A study in the Journal of Sports, Science and Medicine found that, with assistance from a personal trainer, you can increase your chances of success from training by 73%. Another study compared members of fitness club who trained under a personal trainer vs. those who self-trained and found that those with personal trainers achieve “significantly greater improvements in LBM [lean body mass] and other dimensions of fitness than members who direct their own training.” In a study of women’s experiences with personal training which was published in the International Journal of Exercise Science, the participants found training under a personal trainer to be a “positive experience within which existed four figural themes: Relationships, trainer qualities, outcomes, and motivation.” The women in the study found that, by making their workout fun and enjoyable, the personal trainers helped them stay in their programs and reach their goals.

Choosing a personal trainer

Clearly, the benefits outweigh any doubts you may have about choosing a personal trainer. Although getting the right trainer could bring amazing changes in your life, an unsuitable or unqualified trainer will just be a waste of time and money. Here are some tips in choosing a personal trainer:

1. Know what you want

Finding a good trainer starts with knowing what your goals are. Are you aiming to lose weight? Are you after flexibility? Are you planning to run a marathon, join competitive sports, or, do you want to do it for stress relief and mental well-being? Knowing what you want is the key to choosing a professional who can help you attain it.

2. Check for expertise

All personal trainers are not the same! Many instructors teach poor exercise form, or push clients to unsafe levels of effort. Ask your physical therapist, your physician, your chiropractor, or your massage therapist for a recommendation.

Make sure that your trainer has the expertise to help you reach your goals. To lose weight, for example, you’ll need a personal trainer who can guide you, not only in exercise, but in diet and food choices as well. Though a trainer may impress you with a complicated program, what you must look for is someone who can give you a well-planned, research-based, scientifically sound, and safe method that will give you the results you want. Unfortunately, a personal training certification doesn’t guarantee competency, but a certification from recognized groups such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The American Council on Exercise (ACE), International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is a good start.

3. Put a premium on personality

You may have found someone with knowledge in fitness science, and who has been recommended by your physician, chiropractor, or massage therapist. But it’s not going to work out if your personalities don’t click. Ask questions to find out if you can work together. Do you want a trainer who is a strict, drill-sergeant type, or one who is friendly and supportive? Look for a personal trainer whose training style will motivate you. The trainer should be willing to listen to your story and get to know you as well – your needs, limitations, any medical conditions you may have or surgeries in the past, and what motivates you – in order to come up with a training program that’s best for you and that will give you your money’s worth.

Do your own research before making your choice! The tips given in this article will help you make a sound decision. With the right personal trainer, you’ll never look back in regret!

If you’d like to try out a QUALITY personal trainer, contact us to discuss your needs and goals. We don’t require any contracts, packages, or long-term commitments!