Here we are at the beginning of a new year and a new decade. I know I tend to be somewhat retrospective as I ponder making changes or resolutions for my life. One thing I look at is what have I been doing, is it working and what can I do to make it better?
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”
~ Anthony Robbins
There is a lot of advertising convincing us that we should part with our money for the latest piece of equipment, diet plan or pill. But if you are like me, I have a basement full of dusty exercise equipment and several partial bottles of supplements that didn’t work. Then, about 2 years ago I decided to invest in myself and hire a personal trainer to help me construct my workouts and make better use of my time at the gym. My workouts are now more efficient and I am able to break through plateaus easier because I discuss with my trainer what my frustrations are and where I feel I need to make more progress and he makes changes to my workouts that allow me to move forward. He pushes me to workout harder than I think I can or would do on my own. I am more confident about weight resistance training because he monitors my form and the amount of weight I use to insure less risk of injury. My workouts are more efficient because I don’t waste my workout time changing weights or setting up for the next exercise – while I am recovering from the last exercise he is getting ready for the next set. I am accountable and more motivated because I know I am scheduled to be at the gym at a set time – no sleeping in or blowing off a workout, (trainers don’t like that).
There are benefits to working with a trainer
Yes, it is true that a trainer can be expensive but there are ways to cut down the cost.
- Hire a trainer for a few sessions every few months when you need to change your workout.
- Talk to your gym – there may be discounts if you buy multiple sessions at one time.
- Ask a friend with similar workout goals to split the cost of a trainer and workout together.
- If you hire a trainer – USE THEM – once you start to see the desired results you will be able to cost justify the expense.
10 Good Reasons to Hire a Trainer
- Motivation – a trainer will help keep you focused and motivated on your workouts and progress.
- Develop a plan that works for you – A certified trainer is able to build a program that works specifically for you. If you have a physical issue or limitation a trainer can assess and design a program to help you reach your health goals.
- Efficiency – This is a biggie for me – my workouts are more efficient and focused. I don’t waste my time figuring out what to do next or setting up weights and machines for the next exercise.
- Break through plateaus – a trainer can work with you to make adjustments to your workout which can jump start you and help break through those frustrating periods.
- Learn how to workout on your own – maybe you just need someone to help you set up a workout that you can do on your own.
- Safety – A trainer should be able to monitor your form and assess any stress or pain and make the proper adjustments. The old saying ‘No Pain No Gain’ is not a safe way to work out.
- Train for a specific event – if you have a goal to run a marathon a trainer can plan a workout that will help you target a specific goal.
- Lose weight – a trainer can help you lose weight and get into shape. They will track your progress with weights and measurements and make adjustments to help you achieve your weight loss goals. Most trainers are knowledgeable about diet and nutrition and will also help you design a diet plan that compliments your workouts.
- Accountability – when you make an appointment with someone you are not likely to miss it. If you plan to ‘hit the gym after work’ you leave yourself open to something interfering with that plan.
- Improve technical skills – I had been doing crunches for years, one day my trainer made a small tweak to my form and it was amazing! I could feel the difference right away. I never got that from a book or watching a video.
It is very important to choose the right trainer. Just because someone workouts a lot does not make them qualified to be a trainer. Your trainer should hold the proper certifications. You should ask for references of current clients and then call them. Click here for more information on what you need to know to choose the right personal trainer for you.
The pictures above are not me – but an example of someone working out with a trainer. However, I have posted a couple of pics of me from this summer when I was in a 5K walk/run. I did benefit from having a trainer, he not only encouraged me to sign up but helped me to prepare. It was fun and I was proud of myself that I did it – and I wasn’t the last one to the finish line!
That's me - #76
Quite proud of myself after the race!
I will share more of my experiences with my trainer in future blogs – I would love to hear your experiences as well.
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