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A User Guide to Personal Training and Choosing a Personal Trainer
Information about Personal Training
After Christmas, or before the summer holidays kick in, many people start to think about getting fit, burning off the fat accumulated during the winter and toning their body ready for warmer weather and days on the beach. Others just want to get fit, build up some muscle, and generally feel fitter and healthier every day.
Motivation
The first thing most people think of in order to help them get fit is joining a gym - and this is a very good first step - but did you know that 95% of all gym memberships eventually expire due to a lack of motivation to go?
Although people have the idea to start working out at a gym, before long they find they're only going once or twice a month. Not only is this uneconomical but it's not frequent enough to make a visible difference to their body. Sooner or later gym membership becomes just a card you carry around in your wallet rather than an active part of your weekly life.
When you opt for a personal trainer, the huge factor of motivation is already taken care of. Your trainer will be waiting for you at a set time of day, at a place pre-arranged by you both, or they may even come to your front door. He or she will take you through your exercises with encouragement and hints and tips, preventing you from cheating or stopping before your programme is completed. It's much more difficult to get out of a session with a trainer than to not bother going to the gym.
Hiring a personal trainer means you will get regular, safe, effective exercise however many times during the week you want - with no excuses for getting out of it! You won't have to worry about motivating yourself to leave your warm, dry home on a cold rainy night, or wonder what exercises to do to get the results you want. Your personal trainer will give you all the motivation you need, and will design a bespoke programme to get your body into exactly the right shape.
Factors to Take into Consideration when Choosing a Personal Trainer
Once you've decided to hire a personal trainer to get regular exercise and a fit body, you need to find the right person to suit your requirements. Some people need more encouragement than others. Others prefer a trainer to come to their home, or meet them in the park for a run. Everyone has their own idea about what would suit them best.
Below is a list of factors to take into consideration when choosing a personal trainer for the first time:
Your Needs
Location - Make sure you choose someone who you can get to easily, so you're not adding to the stress of your day and battling traffic just to get to your personal trainer.
Setting - it's important you feel comfortable in the setting in which your training will take place. Some gyms have a lot of mirrors, some appear to be more popular with teenagers or people who already look very fit. If the session is going to be in your home make sure you have enough room and can use the area for exercising without major disruption to your furniture.
Your Goals - think about what you want to achieve from the exercise. Do you wish to tone up? Improve cardio vascular performance? Build muscle bulk? Lose weight? You may have a target weight or shape you want to achieve for a special event. Be clear about what you want from exercise so your trainer can help you attain your goal as quickly as possible.
Your Resources - what is your budget for personal training? How much is it worth to you to achieve your ideal body? Go for a personal trainer who charges what you would consider to be a reasonable amount, avoiding the lowest and highest prices.
Your Heath History - If you have any existing medical problems, such as an injury, illness, or are very overweight, it's best to choose a trainer who knows about this problem so they can give you the most accurate and helpful advice.
The Trainer
Personal trainers vary in their approach to getting you fit. They also have different ideas about how to achieve a healthy lifestyle and fit body. Here are some points to consider:
Personality - it's very important to find a trainer you like and get on with. Whether you need someone to gently encourage you into fitness, or whether you respond better to a drill sergeant, your trainer has got to be right for you. Education - a good trainer will be knowledgeable about physiology and how the body works, as well as the fitness sector in general. Ask them a few questions and see if they give you answers that ring true and are easy to understand.
Fitness - obviously it's best that your trainer appears to be fit and well. It helps to work out with someone who inspires you, and in whose body you can clearly see the effects of training. This does not necessarily mean huge, bulging muscles and tiny waist lines, but more a general all-over tone and definition that you would aspire to yourself.
Gender - you need to decide whether it matters if your trainer is male or female. Some people respond better to the opposite sex, some to the same. Also, working out with someone of the same sex as you has certain advantages, as they may be able to better understand your goals and the challenges you face. However skill and experience remain the most important considerations overall.
Age - You may prefer to work out with someone your own age. If you're over 40 this may be more difficult to achieve, but alternatively you may prefer someone younger with more energy to encourage you to keep going! Some trainers specialise in working with older people, others with the younger population. If your trainer is much older than you, make sure he or she gives you the level of intensity you require. Again, although this is a factor to bear in mind, expertise and practical knowledge are usually more important considerations.
Certification - Today more fitness trainers are becoming certified, showing they've taken the time to study and gain a level of competency and knowledge that's nationally recognised. Maintaining their certification often means that trainers are up-to-date on the latest techniques and theories, and have the opportunity to update their skill level as new theories are developed.
References - If the trainer has a long list of happy customers they should be able to give you some names of people who can recommend their services. It's also interesting to meet the type of person they've trained before, as it helps to see if they are after similar goals. If previous client are mainly chunky body builders and you just want to tone up for the summer, then maybe this is not the right personal trainer for you.
Free Consultation - Many personal trainers offer a free personal consultation, during which they'll assess your general fitness level, discuss your goals and diet, and propose an outline training regime that may be suitable. This is also a good opportunity for you to asses them as well.