It is humorous to me that people will trust other people to fix their cars, but take their bodies into their own hands to “fix” in the gym. One may say, “But I know nothing about cars.” Many people I talk to have no concept of what they are doing in the gym. They do things they read about or have seen someone else doing with a trainer.
Knowing how to make yourself sweat does not get you a degree in fitness or guarantee you results. There is actually a science to getting fit. Certain training methods get certain results. And no, training with light weights for high reps does not give you that “toned” look- at least not when your body fat percentage is higher than the days in a month.
If you lined up athletes from three different sports, they would all strength train differently. Why is it for the “average person” the protocols are all the same? Three sets of 10 reps does not work for everybody. Different body types need to be trained differently. Also, no two people move in the exact same way. Trainers can screen for movement pattern deficiencies and help to correct chronic problems such as knee and back issues that occur with age and lack of movement.
Personal trainers at big commercial facilities are often motivated solely by the sale. The actual training sessions end up being an inconvenience because they could be selling more sessions during that time. This can lead to clients not achieving results they want and being out of pocket major cash. These are not the trainers I am referring to in this article. I am talking about the trainer whose business is based completely on results. Maybe they have a small studio and all the new clients are from word-of-mouth referrals. There are trainers out there that are great.
Motivation & Accountability
Scheduling workouts, just like scheduling a business meeting, is one of the best ways to motivate you to workout. Knowing that someone is waiting for you, ready to motivate you is also a plus.
You don’t know where to start
Gyms can be confusing and overwhelming places. Many people have no idea why they are doing what they are doing, or are just doing the three to five machines the trainer showed them on their initial walk through at the gym. To get results in training, showing up at the gym and sitting on a machine is not enough. A good trainer will challenge your weaknesses and push your fitness level every session.
You are not seeing results with your current routine
This is the majority of people at a big commercial gym. You show up religiously and get on the trusty treadmill for 30 minutes, then run through the same five exercises you always do. You are known as a die-hard. But if you go to the gym six days a week, then why are you still trucking around that spare tire? It is time for a change.
You have stopped working out because it got boring
Good trainers keep it fresh. It is not written anywhere that you have to do the same workout twice. In fact, changing things up is a better way to get results. The human body will adapt to a stimulus as fast as it can. For most people, the third time you do a workout without changing things, it becomes worthless. Get someone who knows more about fitness than you to throw you a few curve balls. It is more interesting and more fun.
You don’t want to workout in a gym
Nowadays there are outdoor boot camps and group x classes in many parks all over the country. If going inside to workout is not your thing, look for mobile personal trainers who will meet you pretty much anywhere.
The bottom line is that a good personal trainer is like a good mechanic. The better the mechanic, the smoother your car runs. The better the trainer, the better you run (if that’s what you’re into). Keep in mind that exercise magazines are in the business of selling magazines- not making people healthy. Take the workout ideas with a grain of salt. If you feel like you are always being up sold- find a new trainer. There are plenty of people who do this for the right reasons and are good at it. Lastly, find a trainer who can do a movement screen on you. Without it, it is like driving without a map.
