Let’s face it. Not many people are thrilled about exercising regularly, working out hard, or even getting out of their comfort zone (probably the couch). According to the current obesity statistics, not many people seem to be willing to participate in any form of exercise, period. (Maybe their couch is pretty comfortable.)
The problem is that for most newbie exercisers, a gym environment can be very overwhelming: lots of noise, lots of equipment, lots of people. They don’t know exactly what to do or how to behave and are afraid of making a fool of themselves. Consequently, beginners tend to stick to the cardio equipment or may try a few weight machines whenever they are feeling bold. In addition, new exercisers are usually unfamiliar with exercise basics. They end up performing exercises with poor form, which could cause injuries. Besides, many people will only perform exercises with which they are comfortable, meaning that there is never enough challenge to promote significant changes. This can be discouraging and often leads to the abandonment of the program. If this is your case, you may benefit from the help of a personal trainer.
The role of a fitness trainer is to provide guidance to beginners, motivation to intermediate clients, and progressive challenge to more experienced exercisers. A qualified trainer can perform assessments to determine your fitness level, help you set realistic goals, design a personalized exercise program, demonstrate proper form and technique, supervise while you perform exercises, and give you feedback on your performance.
More importantly, a personal trainer is someone who can help you achieve your fitness goals. One thing to keep in mind is that exercise programs should be carefully designed to address specific needs. This means that a weight-loss program is substantially different than a body-building program or an endurance-training program. Even if you believe that you are exercise savvy, you may benefit from working with a trainer. For instance, a trainer can help you overcome plateaus (periods in which you seem to be stuck and not seeing results) by modifying your workout in order to create a different challenge. (By the way, challenge is what produces results.) Our body responds to challenges by suffering physiological adaptations such as becoming more efficient in burning fat, increasing muscle size and strength, or improving cardiorespiratory endurance. The catch is that the results you get depend on the type of training you are doing. Now, do you think you know enough about exercise physiology to pull it off by yourself?
Moreover, working with a trainer can provide the motivation you need to stick to your plan. Many studies show that 50% of new exercisers give up in the first six months of training. This usually happens for a simple reason: people run out of motivation. I truly believe that repeating the same routine over and over is not only counterproductive, it is also BORING. The good news is that exercise does not need to be a dull chore. A trainer can keep your workout sessions interesting by introducing new equipment, changing the exercise mode, or manipulating the intensity and duration of the sessions. Also, you should talk to your trainer about your exercise preferences, so he/she can create a program that will include activities you enjoy.
Finally, a personal trainer may provide the expertise that you are looking for. He/she can answer your questions about fitness, healthy eating, and wellness. In addition, a trainer can act as a coach, helping you overcome obstacles that could sidetrack you or hinder your performance. Think of it as a partnership in which both of you are working hard to achieve a common goal. Moreover, working with a trainer can provide social support and create accountability, both of which are incredibly important for long-term success.