People sometimes ask me why I have a fitness trainer and spend all that money when I can just work out at home with the equipment I already have.
Unless you’re fit as a fiddle, these are the reasons why you too need a personal fitness trainer:
- Faster results. Not only will you get faster results, but these experts have the tools to get you over that plateau. I can lift heavier weights with a trainer to assist in those last few reps that make all the difference.
- Accountability. You paid good money for those sessions and made set appointments so you’re likely to keep them and you’re less likely to slack off or avoid exercising altogether
- Safety/form. You may think you’re doing an exercise correctly, but without correct form, you will not get the results you want and you can get injured. Also, a trainer is there to spot you so if something goes wrong; he’ll be there to grab that weight or prevent you from smashing your face. I was doing one-legged lunges while holding weights, with one foot on the TRX and lost my balance but my trainer caught me.
- Motivation. A good trainer will motivate you to keep going and praise your hard work. I can’t get myself to work that hard on my own. Even trainers work out with their fellow co-workers who train for a living, not only to get a spotter, but because they need that extra push too.
- Expertise. Certified fitness trainers are experts; it’s their job! Athletes have coaches. A coach tells the athlete what to do to improve, thus training them. I want to be trained by someone who knows how to get over hurdles, give great fitness advice, and cuts through the garbage…that’s why I happily pay for training.
Photo: NASM certified trainer Robert North is there to assist me with pull-ups when needed.