Making the commitment to exercise is big.
Finding, at minimum, thirty minutes out of every day to go for a run or workout at the gym can be a hard feat in between a job, running errands, getting dinner on the table and running the kids to school and sports. Especially when you live in a city like Toronto, you seem to be a lot busier than if you were to live in a smaller city.
Hiring a personal trainer is also a big commitment – time-wise, as well as money-wise. However, it is one that could yield bigger, better results than if you were to go the solo route with your workout regimen or weight loss plan.
How do you know if personal training is the right course of action for you? Consider these points and then decide.
Motivation
These days, life can be hectic and there never seems to be enough hours in a day. Gym time, for many, is the first thing to fall by the wayside let alone making a commitment to go to the gym on any sort of set, regular schedule. Excuses like “I don’t feel like it,” or “I’ll go later” are uttered and then later never comes. A personal trainer helps hold you accountable, and you will be more like to get to the gym if you know somebody is there counting on you.
Safety
If you’re a beginner to the whole gym experience, a personal trainer may be a huge help. Looking out at the sea of ellipticals, treadmills and weight machines can be intimidating, overwhelming and scary enough to make you run for the nearest exit. A personal trainer can guide you on where to start, and how to use any exercise equipment safely and correctly. They can help you avoid injury and keep you working out within your personal limits so as not to overdo it.
Technique
Technique goes hand in hand with safety. Again, if you’re an exercise neophyte, you may have no idea what exercises to do, let alone how to do them correctly. A workout buddy or friend doesn’t qualify as an authority on fitness, even if they’ve been lifting weights or taking yoga or running marathons avidly for years. Personal trainers and fitness instructors go through extensive schooling to know every aspect of what they’re teaching. Trust that a certified personal trainer can tell you the proper, most effective way to exercise.
Tailor Made
As the name implies, a personal trainer will give you a personalized workout to suit your individual needs. Everybody is different and exercises that work for some, may not prove as effective for others. A personal trainer will be able to recognize what exercises are going to work best for you and your goals. As mentioned before, time is in limited supply for many people and a personal trainer can help keep you focused on the exact right exercises to help you reach your desired results.
Attain Your Goals
Some people hire a personal trainer to whip them into shape for a big event like a wedding, or a marathon. If you’re training for a race like a Tough Mudder or a marathon, personal trainers are great because some work with teams, which can prove to be a double whammy of goal attainment and motivation since you’ll be training with a group of like-minded individuals. If you’re not training for a specific event, a personal trainer can still help you reach your goals and help you maximize your time during each workout. If you’ve been working out already on your own without seeing results, hiring a personal trainer can help you figure out why your weight loss plan isn’t working and correct any eating or workout habits to get you back on track.
Doctor Recommended
More and more, doctors are prescribing increased levels of fitness to their patients. This is especially true for those suffering from diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or heart problems. If your doctor is insisting that you start exercising regularly, a personal trainer may be the perfect prescription to help keep you motivated and help you stick with a weight loss plan.
Here’s an example of a type of training from one of the best personal trainers in North America:
As we always recommend, make sure you do your research before hiring a trainer, because if you don’t you might regret it.