Last Updated on August 26, 2016 by Michael Brockbank
A fitness trainer can be quite helpful when you’re new to getting into shape. However, this person may not be as necessary as many might think. In reality, your specific situation will determine whether or not a trainer is ideal. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort to learn what you need to know, it may be cheaper to go it alone. However, some people need that extra push of motivation that some trainers provide.
Advantages of a Fitness Trainer
A fitness trainer will guide you to what you need to know to become fit. Now, every coach has their own idea of what that means. Some will incorporate knowledge regarding your diet while others will focus more on exercise and weights. You’ll need to decide what your idea of fitness is before you can find the perfect trainer for your needs. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider one.
Fitness Education
Most trainers will spend time educating you on the best ways to become fit. You should learn proper ways to perform certain exercise routines while increasing your knowledge about how to eat. If you manage to find a good trainer, you could learn a lot from him or her.
Keeping You Motivated
A good fitness trainer will do their best to keep you motivated to succeed. Some will go so far as to sound like drill instructors. For the most part, this is done in order to help you reach your goals. However, I’ve seen some go to the point of being mentally abusive. This is a bit far, I believe. Once you begin focusing on the negative aspects of any situation, the mindset for failure grows stronger.
Benefiting from Expertise
When you invest in a personal coach, you’re hoping to benefit from his or her expertise. Obviously they should know what they’re doing since they usually are in prime condition. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. I’ve personally been witness to how a trainer inadvertently caused injury to someone because of pressing too hard to accomplish a workout. This trainer didn’t take the client’s medical condition into account, which led to the injury. I’m not saying that all trainers are this careless, but there are some out there who believe anyone can do the workout the trainer does on a daily basis.
Why You Would Want to Go It Alone
Personally, I don’t believe in needing a fitness trainer. Not because I think they can’t help, but because I’m the type of person who likes to learn at his own pace. There are also a few other benefits I’ve found while going it alone. Some of them may be practical in your specific situation.
Developing Your Own Routines
Some fitness trainers will take the time to help you create a custom routine for your abilities. In my experience, most of them will have a set regimen they want everyone to follow. In reality, you can easily create your own routines whether it’s for exercise or a diet plan. The hardest part is making sure you stick to those routines.
Everyone’s physiology is different. What works for the fitness trainer may not be practical for the client. Too many forget this part of reality and push people beyond their limitations, which often ends badly. I prefer to create my own routines and concentrate on workouts I know I can do without hurting myself. Personally, I enjoy trying new exercises to determine if they are right for me.
It’s Cheaper
A lot of workout facilities will offer a free coach included in the amount you pay every month. Unfortunately, not all trainers are free. Some could charge a great deal of money for what little help they give you. Case in point, I’ve seen personal trainers charge more than the membership fee to a gym while only offering a few tips on exercise. Many of these people prey on those who want to be healthy. Because people will pay absurd amounts of money just to get advice from someone who seems like an “expert,” a fitness trainer could make bank. This is true in almost any situation, though.
You Can Learn Even More
Sometimes a fitness trainer can be knowledgeable. However, there are times when he or she is just sounding like an expert without really having valid facts on hand. I prefer to research all I can and learn rather than follow what someone else teaches. With a fitness trainer, you’re relying on the person to have all the facts about exercise and food. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
I once got into an argument about the health benefits of certain foods with a professional trainer – shortly after researching the material to great extent. See, I look for scientific evidence to back up claims, not just what someone writes on their blog. This is why I always try to put the links to those studies in my website. This way, you can see that I’m not talking out my ass.
A fitness trainer can be helpful, as long as you get one who is more interested in helping you rather than making a buck or looking to take you to bed. Yes, that happens a lot as well. Not all “experts” have the correct information available to guide your fitness. Be wary, and don’t just trust anyone when it comes to your health.
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