"I don't need a personal trainer..."
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the title phrase...
When someone tells me that they 'don't need a personal trainer', it is usually an excuse for other things they aren't willing to admit, such as:
'I am not willing to spend the money on my own healthcare.'
'I think I know what I am doing in the gym, and would rather attempt to prove you wrong.'
'I am embarrassed that I have no idea what I am doing in the gym.'
'I am afraid you might kill me during a workout.'
'I am intimidated by your presence and expertise.'
'I don't want to be held accountable.'
What? Did I just hit a nerve?
GOOD.
Because those are what we call excuses. All of them. If you are at the point where you are accepting excuses to validate your choices, you need a wake-up call.
Let me tell you why most people who workout or are thinking about working out actually DO need a personal trainer:
1. Bad form
It is something even the most seasoned, experienced fitness enthusiasts usually suffer from on SOMETHING. Without an educated eye making sure you are in proper form during exercises, you can injure yourself to the point where medical intervention is necessary. A trainer can help assess your biomechanics, understand compensation patterns, and get you on the right track faster than you could on your own.
2. Accountability
This is especially true for you weekend warriors out there who 'cannot find time to get to the gym during the week', or those of you who find any reason to avoid your workouts. The more you tend to put off working out on your own, the more you really do need a trainer for some length of time until you have a real habit established.
3. Progression
We have all seen that guy: The older gentleman who wears the super-short running shorts, speed walking on the treadmill, who has been doing the same damn thing in the gym every week for the past 40 years. No real muscle tone, and his body hasn't changed since he first signed up for that gym membership. If you want to be like that guy, then you're absolutely right--you don't need a trainer at all. But if you really want to make changes to your body composition, change how your body is shaped, and get healthier, you are better off hiring a trainer to help you progress toward those goals.
4. Education
You can get online and read ALLLLLLL the articles about working out, fitness, nutrition, etc. and try to build your own 'program' from this information. There's one problem with this: it isn't necessarily what you need to be doing, which means it may not even work. Most of the information on the internet is conflicting with another competitor website, so you never really know if what you're reading is science fact or science fiction. An educated trainer, whether in-person or online, can give you information that will benefit YOU specifically, and help you weed through the river of crap information that is out there.
5. Success
As crazy as it might sound, a high-quality, knowledgable trainer will be as interested in your success as you are. We WANT you to see changes, to feel good about yourself, to be happier and healthier! Yes, we get paid to do what we love, but the best part about being a trainer is getting to know our clients and sharing their successes! Having a trainer to share your achievements with is one of the greatest feelings in the world! You aren't just in it alone, you have someone cheering you on each step of the journey!
I can honestly say that 99% of the objections people give is that they cannot afford training. Most are upfront about that with me from the beginning, which I respect and completely understand. Keep in mind that personal trainers are working to support their families, too, and most are willing to work with you on how to make it more budget-friendly as long as you are honest with them about what your financial situation might be.
I do think that we can all find ways in our budget to afford professional assistance in one way, though. I have offered online training and nutrition counseling for quite some time now, and it is a much more affordable option than one-on-one training.
Online training isn't for every client, though. But, I am always honest about this when the situation arises. It isn't about money, it's about what is the right fit for the client's needs.
If you have been considering working with a trainer, but keep finding your own excuses, this might be your wake-up call. I am always happy to help, so please contact me if you are interested in any kind of personal training with me, or just have questions about something!
In good health,
-Bonnie
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Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Hit me up via the 'CONTACT' tab up at the top of this page!
