Image credit: kzenon / 123RF Stock Photo

Let’s face it. We all have the best of intentions. We join a gym. Then what? You hop on the ellipitcal machine for 30 minutes and finish up with 100 sit-ups and push-ups. You do this 3 times a week for 2 months. Did you lose weight? Did you get those six-pack abs? Chances are you didn’t. Why?

A large majority of people who go to gyms even with the best intentions never get the results they desire. Why does that happen? Well, most people have no clue what to do in a gym. Should you do cardio? Should you do free weights? What about all those machines? The gym environment can be very intimating. It can also lead to a lot of potential injuries when you don’t have the correct technique and form.

Working with a fitness professional is the most effective method to reach your health, wellness and fitness goals. A 2003 study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that 57% of individuals who began an exercise routine with a fitness professional acheived progress in their long-term health, wellness, and fitness goals.

Personal Trainers can help individuals with the following:

1. Injury Prevention – Incorrect technique and form during weight training exercises can lead to injuries, such as sprains, fractures, and other painful injuries. A certified personal trainer will supervision your sessions and educate you on proper form and technique to reduce risk of injury. Personal trainers can also modify any exercises based on previous injuries and movement limitations.

2. Goal Setting and Progression – A personal trainer can help you form long-term realistic fitness goals. A trainer can then help you break your long-term goal into smaller more attainable goals that will keep you motivated to progress further towards your long-term goal. Progression is a key component of fitness routines. Our bodies are smart and adapt to exercise stress. That’s why it’s importnant to change up your routine every so often or you may plateau and never reach your long-term fitness goals. A personal trainer can help you with this.

3. Motivation and Accountability – Many people view exercise as a chore. But a personal trainer can make your workout fun and something you look forward to doing each day. A personal trainer will also keep you accountable and keep you moving forward and making progress.

4. Efficiency – We all live busy lives between work, family, friends, etc. so we don’t have hours to spend at the gym. A personal trainer can design an effective training plan that will get you in and out of the gym in a reasonable time. A personal trainer can maximize your time to get the best results.

5. Individualized Program Design – No two people are exactly alike and thus our workout plans should not be alike either. We are all individuals and our fitness programs should reflect our individual needs to help us reach our goals. An effective exercise program should be adapted to you and not the other way a round. A personal trainer will take the time to design a program that suits your needs and goals.