Should I Get A Personal Trainer And Are They Worth It?

Whether you are just starting out or you have been working out for a while, you may have asked yourself the question - Should I Get A Personal Trainer And Are They Worth It?

Of course, this is a hard question to answer in a generic way since everyone's needs are different and they are at different places in their exercise journey.

It all depends on whether you are looking to get results fast, how much weight you are looking to lose (if any), whether you struggle with self-motivation, and the list goes on.

Also, not everyone takes instruction that well. For some, it’s like being back at school, especially when you have a schedule to stick to and instructions on the type of food you are encouraged to eat. This level of scrutiny and rigid structure just isn’t for everyone.

Then there’s the price. How much budget does the average person have and can they afford to hire a personal trainer? Unless you’re someone with a high disposable income, hiring a personal trainer might be out of your financial reach.

Are You Currently Getting the Results You Want?

Now, if you’re like a lot of people. You’ve been exercising for weeks and months and constantly looking at how much you weigh, how much weight you have lost and whether or not you can fit into that favorite outfit.

Are your efforts getting you the results you desire? In most cases, probably not.

That’s when you might consider hiring a personal trainer. You’ve tried everything on your own and are not making any progress.

Here are a few things that could help with:

You Just Don’t Know Where To Start

If you are new to exercising and fitness. Where exactly do you start? 

Do you join a gym and participate in multiple different classes or do you buy some fitness equipment and exercise at home? There are many, many questions to consider before you even start.

This is where a personal trainer might be helpful.

A personal trainer will have a look at your goals and devise an entire fitness program for you. They will even advise you about the type of food you should be eating and when. They will even tell you whether you should be using weights, free weights, exercising using cardio and cardio machines. Again, the list goes on and on.

Everyone’s body is different and we are all at different fitness levels. What may be correct for you today, may not be right for you in 6 months' time. The weights you are lifting today may not be heavy enough in a month’s time. A trainer can help you with all of this.

You Are Bored & Looking For Variety

There are a lot of people that are quite experienced and know exactly what exercise program they should be on. However, they may have reached their limit when it comes to the variety of exercises and the type of machines and equipment they feel they should use.

A personal trainer will bring a fresh perspective to things. They don’t necessarily need to work with you for months on end. A lot of times it is just to give you a new insight into new exercises you can try.

Also, a personal trainer is able to be objective and is likely to manufacture a workout that better suits your needs rather than just giving you exercises that you “like” and “enjoy.”

A trainer will:

• Bring you new ideas and structure those ideas specifically for you and your goals.
• Will encourage you to try new exercises and equipment you may never have thought of.
• Change the time of day you train to get the best out of you

They Will Challenge You

How many times are you challenged? Probably not that many times.

A trainer will:

Can Teach You The Right Way To Exercise

We never stop learning. Even if we feel that we know everything. Sometimes exercising by yourself allows you to get into a routine that isn’t always the best for your technique or posture. A few sessions with a personal trainer will help you adapt and will likely show you the right way to exercise.

They will also teach you about your muscle groups and which ones you should use and not use depending on what your goal is. This is essential if you are looking to tone different parts of your body.

There are various different ways to lift weights. There’s a right way and also a wrong way. Where possible, you’ll want to do it the right way the majority of the time. If not, you could do yourself both short term or worse, long term damage.

Lastly, a personal trainer will make various resources, courses and books available that they feel might be helpful to you. These resources may not be available to you directly, so having a person with this connection and network could be beneficial.

In Summary

So should you hire a personal trainer?

In six words. It is completely up to you.

As I said at the beginning of this article. Everyone's position will be different. It might be financial, fitness or time. Whatever reason is right for you at a time when you are ready.

Don't forget, no one is saying that you have to hire one on a full-time basis. Sometimes you just need expert help putting an exercise plan together or sorting out what you eat and your eating habits.

Whatever the reason, it will be personal to you and your situation. No one can decide this for you.

With any luck, this article has helped.