So you’ve decided to finally go to the gym. You’ve got all the motivation in the world, all the best intentions so stick it out and give this workout thing your all! iPod, check! Gym membership, check! Water bottle, check!

A few weeks go by, and you’re going strong, you may have even lost a few pounds! Fast forward about 2 months later, things seemed to have come to a screeching halt… The weight isn’t dropping as fast, and you’ve suddenly become bored with the same routine you’ve been following for the last 2 (or more) months. What to do, you may ask? Why hire a trainer!

Seems simple, but for some it’s a scary decision. In fact, as someone who has been in the industry for over 12 years, I find it amazing that so many exercisers have trepidations about taking the step to bring a fitness professional into their daily routine. Many people decide to hire a trainer later on down the line as opposed to right away. However, you are better off starting on the right foot, when the motivation is strong, than you are if you were to wait while you figure it out on your own (and possibly lose the drive to want to continue your routine).

Sometimes exercisers (new ones and those who’ve been doing it for years) don’t always realize the benefits of working with a skilled professional. So, let’s go over those benefits, shall we?

1. Hiring a trainer at the START of your fitness routine is the best time! I have had conversations with various gym goers who think that they can start off on their own and be fine. But what most people don’t realize is that their perception of HOW TO EXERCISE is a bit off. They think that doing cardio for hours on end will help them to lose the most weight, or that killing themselves on a treadmill is the most effective way to magically melt away body fat. Even worse, many people (particularly women) don’t realize the importance of weight training in a weight loss program. Some people either neglect this portion or don’t train properly to see the most dramatic changes. Working with personal trainer at the start of your fitness program can help to clear up any confusion as to what is the most (and least) effective way of training for real results.
2. Hiring a trainer can help you to learn how to weight train effectively for the results you expect! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, EXERCISE IS A SCIENCE. And that’s why you have so many studying this science day after day, and year after year, earning degrees and certifications to help the general public figure out how to apply this science to everyday life. When most people weight train, they end up doing traditional type of exercises that focus mostly on hypertrophy (or building mass). A lot of gym goers get their information from fitness magazines or from other members, both of which can be good sources, however they are NOT the best sources. In order to promote major body composition changes (building muscle at the same time losing the most possible body fat), one should consider following a program comprised of multi-jointed or compound exercises. Anything that gets your body moving as one unit while fighting the forces of gravity are absolutely the best. So exercises like a Squat Row or Lunge to Overhead Press will produce more of a caloric burn AND a huge metabolic boost. Pairing several exercises, like the ones mentioned, to make a complete circuit is even better. This type of training will keep your heart rate up and the calorie burn on. You’ll see more significant changes in the least amount of time.
3. Hiring a trainer can keep you motivated! It goes without saying, having someone to guide you and root for you while you work out is a great ego booster and energizer. A great trainer is someone who can keep you going even on those days that you feel you cannot muster the energy to begin your workout. A great trainer knows your body, and always keeps your goals in mind, so you can rest assured that when you step foot in the gym, you’re on your way to fitness success.
4. Hiring a trainer gives you a sense of accountability! You’ve made an appointment, you’ve made the commitment to yourself, you’ve bought someone else into the equation… Moreover, you’ve PAID for the service. Therefore, you’ve got to show up and give it your all. For many, a set appointment time is the one thing that keeps them actually making use of the gym, or exercising at all. If you’ve got to do it 2-3 times per week, on a schedule, changes are you’re going to show up!
5. Hiring a trainer can ensure real results! Again it goes back to knowing exactly what you need to do to see the results you want. Placing this responsibility in the hands of someone who has the answers on how to get you there is one of the smartest decisions you can make. It takes 4-6 weeks to see some real changes in the body, you can either do it the right way and see these changes sooner, or your way and risk not seeing them at all.

There are so many other reasons why a trainer is the best option, for the short term or the long term. Even if you just considered one for a month to jump start (or restart) your fitness plan, your trainer can be the key that unlocks your path to the body of your dreams. In our next discussion, we’ll look into choosing the right trainer for YOU.