Hire a Personal Trainer, Or Not?

[Susan_Marlowe]

When exercise or just the thought of it seems overwhelming, it is time to hire a personal trainer. A trainer is not really a luxury item anymore. The truth is, it is really a customized crash course in exercise education. Just be sure that the trainer you hire has at least 10+ years experience and credentials. I also recommend interviewing a client that the trainer currently trains. If you believe that you cannot afford it, I suggest you rethink the investment. I am not suggesting that you compromise basic living budget, but I do want to stress the real savings and benefits. When you work with a trainer, they not only maintain your accountability record, they also create new cross training fun workouts, but most importantly, they teach you proper form and alignment. When you learn these lessons, then you can continue your training at a higher level. Understand, it is not just the duration of your workout and the intensity that counts, — IT IS WHAT YOU ABSORB. By absorb I mean resistance, oxygen and focused motivation with mindful movement. May I suggest sharing a session with a friend? It is important that the friend is in a similar weight and level class. For example, if you weigh 250 pounds it is recommended that your friend be in the 220-260 ranges. Another benefit is it is an instant 1/2-price sale and you will add to the motivating aspect of the check in system. On a night that you are just not in the mood, your friend may get you focused. On a day that your energy level is very low or you may feel down, your friend will pick you up and say “Just get in the car, we will tell the trainer to just stretch today”. The point is you can each write down the exercise routine after every session and then rotate the workouts on alternate weeks to come. If budget is still a factor, just do a follow up session once a month for an update. Understand, it is often not what you can afford-it is really what you value. If you pass up the expensive coffee on your way to work at almost $5 a cup, that equals $130 a month. If you split an average session at $75, you would be able to train with a friend 4 times a month or once a week. I also recommend using online recording tools to further reinforce the workouts that you do with the trainer. Go check out your BMI and start today! This is the best weight loss tip I can give. An online tracking at a price you can definitely afford–free!!! We all love free!! Good luck!!!