The average personal trainer costs $60 per hour. That might sound like an extravagance you shouldn’t pay for.
While it’s certainly something you may need to budget for, deciding to hire a personal trainer is something you’ll never regret.
There is so much information and advice circulating about how to get in shape, how to stay healthy, how to choose the right foods, which workouts are the best, and other hype you may not be able to trust.
Having an expert on your side means a go-to resource for quality information that you can use to help you as you work toward your health goals.
Personal training offers a wealth of benefits, from weight loss to creating the ideal workout to building muscle to boosting endurance.
The best personal trainer for you may be different than it is for someone else. So you need to do a bit more than a Google search for “personal trainer near me.”
Find a trainer who is experienced in creating programs for your specific goals. For example, if you want to lose weight, choose a trainer who has worked with other clients and has the skills and knowledge to help you get to your goal weight.
You have so many options when it comes to getting help with your fitness journey. Have a look at this list of personal training benefits and you’ll be excited to get started.
Faster Results
When you begin a workout program, you want to see that your hard work is paying off. Hiring a personal trainer is a fantastic way to see results faster.
Often, when you’re trying to complete a workout program on your own, you get distracted. Maybe you can’t decide what music to listen to and pretty soon it’s time to leave the gym and go to work.
Or maybe you are overwhelmed by the equipment so you do something fast and leave the gym feeling discouraged and let down. Not to mention without getting an effective workout.
A personal trainer solves this problem by keeping you focused on the workout. It’s his or her job to create a workout routine and get you through it in the allotted time.
A personal trainer knows how to put together exercises so you are working your body in a way that aligns with your goals. They also know which exercises are most effective for your body type and which will provide results fastest.
By working with a trainer, you will stay focused during your sessions and are bound to see muscles developing, weight falling off, and endurance increasing much faster than if you were on your own.
Accountability
Research finds a strong connection between having a personal trainer and accountability. That boosts motivation, helping you see results and reach your goals.
Sometimes your own voice isn’t enough to get you up and moving. Having someone else on your side to encourage you and motivate you to get to the gym or turn on a workout video can help.
Your personal trainer is invested in your success. They want you to reach your fitness goals. That means they are the best person for getting you excited about being active.
You can certainly find accountability from family and friends too. But a personal trainer will take it to the next level and get you hyped about exercise.
Setting Goals
You likely know what your health goals are, but figuring out how to achieve them is another story. Setting realistic goals is another way that a personal trainer can help you.
Without realistic goals, you may give up and throw in the towel. Physical fitness doesn’t happen overnight. It will take some time and a personal trainer can help you set goals that will give you success along the way.
That success is a big motivator to keep you going. Your personal trainer will keep track of your goals and the successes you see as you go.
The goals you have also determine the program that your personal trainer designs for you. If you want to lose weight, he or she will help you find exercises that burn calories and boost your metabolism.
He or she can also offer advice and suggestions for your diet. This also helps control calories, helping you reach your goals.
Creates a Routine
One of the biggest barriers to exercise that people report is time. In many cases, creating a healthy workout routine shows you that you can fit it in.
A personal trainer can help because you will set up consistent times to meet and work out together. As this becomes part of your everyday routine, it will be easier to stick with the program you choose.
Behavior change is difficult at the outset. Creating a routine is often the only way to be sure you’re making time for exercise.
Left to their own devices, many people give up because they struggle to fit a workout into their busy lives. A personal trainer can teach you how to make it work, based on the time you have to commit to it.
Reduces the Risk of Injury
It’s going to be hard to stick with a workout routine if you’re hurt. Because a personal trainer is experienced with the moves and equipment in common workout programs, working with one cuts your risk dramatically.
Your trainer can teach the proper form, technique, and posture required for each exercise you do. They will also supervise you during a workout and correct these things as you go.
This is beneficial during a workout because it keeps you safe while you exercise. It’s also helpful when you exercise alone because you’ll have a better idea of what to do and what not to do.
Getting hurt can derail your entire workout plan. A trainer can help prevent sprains, strains, and other injuries by teaching you how to protect your joints, bones, and muscles during physical activity.
Build Muscle
Many people seek out a trainer because they want to build muscle. This might be to boost endurance, increase strength, or build power. Did you know there are over 600 muscles in the human body?
If you’ve never studied the muscular system, it can be an overwhelming task to make sure you’re targeting all of them. The good news is that a personal trainer has a good understanding of this.
They know what specific moves will tone each muscle group. They also know how many sets and repetitions of each exercise are required to meet your goals.
For example, if you want to increase your muscular endurance, you will do more reps with lighter weights. If you want to get stronger, you will use heavier weights and do fewer reps.
A personal trainer also knows when you’ve plateaued and can help you safely increase your intensity and pound load to keep your progress on track.
Education
One of the top reasons to hire a personal trainer is because they can teach you things you didn’t know before. That is valuable because it gives you the tools to make healthy choices on your own.
After all, you won’t be spending every minute with your personal trainer. If you have the knowledge to make the right choices when you aren’t working together, you will be well on your way to reaching your goals.
Not only will your trainer teach you how to exercise effectively, but he or she can also guide you toward making the right eating choices. He or she can also share information about making sleep a priority.
You will also learn how to burn through ruts, what to do if the number on the scale creeps back up, and as mentioned above, how to safely work out on your own.
Lots of Options
Seeing a personal trainer gives you access to more options than you might have on your own. That includes when it comes to equipment and choosing which moves to include in your workout.
Whether you’re interested in group classes, strength training, or functional fitness, your trainer has a program that will work for you.
Working with a personal trainer in a fitness center is also a great option if you don’t have the space for exercise equipment at home. You’ll have more choices and won’t be restricted to what you can do in a small space.
Working with a personal trainer also allows for mixing up your workouts. Your body tends to adapt to one method of exercise so you want to freshen up your routine from time to time.
With a trainer, you won’t get in a rut of doing the same thing all the time. He or she will keep things fun and interesting by switching them up often. Not only will that keep you from getting bored, but it also speeds your results.
Boost Confidence
The ultimate goal of a personal trainer is to help you get in shape and reach your fitness goals. However, they are also there to build your confidence and look out for your general wellbeing.
They want to know how you’re feeling so that they can customize your program to match your needs. They want to know what challenges you face so they can alter your routine to get around them.
A trainer also creates a supportive relationship with you. This translates into trust and confidence in your own skills. This positive relationship helps you see what you’re capable of.
It also gives you someone to cheer for you and celebrate your victories with you. Each success along your journey is going to make you more confident and your trainer will be with you each step of the way.
Improves Mental Health
Plenty of research proves that exercise plays a big role in your mental wellness. Being active can help control symptoms of depression and anxiety.
It can also help lower stress levels. That’s because exercise produces endorphins. These are brain chemicals that boost mood and feelings of wellbeing.
At the same time, taking care of your body and your health makes you feel better. That translates to lower stress and an improved mood. The better you feel, the more motivated you’ll be to keep going, completing the cycle.
Additionally, having the support of a trainer can help you stay on track. Reaching each success along the way toward your larger goal will make you feel good. Your trainer will keep you on the right path as you go.
Keep in mind that exercise can’t replace medications or therapy prescribed by your doctor. However, when used in conjunction with them, a regular workout schedule can have a profound effect on your mental health.
Belonging and Community
Finally, working with a personal trainer gives you a sense of belonging. You’ll be part of a community of individuals who are also using exercise to reach their goals.
This gives you some common ground, creating a bond and relationships that can help spur you toward success. This is especially easy to do if you join group classes.
A group of like-minded people gives you an outlet for frustration, a chance to compare stories, and the opportunity to celebrate your successes. This can be incredibly powerful in terms of motivation and confidence.
Getting the Most Out of Personal Training
To get the most from each of your personal training sessions, you should take the time to find the right trainer. You want someone you have a rapport with and someone you can trust to help you get where you want to be.
You also need a trainer who is certified. This tells you that he or she studied and passed an exam proving they are equipped to provide the service to their clients.
Someone who understands your goals and makes exercise fun is also important.
Before you go, check out our fitness services, each of which is designed to help you reach your goals.
