What to Expect: A Guide to Understanding Exactly How Personal Training Works

Maybe you’re just starting to exercise for the first time. Or, perhaps, you’re someone who has a strong workout routine, and you’re looking to level up. Maybe you’re a pro at using the elliptical, but you have no idea what to do when it comes to the weight room.

No matter what your fitness story, you can benefit from personal training!

Personal training can help you meet your fitness goals. Countless people have benefited from the knowledge and expertise of fitness professionals.

Not sure what personal training is, or how to choose a fitness professional that’s right for you?

Don’t worry: we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of personal training. We’ll explain what personal training is, as well as the advantages of personal training. Consider this your complete guide: personal training explained!

What Is Personal Training?

Personal training is a service provided by professionals to help clients meet their fitness or health goals. Personal training is just what it sounds like! It is one-on-one training, tailored to you, your fitness goals, and your needs.

Who Are Personal Trainers?

Personal trainers are licensed professionals. They work hard to design and implement quality, effective fitness plans and services to their clients.

They are also a diverse bunch! Men and women of all backgrounds and walks of life work as personal trainers. Some people work as trainers full time, while others train as a side hustle.

Currently, in the United States, there are 340,000 certified personal trainers working to help clients meet their goals! The fitness industry is one that is growing rapidly. This is great news for you, as a potential client.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the personal fitness sector will grow 15% in the next 10 years. This is much higher than average!

This means you should have lots of high-quality options when it comes to choosing the perfect trainer for you.

Benefits of Personal Training

The advantages of personal training are countless, but if you’re new to the fitness world, you may not be aware of them. Read on for the numerous benefits of personal training!

Personal Training Is All About You!

The best part about personal training? It’s all about you! That means the focus is on your goals, your dreams, and your progress.

Take this time during your personal training to really focus on what is important to you.

Education

Working with a personal trainer increases your knowledge and grows your fitness prowess. Personal trainers can explain why you should do a certain exercise. They can tell you what muscles an exercise targets, and how it will increase your fitness.

Personal training enables you to gain access to profound fitness insights from a trusted source.

Helps You Set Goals

Setting a goal helps you create a roadmap for success. A good personal trainer will help you make a goal that you can then break down into achievable steps.

Keeps You Accountable

Do you struggle to keep your exercise appointments? You tell yourself “tomorrow will be different.” Then you hit the snooze button until it’s too late to work out.

Trainers can keep you on track. They can provide strategies to get you out of bed and to the gym. You’re also more likely to make it to workout appointments if someone else is waiting for you.

Keeps You Safe

Many fitness newbies experience preventable injuries because they work out with improper form in the gym! Trainers can show you the proper form to complete new exercises. They can help you create a schedule that maximizes your efforts while giving you recovery time between workouts.

Even gym rats can benefit from a form refresher. Only with the correct form can you get the full benefits from an exercise. Personal trainers are great at keeping you safe, inside the gym and out.

Prevents You From Getting Bored

Ever felt like you would exercise more, but it’s just too, well, boring? You’re not alone. Feeling bored during workouts is one of the more common reasons people give for not exercising.

Thankfully, with the help of a personal trainer, you can look forward to your workouts again! Personal trainers are great at breaking up the monotony of workouts so you’re constantly challenged and you don’t have to do the same thing twice.

Helps You Break Through Plateaus

Another plus: people who work with trainers can gain new skills and greater physical fitness. This can help you break through the fitness or weight loss plateaus that you may be experiencing. Sometimes you just need a little change to see big results.

Personal training can help.

It’s Effective!

Research backs this up. People who train with personal trainers increase their aerobic capacity by 7%, compared to those who train on their own! They also increase their lean body mass, and lose weight!

Whatever your goals, personal training can help you achieve them.

Who Should Get a Personal Trainer?

Anyone can benefit from a personal trainer. There are some specific situations where a personal trainer may be of particular benefit.

People getting ready for a big event can definitely benefit from personal training. So can those with a specific event or competition in mind. Want to enter a bodybuilding event? Participate in a triathlon? Run a 5K?

Personal training is right for you!

Similarly, if you’ve never worked out before and don’t know where to start, or if you’re re-entering the fitness world after an injury or time away, a personal trainer is a good choice!

There are very few people who don’t get a benefit from one-on-one attention.

When Should You Get a Personal Trainer?

Any time is a good time to get a personal trainer! That said, there are some things to consider before you make the leap. These include:

Time Commitment

Working out with a trainer requires that you coordinate two schedules; yours and your trainers. Making the time to invest in yourself takes planning and coordination. Make sure that there is time in your schedule to prioritize your upcoming appointments with your new trainer.

Upcoming Life Event or Goal

Getting married? Renewing your vows? Have a big celebration to look forward to? It’s important to plan ahead for these events and make sure that you’re connecting with a trainer well ahead of your desired celebration.

Results that last don’t happen overnight! Give yourself, and your trainer, enough time to make your results happen.

Motivation

Are you ready to invest in yourself and your wellness? Are you committed to carving out the time for your fitness? Your health is worth it, but if you’re not ready to commit to training, you won’t get the results you seek.

You need to have a ‘why,’ when starting your personal fitness journey. What’s going to get you out of bed on the mornings when you just don’t feel like it? What’s going to make you keep going when you’re 10 reps into a 20 rep set?

You need the motivation to keep going!

What Should You Look For In a Personal Trainer?

There are certain qualifications, as well as personal choices you’ll want to think about before choosing a trainer. Here are some things to consider as you search for your perfect partner on your fitness journey.

Certifications

A great trainer can have any number of certifications, but you do want them to be certified. Many organizations certify personal trainers, like ACE, NSCA, ACSM, or NASM to name a few. Ask what certification your trainer has, to make sure they’ve gotten great training to help you meet your goals.

Experience

You may want to ask how long someone has been working as a personal trainer. Someone with a lot of experience in one area may be helpful to assist you in reaching a specific target. Someone young with lots of enthusiasm may be great to keep you motivated!

People Skills

A great trainer is a great people person! You want someone kind, friendly and dedicated to work with you on your fitness goals. When you meet a trainer for the first time, notice how comfortable you feel with them.

Your gym can be a great resource too. Looking to train with a woman? Looking for someone with a down-to-earth vibe?

A great gym will help you find the trainer that’s right for you!

Environment Where You Train

Just as important as a high-quality, knowledgeable trainer is the environment where you train. You’ll want to work out in a state-of-the-art, high-quality gym environment.

Some trainers work independently, while many work out of gym settings. When considering joining a gym, consider amenities. Do you want group classes to supplement your personal training? Want to be able to get a massage after a hard workout? What about childcare for your kids?

Great gyms will have excellent personal trainers on-site, as well as a whole suite of amenities to serve you.

Nutrition Knowledge

Having nutrition knowledge isn’t required for personal training certification. But many personal trainers have some knowledge about nutrition that can be helpful to you in meeting your goals. If this is important to you, ask your trainer about it!

If they can’t help with something specific, they can be a great resource to point you in the right direction of someone who can.

Specialization

Some people can benefit from additional specialization from their trainers. If you’re working out during pregnancy, recovering from an illness, or have other special needs related to physical activity, you might want to ask your gym or trainer about other special training or experience that they have.

Your First Meeting: What To Expect

Some people feel nervous about meeting a personal trainer for the first time. Don’t be! Your first meeting with a trainer is an exciting opportunity that marks the beginning of a new journey.

Getting To Know You

Another thing to discuss with your trainer is how you stay motivated. Are you someone who thrives on good vibes and encouragement? Or do you need someone who won’t take any of your excuses?

Your personal trainer is your partner through your fitness journey. Give them the tools to help you by being honest about your motivation needs. Consider: what specifically do you want help with when it comes to motivation?

Setting Goals

A good personal trainer will help you set attainable fitness goals. At your first meeting, you should tell your trainer about what you want to accomplish. This will help them create a roadmap for your future success.

Evaluating Your Current Fitness

Sometimes an initial meeting will include a fitness evaluation. Your trainer might want to learn more about your current fitness level. If this is the case, don’t stress!

Trainers are professionals who have seen it all before. It doesn’t matter how you start; it matters how you finish!

Making A Plan

Sometimes the hardest part of getting started is knowing where to start! Your trainer will help with this. Together you’ll set a time to meet, how long to meet, and begin working out the details of your workout plan.

This may mean that your trainer assigns you some homework. This could be in the form of a walking routine, exercises to do at home, or keeping a food diary. It depends on what you both decide together.

Personal Training: The Best Investment In Your Health

The best time to invest in your health is today. So what are you waiting for? The benefits of personal training are endless. The impact on your life and your wellbeing is just waiting to be realized.

Fitness CF is open, and it is time to head back to the gym! Do so safely, and with a plan in place to guide your future success. When you’re ready to invest in yourself, and your fitness future, reach out to us.

We’ve got free passes, phenomenal trainers, and great advice. Let us help you meet your fitness goals!