by: Patrick Limon
Even though hiring a personal trainer can be expensive, there are many reasons why it is worth your time and money.
- Accountability
We always assume that if we toss our workout clothes in our gym bag and put them in the car that we will definitely go to the gym when our workday is finished. This is not always the case. This would-be gym session is a time that you scheduled with yourself, so who cares if you cancel the appointment because you are too tired. Hiring a personal trainer can break this bad habit and force you to go to the gym after work. When you schedule an appointment with another person you are held accountable versus if the appointment was with yourself.
- Motivation
It is hard to get to the gym, and when we finally do, we have zero motivation to get into our workout. When your personal trainer is with you, they motivate you and push you to do your absolute best. A personal trainer will not only prevent you from utilizing lazy form, but also prevent you from skipping reps during an exercise.
- Unique program design
There are many new and different ways of exercising. Your personal trainer can show you multiple workout variations. Even though dumbbells and barbells are efficient and reliable, there are many other pieces of equipment (medicine balls and TRX straps) that can look intimidating but are highly effective. Each person has a different need and not every workout should be exactly alike. A personal trainer can customize a program that is designed specifically for you and what fits your needs and goals.
Accurate monitoring of progress
The scale is the thing that women fear the most. Yes, the scale is an OK way to monitor progress, but there are more efficient and accurate ways to monitor progress. Circumference measurements and body fat tests (BIA, Skinfold calipers) are just two examples of methods utilized by personal trainers. What most people do not realize is that even though you are not losing weight, you may be losing inches. Of course it is motivating to see the numbers on a scale drop, but the bigger picture is understanding that your measurements are dropping, you are becoming stronger, and your heart is becoming more efficient.
- Credentials and qualifications
This is, in my opinion, the MOST important reason to hire a personal trainer. A degreed personal trainer is trained and educated in the field of health and wellness. Completing a degree in kinesiology requires classes such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, performance, nutrition, and other courses that all relate to the study of human movement and development.
Also look for a trainer that is certified through a nationally accredited organization such as ACSM, NSCA, ACE, or NASM. These are gold-standard certifications that require many hours of studying prior to passing some type of difficult exam.
