What to expect from your PT - in words & moving pictures!

Further to the last three Posts giving you an introduction to Personal Training and this leap of faith to put your fitness and exercise regime into the hands of an expert - have a look at this short YouTube video clip, that whilst three years old remains highly relevant. This will give you a good background on what you can expect in return for your hard earned monetary investment, your time and your effort, and  so have a listen to Dominic Munnelly's six minute presentation - it makes a lot of sense!

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

What to expect from your Personal Trainer!

Having set a  foundation for your new Personal Training regime, what can you expect from the hours spent and your time invested with your PT - whether you are in a gym, in a park, at the beach, or even in your own home. This article will give you some valuable insights to set the framework of your relationship that is going to get you established on the road to fitness, exercise, health and wellbeing. Written by George N. Anderson (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_N_Anderson and via Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8622874)


Making the commitment to get physically fit is challenging in itself. Once that hurdle is overcome, very few people know where to go from there. To the novice exerciser, a gym full of complex equipment, heavy weights, and bodybuilders can be quite intimidating. Thankfully, personal trainers are available to guide you in the right direction. Here are a few things to look for before working with a personal trainer.

Passion.
A vast majority of personal trainers have committed to their careers out of sheer passion for personal fitness. Their desire to remain fit, active, and healthy is passed on to their clients. From your first introduction, you should be able to identify how much your personal trainer loves what they do. It is their passion that will trickle down to you, motivating you to push through those sessions where you feel you don't have anything left to give.

Understands Their Job.
The technical definition of a personal trainer is "a fitness professional possessing the knowledge, skills, and abilities for safe and effective exercise and fitness program design, instruction, and assistance for the purpose of reaching personal health and fitness goals". That is a lot to take in but the essence of the role is- passion isn't enough to be successful. Your personal trainer must know what they're doing and have the ability to teach it properly.

To be effective, their knowledge must expand much farther than knowing the name of every machine in the gym. A qualified trainer is well versed in human anatomy, nutrition, and the science of exercise. They should be able to customize each workout experience to the needs and skill level of the individual or group they're working with at the time.

Take the Proper Steps.
No trainer should take on a new client and immediately jump into a workout regimen. After an initial consultation, the first thing to look for is a preliminary assessment. This screening will allow the professional to determine the client's strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously creating an action plan. Certain risk factors such as obesity, injuries, or diabetes will also be taken into consideration. Varying upon the client's medical history, the trainer may also need to obtain permission from the client's primary physician to proceed with certain workout routines.

Next, the personal trainer will ask questions surrounding the client's daily habits. Food they normally eat, current exercise routine (if any), and even the current place of employment are all vital pieces of information. The personal trainer is more than just a workout partner or drill sergeant, it is their job to assist their clients in improving their entire lifestyle.

The final role of a personal trainer is to play hardball. Some people set overly ambitious weight loss goals and it is up to the trainer to say "no" from time to time. Results will never happen overnight. While a good trainer will never let you "quit", they will always encourage their client to listen to their body. Reserving ample time to rest and recover is of utmost importance. Pushing the body past its limits will lead to injury or other counterproductive complications. With a proper assessment, as well as adhering to the suggested nutritional and fitness routine, you and your trainer will have a healthy, long-lasting relationship full of wonderful results.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Thinking about a Personal Trainer . . . ?

When you embark on your new found enthusiasm for training, exercise and a healthier fitness regime, eventually you will decide, perhaps sooner rather than later, that you might just need a Personal Trainer.  Someone to give you expert advice and guidance, encouragement and motivation, and the purpose and drive you need. There are a number of things to consider, and then of course there is the money side to bear in mind too, because you're going to have pay your PT for the hours you put in . . . but, and it's a big but, this is an investment in you, your body, your health and your future so this makes it a very sound investment!

I came across this brief article at ezinearticles.com that is a condensed summary from Alan Wendling (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allan_Wendling and found at Article Source : http://EzineArticles.com/8778701), that will take just a few moments to read but has some good starting points.

There are numerous times when plainly doing things by yourself just won't cut it, one of those times is when you are out to start working out and preparing to get fit. Though it is good to try out new things for yourself, you will have to reconsider when looking into getting fitter. You see, when you do things alone, there are bound to be things that will not work out so well for you. Luckily though, there is always that one person that can help - a personal fitness trainer! Yes, when going to the gym or just plain exercising to get rid of excess weight and getting a better body, the best thing you can do is get a trainer. But what exactly does a trainer do?

Discuss where to start.
Contrary to popular belief, a personal fitness trainer is more than just a coach yelling at you while you are on the treadmill. No, a trainer does so much more than that. In fact, the work of a personal trainer starts way before you even set foot in the gym. The personal trainer will help you discuss where you are going to start. You will have to do some thorough assessment as to how you are doing and what the things are that are preventing you from reaching your goals.

Planning phase.
After the assessment discussion with your trainer, you will have to move on to the next step which is the planning phase. Your personal trainer will now discuss with you what you want to achieve out of your partnership and how you are to achieve it. Also, the specifics of your regimen and training will be decided on.

Step by step instruction.
Your personal fitness trainer will then proceed with training you in the best way possible for you to reach your goal. Because you most probably would not know what to do or how to do it, your instructor would teach you every step of the way so that you do not end up hurting yourself. If that will not produce good results for you then surely nothing will.

Encouragement.
For certain, there will be times when you get discouraged by your path, that you may find what you are doing is hopeless. Your trainer will then help you to get back on your feet and regain your confidence in your cause. Because of this, you will get more encouragement and motivation to get back out there and continue what you were doing right. This by far, is one of the most important functions of a personal fitness trainer.

What to expect.
When choosing a trainer, it is very important to note that they will not do the work for you. You will have to do the heavy-lifting: literally and figuratively. You still need to work hard and to do your best, but your trainer will still be there to lighten the burden and help you with your training. So why wait? Get a personal trainer!

-WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-