Personal training - Where do I start?

Tired of going to the gym on your own with no results? Maybe it is time to consider personalised training sessions with your own personal trainer.

Firstly consider your goals – what do you want to achieve? Are you aiming for fitness, weight loss, body building, toning, increased performance for your favourite sport, rehab from injury or illness, or simply the ability to keep up with the kids?

What should you look for in a personal trainer?

• Professionalism
• Experience and up to date knowledge
• Honesty
• Motivation and support
• Compassion and understanding
• Someone who practices what they preach
• A personality and style you can work with
• Someone you can be accountable to
• Willingness to work in conjunction with health care professionals, including doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, etc, as required
• Willingness to find out where you are at, tailor a program specifically for you and monitor your progress until you reach your goals

What should you expect when starting with a personal trainer?

A personal trainer will start with an assessment of your health and fitness, including medical history and any injuries. After discussing goals, together you will define realistic short term and long term goals and your trainer will develop a personal training plan for you to follow.

Nutrition will also be an essential part of the plan so keeping a food diary can be very helpful. This does not mean a short term diet, it means developing good healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.

What does a personal training plan look like?

Plans are specifically tailored for each individual so there is no ‘one size fits all’. Your program will depend on your specific needs and goals, such as:

• Sports specific focus
• Weight loss
• Body building
• Fat loss
• Toning and sculpting
• Fitness
• Maintenance
• Rehabilitation from injury or illness
• General well being

Elements of a personal training plan may include strength, resistance and cardio training, boxing and cycling.

How can you work with your personal trainer to successfully meet your goals?

• Persistence and consistency
• Combining healthy eating with your training
• Move your body at every opportunity, for example, playing with your children in the park
• When it comes down to it, hard work brings results

Article written by Wendy from Jewel See Editing, for Executive Results

Back to fitness articles
Back to Personal Training