Saturday, December 10, 2011

Do you need the service of a Personal Trainer?

With the Holiday season upon us and the New Year just around the corner, this is the time of year when many people decide to set fitness goals or lose some weight.  Both of these decisions are great and ones I would recommend, if needed.

With so many magazine articles, newspaper ads, tv commercials and videos out there stating the benefits of "working out", ie: strength training, cardio exercises, etc. it's really hard to swallow that our population is still nearly 65% obese.  Even more frightening is that children and teens between the ages of 2-19 account for nearly 48% (CDC 2010).

 By tnilsen08
States that are in PURPLE represent the highest percentage of obesity (>30%).   The states that are in RED represent 25-30%, and states states that are in orange represent 20-25%.

With daylight savings cutting out daylight times significantly, this leaves very few of us time to train outdoors.  The fresh air, sun and changing environment make "working out" outdoors much easier than going to a gym or doing it in your home.  What motivates someone to go to a gym (especially if the gym is several miles from where you live or work) after a long day at a work?  The answer/s will be different for everyone.

I've seen it all too often where someone will set a goal of losing weight as a New Year's resolution.  Again this is a great goal if you are in need of losing some extra body weight, or body fat.  However, due to lack of motivation or some other factors (demographic, social, physical-environment) the goal was not attained.

 Lushpix Stock Images

Image Source Photos

A personal trainer can be just the key to success for many looking for help in achieving a certain goal, adding creativity to your current workout routine, or most importantly holding you accountable for actually getting your butt off the couch and into the gym.  It's amazing how psychology works.  I have not taken many psychology courses, but know a little how we as humans react to certain things.  If someone has a Dr.'s appointment scheduled they are more likely to attend the appointment than someone who says they are going to go see a Dr. but has no appointment.   I understand we all have had to cancel an appointment for one reason or another in our lives.  After all, we are humans!  The main reason why people set appointments is to be held accountable.  It works the same way in the fitness industry.  Personal trainers can be a very valuable service as they hold you accountable for making your scheduled training session.   Knowing that you have a 6pm training session with your Trainer, you are more likely to adhere to that appointment than go home and sit on the couch after a long day.  As a trainer, I am there to assist and motivate my clients and "help" them achieve their specific goal/s.  I cannot, nor will not, do the work for them.  It is my intention to plant a seed in someone's head on how to make improvements to their current lifestyle that will last them the rest of their lives.  I want to do everything I can to educate someone to make healthier choices that they in turn can pass on to their children or family members.  I hope that by doing this it will play a positive role in reducing the overall obesity percentage in America.

Art Parts Clip Art

Personal trainers are not for everyone.   However, if you need someone with experience to design or custom-tailor an effective training plan, give you a little extra motivation, someone to hold you accountable, or to ensure proper form, go to your local gym and find a certified trainer that you are comfortable working with.  Trust me, the investment will be worth it.

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going". -Jim Ryan


Sloane

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