Every year, millions of people hire personal trainers to help them achieve their fitness goals. For some, it’s a way to lose weight faster. For others, it’s a way to build strength. For still others, it’s a fast track to being more competitive in an athletic environment.
But there are lots of people who insist they’ll never hire a personal trainer, and others on the fence about their potential hire. They know that hiring a personal trainer can be expensive, and they’re reluctant to make the investment without being able to predict the benefits.
So is hiring a personal trainer really worth the money?
What Does a Personal Trainer Do?
What exactly does a personal trainer do?
Different personal trainers may have different approaches and different specialties, but most offer a combination of the following services:
- Education. Personal trainers will spend some time educating you on the fundamentals of health and fitness, especially if you don’t have much experience in this area. You’ll learn about the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle, including the best foods to eat, the right way to exercise, and more.
- Goal setting. As your trainer gets to know you better, you can work cooperatively to set goals for yourself. You may already have an idea of what you want to accomplish, but if not, or if you only have a vague idea of what you want (like “losing weight”), your personal trainer can help you set specific and appropriately challenging goals.
- Planning. With some goals set for yourself, you can work with your personal trainer to begin the planning process. How are you going to start your fitness journey? How long are you going to need to work out to achieve your goals? How will your workout regimen change over time?
- Coaching and recommendations. Your personal trainer will also work with you directly during your active training sessions, providing you with coaching and recommendations. They may also have recommendations for a new eating regimen, or ways you can change your life to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
- Review and feedback. When you hit a plateau, or when you feel unmotivated, your personal trainer will provide you with feedback and review your work. They can recognize your weaknesses, praise you for your strengths, and help you adjust your fitness approach as needed for long-term health.
The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Trainer
What do you get out of hiring a personal trainer?
- Personalized workouts. You won’t have to work out based on an unreliable template that you found online, nor will you be forced to come up with a workout plan by yourself. Instead, you’ll be working with a fitness professional to come up with a personalized workout plan that suits your needs specifically. It’s a much more motivating and rewarding approach.
- Motivation. Your personal trainer will help to motivate you to do your best. They’ll provide you with active feedback and encouragement while working out – plus, your ongoing payments will incentivize you to “get your money’s worth.”
- Confidence. When you’re working out by yourself, inexperienced, you may feel apprehensive or nervous about your exercises. That, in turn, can make you feel demotivated. Working with a personal trainer, instead, can make you feel confident that you’re in good hands – and that you’re doing all your exercises properly. After a couple of months, you’ll feel far more confident even when you’re working out alone.
- Troubleshooting and plateau busting. There’s nothing more frustrating to an aspiring athlete or health enthusiast than hitting a plateau during training. But your personal trainer can help you identify the root causes of your plateaus and bust through them. They can also help you recover from injuries, correct bad form, and troubleshoot other fitness problems.
- Camaraderie and bonding. Working with a personal trainer is also an excellent bonding experience. You’ll have a partner who provides you with ongoing support and a better time working out.
The Cost of Hiring a Personal Trainer
The cost of hiring a personal trainer varies depending on the type of trainer you’re interacting with, the nature of your personal fitness goals, and the duration of your arrangement, as well as the experience of the person or agency you’re interacting with. For a qualified personal trainer, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars per month (at least).
Considering the benefits of hiring a personal trainer, this isn’t much money. You’ll have much better workouts, a better plan, and more motivation to succeed. You’ll also be put on the fast track to better health outcomes, as long as you’re consistent.
Other Variables to Consider
There are some other variables in this equation worth considering:
- Personal experience and familiarity. How experienced are you with working out? If you were involved in athletics in your youth and you’ve worked out consistently for many years, a personal trainer isn’t going to be as valuable for you.
- Your personal goals. What are you hoping to achieve? If you just want to get up and get moving, a personal trainer may not be necessary. But if you want to break through a major strength plateau, a personal trainer is advisable.
- Personality matches. It pays to find a personal trainer whose personality meshes with yours; personality conflicts can compromise many of the benefits of hiring one.
- Style and type of personal training. Some people work better with a tough, no-nonsense personal trainer, while others prefer a more laid-back approach. Consider your preferences carefully before deciding who you want to work with.
For millions of people, hiring a personal trainer is not only beneficial – it’s the best and fastest way to achieve your personal fitness goals. That’s not to say that personal training is the right move or the most cost-efficient move for everyone, of course, which is why it’s important to talk to several personal trainers before you make a final decision. If you’re in the market for a personal trainer, or if you just want to know more about what personal training is like, contact me today!
Nathan DeMetz holds degrees in Exercise Science, Business Administration, and Information Technology as well as certifications in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, run coaching, and other areas. His credentials come from organizations such as Indiana Wesleyan University, Ivy Tech College, Utah State University, and the ISSA College of Exercise Science.
Nathan has 20 years of personal and professional experience in the health and fitness world. He works with people from across the globe, including locations such as Kuwait, Australia, and the USA.
To work with Nathan directly on your personal training goals, contact him today!