Don’t believe everything you see…

I’ve recently been looking for some workout ideas online and have come across a great array of exercises. YouTube has posts containing great ideas from TRX and Kettlebells to Yoga. I definitely encourage you to look for and try new workout ideas.

The thing is… anyone can post just about anything on YouTube. With that in mind I advise you to watch but copy with caution.

One post in particular had three young men running around a back yard doing some seriously intense exercises. I don’t know who the guy commentating was but I really hope he wasn’t a personal trainer. These poor kids had some of the worst form I’ve ever seen. Add to that the commentator yelling at them to go fast and get in as much as they could, no wonder!

I’m definitely a stickler for form. It's somehow been ground into my skull through previous personal training ventures. In my opinion, if you can’t do it right there’s really no point in doing it at all. In fact, it’s probably worse than if you just stood there doing nothing. Poor form leads to injury, point blank.

I’m not saying give up on the exercise, don’t get me wrong, but maybe you need to think about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. If it’s to improve... chances are you aren’t going to without doing it safely and correctly.

Also, don’t think that because the demonstrators went as fast and as hard as they did, you need to do the same. A common mistake among exercisers, especially when first starting out, is to do too much too soon. If you’re unconditioned or have weaknesses you could risk some serious injury and even a major set back in your fitness goals.

When watching any exercise demonstrations notice that the "professionals" almost always show the moves in a slow and controlled motion the first time. Get the position and form down first, then go for time, reps, speed, etc.

You should know where you stand physically. You can lie to everyone else but you can't lie to yourself.

Challenge yourself but do it safely.

And of course if you need ANY help with your exercise routine you should consult a certified personal or sports trainer.

“Strive on with awareness”

Andi

How to... avoid wasting $ on a personal trainer

As personal trainers, we see a lot of the same goals throughout our career. Most clients want to lose body fat or “weight”. Many want to tone or build lean muscle. Some are athletes. Some are body builders or power lifters. But every client has their own “story”.

I think our job, as fitness professionals, is to help the client find that story and make it happen.

When you ask me, “in your professional opinion, how does one get the best value for their personal training [cost]”, this is my opinion…

Do your research.

If you know what your goal is, research how others have met the same or similar goals. You don’t have to study kinesiology to find out how to reach your fitness goal. Research it. Read blogs of fitness professionals. Read fitness magazines such as Men’s/Women’s Health or Men’s/Women’s Fitness. They are full of great information from nutrition to sex. Then, when you know what you want, look for trainers using the practices you have researched.

When looking for a personal trainer, you should take some time to observe their behavior.

Go to the gym as often as you can and watch them work as you work out. Take into consideration how they interact with their clients.

Here are some observations I would make:
Are they paying close attention to the clients? Watch the trainer’s body language. Are they involved in the training or do they sit or stand and give verbal commands?

Do they have variation in the workouts? Are they doing the same workout with each client? Remember, clients are special and should be treated as such.

Are they putting clients through the same workout each day? In my opinion variety is key for an effective exercise program because it keeps the body guessing and the client interested. This is why I believe it’s important to be versatile as a trainer. Maybe one day you use free weights, another you are doing plyometrics, another is a bodyweight day. It will depend on your goals when and how these are done.

When you have chosen a trainer, you should take some time to get to know each other. This may be referred to as a consultation.

This is a time for you and the trainer to decide if and how they will help you reach your goals.

You should discuss your goals and why they are your goals. You should also discuss any medical issues, nutrition and your exercise history. And because you can’t reach your goal without knowing where you are starting you should also do a fitness assessment which includes a body fat analysis, strength test and postural assessment.

With this knowledge, your trainer can cater your workouts to your needs and abilities.

Last but not least remember that just because a trainer is busy or has a lot of clients this does not mean that they are the best trainer for you. Trainers are popular for different reasons. You need to find a personal trainer that is the right fit for you. And now you know how.

Good luck with reaching your fitness goals.
-Strive on with awareness-