The Case for Personal Trainers

We live in a world where there’s no shortage of access to information.

If information alone was enough to get fit, then in theory we should have the fittest people in history right now. There would be no need for personal trainers because everyone would have access to the information required to get fit.

But its 2023 and people still spend money on personal training or some type of fitness coaching every year.

Why is that?

What Value Do Personal Trainers Provide?

For me, there are two main benefits of having a personal trainer:

1. Information Overload

People don’t know which information will be beneficial to them, and they need someone they can trust to filter that information and give them just the right amount of information that will help them at the stage they’re at.

Too much information and you risk overloading the person into a state of analysis paralysis.

Too little information and they’ll be doing the wrong activities altogether.

Personal trainers serve as a guide or a filter in discerning information.

2. The Intangibles

The right information is important, but fitness isn’t just about information. But fitness takes discipline, consistency, and real action.

A good personal trainer is able to relate with you and motivate you to take the necessary actions to achieve your goals. A personal trainer is your very own coach, pushing you in ways you couldn’t push yourself.

How Do I Pick A Trainer?

I understand the value of a personal trainer, but how do I go about choosing that person?

Glad you asked.

A personal trainer is not simply someone who has a six pack, or has gotten in shape themselves, a good personal fitness trainer is someone that can help others achieve their goals.

There’s no set formula for picking a good trainer, but here are some signals to look for if you’re looking to get results.

Proof

Have they gotten the results that you’re trying to get for other people?

This isn’t about credentials or certificates that they have, although those are hopeful, this is about have they taken people through similar fitness journeys before.

If they’ve done it before with others that are in similar situations as you, chances are they can do it again.

Accessibility

There’s a number of fitness celebrities or Instagram profiles that have fitness tips, but a big following often means that they don’t have much time to pour into individuals. If you’re just starting out in your fitness journey, you don’t need Tim Grover, you need someone that is a few steps ahead of you and has helped people make a similar transformation that you’re trying to make. Don’t get caught up in the glitz and glamour of social media vanity metrics.

When you’re first starting out and trying to get in shape, one of the biggest mental hurdles is just being consistent and showing up. You don’t need someone that has 1 million Instagram followers I can only spend one hour a month with you, you need someone that can show up to the gym with you and motivate you when you’re not feeling like going to the gym.

Rapport

Your personal trainer is someone that will push you to your limits. You need to respect them like a coach, but you also need to be able to talk to them about how your body is feeling during the workout, what kind of food you’re eating, what struggles you’re facing in your journey, etc.

You want someone that you feel comfortable sharing everything about your fitness journey with. If you don’t tell the doctor the full story of what’s happening with you, they may give you the wrong prescription. Its no different with your trainer, they can only give you a workout plan, meal plan, and advice based on what you’re telling them. If you feel judged and uncomfortable sharing the truth with your trainer, you won’t get very far.

I Reached My Goal… Now What?

Once you’ve reached the goal you’ve set with your trainer, you may feel like you no longer need a trainer. In a sense, that is true. You no longer need a trainer to reach THAT goal since you’ve already reached it.

If you were having trouble consistently coming to the gym and now you are, then you don’t need a trainer that will motivate you to come to the gym.

You need to move on to the next goal.

In life you’re either progressing or regressing.

Each level you get to in life and in fitness comes with its new challenges. Don’t get complacent and comfortable once you’ve hit one goal. Set another goal and work to get there.

Let’s say in phase one of your fitness journey you wanted to lose 20 pounds and be consistent in coming to the gym. You worked with a personal trainer to reach those goals.

Now that you’re consistently hitting the gym and back in shape, you want to start training for a marathon.

You may be inclined to think since your personal trainer helped you lose weight, they can also help you crush the marathon.

Maybe they can, but each trainer has their own specialty. Some people are focused on helping people lose weight while others are focused on helping their clients build muscle, some are focused on getting your body in shape for basketball while others are focused on getting your body in shape for swimming… you get the idea.

When your goals change this will often mean that the trainer you worked with on your original goal may not be right for helping you reach the next goal - and that is ok.

You don’t have to feel a sense of loyalty to one trainer. Your priority is your body and your goals. Work with people that will elevate you.

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