Do You Need A Personal Trainer?

Yes. The end.

Fine, I suppose you want an actual explanation. Is that all I am to you? A wealth of information? Sigh.

I should start by stating the obvious which is that I’m clearly biased because I am a personal trainer. But please don’t let that prevent you from reading on, because it will make sense to you and you’ll agree, regardless of the messenger. In fact, I feel so strongly about this that I will help anyone, anywhere, find a trainer if they need help. No charge. Just reach out.

Moving on.

If you want to get healthy and fit but have lacked the motivation, knowledge, and direction to do so, then you definitely need a personal trainer. If you have been exercising but not getting the results you want then you definitely need a personal trainer. If you’re new or returning to fitness and don’t feel comfortable, or even have anxiety about going to the gym, then you need a personal trainer. But why is a personal trainer the solution?

For anyone who doesn’t know, a personal trainer is an experienced expert that works with clients to help them achieve their fitness goals. Most have some type of certification or degree and all have, or should have, an extensive background with fitness and exercise.

When you hire a good personal trainer, the first step is the consultation. It’s essentially a conversation where they learn about you, your health history, your fitness experience, your motivations, and your goals. They’ll have you share any physical limitations you may have, mental road blocks, or other obstacles. They’ll get some insight into your life, schedule, and other activities, all of which will help them intelligently prescribe the best program for you.

Prescribe? Who are you, Dr. Biceps? (Why yes, yes I am).

And yes, a good trainer will prescribe what they feel is the best program for you based on the information you provide during the consultation. The initial prescription should primarily involve the frequency, duration, and type of exercise(s) that will work best for you and your goals.

Step two is the assessment. At Sun House, we utilize a dynamic assessment, where the trainer takes you through an initial, generalized workouts and gauges your strength, mobility, flexibility, balance, etc, in a practical environment. Regardless of the approach, your trainer will measure your physical fitness and abilities, allowing them to proceed with the implementation of your program with more specificity.

The early stages of the program are different for everyone depending upon the factors listed above. For clients that are new to fitness, returning after a long layoff, incorporating a new type of program (for example, a runner starting strength training), or leveling up from an existing program, the trainer will ease you into the program and ramp you up at your own pace. Easing into your program allows the trainer to help you safely build a foundation of strength and conditioning while avoiding injury. It’s also to prevent overwhelming you, physically or mentally, so that you enjoy the process. What good is a fitness program that you want to quit right after you start or worse, injures you early on.

This is a good time to include one of the trainers most important duties, which is to provide accountability. Accountability is one of the most important factors in maintaining your fitness program.

The first layer of accountability is simply making sure that you show up for workouts. When you hire a trainer and set an appointment, you make a commitment to yourself and another person that you’ll be there. Plus you’re paying for that time, so if you don’t go you’ve done yourself a disservice, wasted someone else’s valuable time, and wasted your own money. Very few people accept any one of those, much less all three. So you’re going to show up for your workouts.

Research shows that between 50% and 90% of people quit their fitness program in the first 3-6 months. They just stop due to (insert excuse here) __________. Working with a trainer can reduce the probability of that happening to almost zero. When you work with a good trainer you know you’re going to be on the right path to your goals. They’re going to motivate, educate, and inspire you. Their support and accountability, and the inevitable results, will keep you coming back. A small number of people will still quit. But you won’t.

The second layer of accountability goes beyond just getting you to show up at the gym and keeping you showing up over the long haul. A good trainer will challenge you, and inspire you to challenge yourself, which many people won’t do on their own. Over the years I’ve met countless people who’ve told me something along the lines of, “I go to the gym but I don’t push myself”. The increased intensity you experience with a trainer will improve your results exponentially. So now you’re showing up and leveling up.

Along with the all important accountability, a trainer will provide a program that is constantly varied and evolves as you do. Constantly varying your workouts is for more than simply preventing boredom (although that’s hugely valuable), it’s for forcing your body to continue adapting to the workouts, thus continuing to progress over the long term. Plateaus are inevitable, but how long they last can be mitigated by the right plan. You’re also going to evolve in strength, endurance, body composition, and even your goals may shift. Your trainer will evolve the program to suit your personal needs and growth so you’re always moving forward and enjoying the results.

Other areas where a personal trainer may have expertise include nutrition, sports performance, mindset, lifestyle design, and more. At Sun House, we offer all of that and so may a trainer in your area.

So that brings us full circle back to the original question——Do YOU need a personal trainer?

Consider this——The highest performing people in the world, from pro athletes to celebrities to titans of business, all know the power of utilizing a professional to manage their fitness program. Leveraging the expertise, guidance, and motivation provided by a trainer is a game changer for anyone wanting to improve their physical and mental health, strength, energy levels, stress management, sleep, and overall quality of life. If you want those things and haven’t felt you’ve been able to achieve them on your own then yes, you need a personal trainer. And we’re here to help.

Sun House offers programs that include one-on-one personal training, partner training, semi-private training, and small group classes to make fitness accessible to everyone.