When everyone is harping on about “New Year, new you,” the last thing you feel like thinking about is a personal trainer. Instead, you want to eat, drink, and cuddle up under the covers. It’s a difficult situation.
The good news is that you are not alone in finding it difficult to muster motivation to go out in the gym during winter, which is where a personal trainer can help.
Yes, we are aware that the expense of living is at an all-time high, but bear with us. A physical therapist is an investment in both your short- and long-term physical and emotional wellness. Sure, you might keep moving slowly forward on your own, but has that truly been helping you?
There is only one route to take if you desire outcomes. This is why.
A science
Experts estimate that PTs typically charge between £40 and £60 per hour. This is expensive, but keep in mind that you are paying for years of experience. For instance, you wouldn’t skimp on an electrician. A physical therapist is a wise investment if you’re concerned about your health, just like the food you buy, your pricey gym equipment, or your road bike.
The advantages are enormous as well. At the conclusion of a 10-week period of physical therapy input, 73% of participants improved their abilities and moved up a fitness level, according to a study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.
You’ll want to spend more time in the gym because the study also revealed that “one-on-one personal training is an effective strategy for changing attitudes.” Therefore, even though you may be paying for a PT, you’ll actually get more bang for your buck since you’ll actually use your gym membership rather than letting another month go by without going there.
The Coach
We spoke with Tim Blakeley of Media Physiques to learn more about how a trainer may actively assist you in improving your health and achieving your objectives. Blakeley is well aware of the advantages a PT can provide having collaborated closely with John Boyega, Gerard Butler, and Luke Evans.
Compliance
Blakeley explains that “commitment and consistency are crucial.” “You can plan your macros perfectly, but if you don’t hit the gym and workout, you won’t succeed. Setting up a meeting with a PT on your calendar will assist with that.
Effort
Even if you train four times per week, there are 168 hours in a week, so you are only devoting 2.4% of your time to exercise, according to Blakeley. Having a trainer makes you more productive when you’re working out in the gym.
Heart-rate
Between sets, you can see people in the gym using their phones for five minutes, claims Blakeley. “A PT doesn’t have time for you to idle around because they have a full schedule of clients. They’ll keep you moving, which will keep your muscles heated, your heart rate up, and you burning calories.
Support
Blakeley argues that having someone there to catch you is always beneficial on a practical level, in addition to providing emotional support and accountability. You can’t really perform forced reps or work the negative without a workout partner, he says. “This in turn will impede your advancement.”
Realistic Objective
The most important thing a PT can assist you with is defining a realistic goal in addition to creating a training and diet plan. You won’t likely raid the refrigerator the night before if you have a weight check the following day, according to Blakeley. “Are you staying on track?” will always be a question we ask.”
Expertise
It’s tempting to assume you know what you’re doing with the abundance of TikTok PT material. Wrong. Blakeley thinks that occasionally we fail to see the forest for the trees. Online content is so abundant that it may only confuse you further, he claims. A physical therapist will use their years of experience and tested knowledge to get you in the best shape of your life without making things too complicated.
Recovery
Last but not least, it can be simple to push yourself too quickly and hard when training on your own. This might result in an accident or, more likely, burnout. Have you ever questioned why you act out for a week and then give up for the rest of the month? That can be assisted by a PT.
Indicator List
So, what qualities should a personal trainer possess? Finding one is similar to finding any other skilled tradesperson. The greatest approach to discover a quality trainer, according to Blakeley, is through recommendations from close friends or family members.
Blakeley continues, “A PT might read fine on paper, but until you actually train with them, it’s hard to know what they’re like on the gym floor.” A smart place to start is by trying out PTs at your neighborhood gym; most, if not all, will provide a complimentary getting-to-know-you session.
What to look out for
- Is the trainer prompt in arriving?
- Do they appear to walk the walk rather than merely talk the talk?
- Do they constantly monitor their clients’ posture and make adjustments as necessary?
- Do they spot clients’ weights and pass them to them?
- Do they appear to be well-liked and well-known in the gym?
- Are their clients put to a lot of work? Are there drop sets, mega sets, enormous sets, etc.
- Do they appear to have clients who share your objectives? For instance, it would be better to stay away from a trainer who seems to simply teach clients for toning with modest weights if your objective is to develop bigger and stronger.
Issues to avoid
- An instructor who is perpetually late.
- A coach that is constantly on their phone.
- A n instructor who talks excessively.
- A personal trainer that follows the same regimen with each and every client.
- AÂ personal trainer whose customers leave the gym appearing better-groomed than when they entered.
The Novice
It’s all well and good listening to a PT talk about why PTs are great, but what about the average Joe? We asked James, a 32-year-old from Sheffield to talk us through his own experiences with a PT.
I’ve always been in decent shape, but never in the shape of Brad Pitt, he claims. I resisted getting a PT because I believed I knew how to maintain my weight because it was very simple to do so when I was younger, even if it became more difficult as I aged. I finally just stopped seeing any progress. I had tried a variety of methods to change up my routine when it suddenly dawned on me one day to see a physical therapist. Thus, I did.
“After working with my physical therapist for a month, I’ve shed practically a stone. At first it was difficult, but now I relish it. I’m learning a ton about how the body functions and injury avoidance, which was previously a concern. Now that I know why I’m exercising, it’s not just because I should. Although it does cost a substantial amount of money, it would be foolish to pay for a gym membership or other expenses if you weren’t seeing any progress. In many ways, this represents greater value for the money.
“There is obviously a difference between folks who undertake a six-week change and me, who sees a PT a couple times a week. I’m planning to continue seeing my PT over the long haul, but only once or twice a week to keep me on track. I didn’t want to achieve success for a brief period of time, then go it alone and wind up back at square one. Having that additional assistance is wonderful. I finally have a clear understanding of how to get my body where I w
