It is becoming more and more common that people are hiring personal trainers. The vast majority of personal training clients in my experience are females, so I wanted to give all of you ladies out there some ideas on how to get the MOST out of your personal trainer! After all, if you are paying them to train you, then you should truly pick their brain and get all of the information you can from them. If you have hired them, it is clear you are seeking help in your training. Listen to them, but also follow some of these guidelines as you continue to build the relationship.
I have been a personal trainer for over five years now and a majority of my clients have been female. I was inspired to write this article to make it easier on other personal trainers! Ok, not really. I just wanted to write it to help other clients out. I always feel that if my clients could be told this from someone else other than me, that it would go a long way to helping both of us out.
Let’s go ahead and get started on how you can maximize your training while you are hiring a personal trainer…
1. Train like a madwoman!
You must work out with a sense of purpose! Why do you want to reach your goals? Think of your goal before every single workout and envision yourself one step closer to that goal once the workout is completed. In order to do this you must be ready to work hard! The trainer is there to help you and support you so feel free to exert all of your effort. You will get out of your training exactly what you put in, with someone else’s help or without it.
2. Ask the trainer to write ALL of your workouts for the week (even when you’re not training with the trainer).
Yes, it is ok to ask your trainer to provide you with workouts when you are not training with them! In fact, this is becoming normal for trainers to do. If you have been with your trainer for a while or whether it is a new trainer, feel free to ask them to provide you with additional workouts. Make sure you ask them specifics of the program and what days they want you to perform them on. Most trainers have a set rate for writing up a specific program for you during your “off days” with them, but it can save you a bunch of money while still allowing you to use their expertise to help.
3. Most trainers err on the side of caution...so doing more on your own (if you feel good) is ok!
Most trainers err on the side of giving you less frequent, easier workouts because they want to keep you happy and coming back to them. After all, the happier you are and the better relationship you build, the less likely you are to leave that trainer. I am NOT recommending that you don’t listen to your trainer. I am simply stating that if you want to work out more frequently than you are being instructed to, don’t let a program stop you! You can work out every day of the week if you want and if you are smart about it. Just understand that their training is more of a general guideline to physical fitness, not an absolute blueprint forever!
4. Give your trainer HONEST feedback.
If you would like to change something with your training, feel free to tell your trainer! The same goes with all other aspects of your relationship. If you would like them to motivate you differently, go ahead and tell them. A great trainer should take the feedback as constructive and make the change. After all, the relationship should all be kept with one purpose in mind: helping the client to reach their goals! Any other purpose is a flawed relationship and should be reevaluated immediately. The longer you lie to your trainer about what kind of job they are doing, the longer you are not going to go without seeing the best results.
5. See your trainer at least two times per week (with three being ideal).
This one may depend on your current financial position. However, I always recommend training with your trainer multiple times a week. I know clients generally hire a personal trainer for their expertise and advice, but the motivational aspects the personal trainer brings to the table can be even more important to getting results. So, utilize the trainer as often as you can!
6. Pressure produces the greatest results, so set daily goals!
The goal doesn’t have to be a huge goal, but you should set a daily goal for your training. Do you want to get 3 sets of 12 with a bigger weight on back squats? You probably know what workout is coming, so take a look at it and set some goals! Maybe you want to run your mile faster by 5 seconds. If you have nothing to aim at you will hit nothing. If you have a target, you will dial all of your focus in on that target and you will connect! You must challenge yourself with realistic goals during your daily training.
Summary
The best way to maximize your training is to do all of the other little things right and follow these six tips. Those other little things I am talking about are your sleep and diet. They are actually huge factors! They may be even bigger than your training. I wanted to give you multiple ideas on how to maximize your training while working with a trainer. You now have some great ideas on how to get the most out of your trainer and your relationship. Your training will be much better if you are able to stay disciplined, ask questions, follow these tips, and do all of the little things right.
After all, it is all of the little things that make a HUGE difference in terms of getting the most out of your training!
Jessica Gereau – Jessica has a BS in Kinesiology from San Francisco St. University. Before becoming a certified personal trainer she achieved a personal weight loss of 60+ lbs, and this has motivated her to help others obtain similar goals. She founded Gym Class Fitness Studio in the Bay Area as a place where people can learn what she learned along the way - that cookies are a part of life, and the hard way is the only way. Jessica currently carries certifications for ACSM and NASM.