Getting into the best shape possible takes time, dedication and a firm understanding of how the body works. Sure, you’ve lived in your body your whole life, but to see real results at the gym sometimes we all need a little help.
That’s where a personal trainer comes in. It’s an additional cost on top of your gym membership, which is why most people try to go it alone. That strategy works for some guys, but for others, all the time spent in the gym doesn’t produce results. If you’ve plateaued, don’t know where to start or need guidance on building maximum muscle mass in a specific area a trainer is totally worth it. Here’s why.
They Know Which Exercises Will Get the Best Results
Efficiency is the name of the game for the personal trainers at Fitness 19. They’ve worked with everyone from young athletes to senior citizens, but two things remain the same no matter who they train: workouts are customized to the client’s goals and focus is put on taking the most efficient route.
Too often if people aren’t seeing results, their motivation starts to fade. It’s hard to justify the hours spent at the gym if you aren’t making any headway. Personal trainers understand which exercises are going to produce the best results in the shortest amount of time possible. This is extremely important because the time you put into it is an investment, and you’ll get to enjoy the rewards of your hard work that much sooner.
Knowledge of Nutrition and Anatomy
Along with exercise expertise, any good personal trainer is going to be well versed in how the body works and what fuels it. Understanding the mechanics of muscles helps trainers choose the best workout regimen. They know how everything works together so you can bulk up and trim down strategically.
All legitimate personal trainers will also tell you nutrition is at least half the battle (if not more). You can kill yourself in the gym, but if your nutrition is off track you won’t see the gains. Your trainer can provide advice on what to eat before and after workouts to improve the results.
Accountability
Want to know how you can dramatically improve the chances of reaching your fitness goals? Get an accountability partner. Dominican University of California conducted a study to find out what actions would increase the likelihood of achieving goals. What they found was people who simply had a goal were successful 35% of the time. But the participants that shared their goal with a friend and had weekly updates met their goals 70% of the time.
A personal trainer sounds like the perfect friend for hitting your goals at the gym. The big difference is accountability. When someone else is there with you invested in your success you’re more likely to stick with it and put in the work that’s needed. Accountability is one of the most valuable things a trainer can offer. They’ll help you set realistic goals, track the progress week by week and give you a kick in the pants when your motivation falters.
Improved Safety
The last thing you want to do is injure yourself after you make the decision to improve your physique. Getting injured will not only derail your routine it can knock you off your feet for weeks or even months. During that period of inactivity, you’ll likely lose the progress that’s been made and maybe even slip further from your ideal figure. Once you are able to get back to the gym you’ll have to take it slower than before.
A personal trainer is going to make sure that you perform each exercise properly to avoid injury. They’ll show you how to safely use machines and bang out reps so that you’re challenged without over doing it.
Pushing Past Plateaus
Nothing is worse than hitting a plateau. It’s not uncommon for guys to make progress for the first few months of working out on their own only to stall off completely. Even though you’re putting in the time at the gym nothing seems to change or improve.
At that point, you’re simply maintaining what you’ve accomplished. You’ve basically gotten as far as you can with what you’re doing, and it’s time for a change. A personal trainer can help you figure out how to push past the plateau. Sometimes it’s a matter of ramping up the intensity. Other times you may need to start working the muscles in a new way or work different muscles altogether. Regardless, your trainer can find new ways to challenge you at the gym so you progress beyond the plateau.
