As a personal trainer for 10 years, I have worked with clients as infrequently as once a month and as frequently as 6 times a week. A good rule of thumb is the less experience and knowledge you have about exercise, the more necessary it is to meet frequently especially in the beginning. Maybe you have been working out a long time but you still need that accountability so one weekly appointment is enough. Some people are motivated to workout on their own and just want to ‘check-in’ once a month to get some new material. There is no right answer because it depends on your particular needs and wants. Below are my recommendations:
The less experienced you are, the more often I recommend meeting with a trainer especially in the beginning. Maybe three times a week for 4 weeks. After you’ve learned enough of the basics you could start to see the trainer less frequently. Here’s why: People that don’t know much about exercise and form have a lot to learn and that’s what the trainer is there for. In the beginning I suggest doing all of your weight workouts supervised by a trainer until your form is really good. I call it my ‘high five of approval’. I will not send a client off to do weight lifting exercises on their own until I am 100% confident that their form is great. Otherwise, the result is that they may do it wrong and end up with an injury. Exercising on your own is a decision that you and your trainer should make together. Create momentum in the beginning.
Working with a trainer frequently in the beginning will help to create the momentum you need to get you over the ’stage 1′ hurdle. Also, if you’re a beginner you have a lot to learn. A trainer will show you how to do things correctly so you don’t end up with an injury. As you feel more comfortable with the exercises and as your trainer becomes confident that you are doing everything correctly, you can expect that you will become more confident and be able to work out on your own.
Lots of people know what to do at the gym but they can’t seem to get to the gym. If you know you have a hard time making it happen I suggest maintaining a weekly appointment with a trainer. So often my clients will say to me “I never would have come today if we didn’t have this appointment.” Accountability is a perfectly fine reason to have a trainer. Keeping that appointment on the calendar ensures that weeks and months aren’t going to go by without working out. It’s easy to blow off a workout we schedule with ourselves it’s a lot harder to blow off a workout scheduled with you trainer.
Maybe you don’t need any instruction from a trainer because you’ve been exercising for years. Maybe you’re exercising consistently on your own and you don’t need the accountability. I would still suggest having a trainer that you check in with once a month. I’ll tell you why. Everybody needs a coach. Even professional athletes and Olympians need coaches. If you work out alone, it’s very easy to ignore injuries, fall into a run, get bored and not challenge yourself. Meeting with a trainer once a month is great way to mix up your workouts and keep them fresh and challenging. Also, a trainer will not let you ignore an injury.
Remember you don’t have to sign on for a package of sessions right away. Take your time in deciding if you have picked the right person and if you want to keep working with them. It may seem like a lot of money but if you re lucky enough to find a trainer you enjoy and you’re getting results, I am confident that it will be worth every dime!
Picking the correct Denver Personal Trainer will make or break your resolution to get in shape. We can be your fitness confidant and create a individual workout plan that is best for you. Visit www.filettifitness.com right now for more information.