SHOULD YOU HIRE A TRAINER? - 1/08/08
by WINA STURGEON
The resolutions are in full swing. It's hard to fit your car into the gym parking lot. But should you do your routine alone, or with the help of a trainer?
Personal trainer Brian Frost, of Park City, Utah, of course suggests a trainer.
"I would think you would want to use a private trainer at the gym, rather than at home, just because it's more likely that you could be consistant and have more variety. When you're at home, you get sidetracked and find other things to do than your workout," Frost says.
The biggest benefit of a trainer is that he or she will help you keep your motivation. You can easily space off your gym membership, but it's harder to neglect someone whom you have hired. The second most important benefit is that a trainer knows how to make your body continue to improve.
Frost explains, "Your body will adapt and plateau by doing the same things over and over. One of the qualities of a good fitness trainer is to know how to keep your body "guessing" without hitting plateaus."
A trainer can also spot your weaknesses more easily than you can. If you are doing more work with your right leg, allowing your left leg to atrophy slightly, a trainer can identify the problem and design a routine to correct it. In addition, a good trainer will know the right kind of cross training to add to your strength and athletic skills.
Frost is a Masters ski racer who gets most of his clients by word of mouth. Naturally, many of his clients are fellow ski racers. That's as it should be, he says.
"If you're an athlete, no matter what level, you want to be trained by a trainer who is familiar with your sport and can work you in a sports-specific way so you can reach your goals." He suggests asking other athletes in your sport for the name of a good trainer, and adding, "What's most important is to find a trainer who understands your personal goals."
Choosing a trainer is like choosing a physician. You want someone who feels trustworthy and personally involved in the results of your interactions. Most good private trainers give free evaluations so you can check each other out. The evaluation is your opportunity to see what their concepts of training are, and you can see if you are both a good match.
"When I do the free eval, I have them come in with five written goals, and we see if I'm the trainer for them, Frost says. He knows that even the best trainer in the world may not be good for you if the two of you don't have any rapport.
Don't choose a trainer because he or she has worked with a famous athlete or because a good friend gave a glowing recommendation. You will be trusting this person with your body; be sure that it will be a workable relationship. Get evals from several trainers. Be sure that you know what works for you. if you respond best to praise and encouragment, get a trainer with a nurturing technique. If a hard core boot camp type is more your style, look for that personality in a trainer.
Frost offers good advice to those who do decide to go it on their own and not work with a trainer; starting with preventing the loss of discipline that sidelines so many gym members who start out all gung ho after the New Year, but fade to nothing by March.
"It's important to set up a time where you can be consistant. You need to set up a game plan for what it's going to take. The only way you will follow your game plan is if you set aside a time for the days of the week you want to work out. And you plan for that time," he says.
For example, if you plan to hit the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 p.m., treat it like a job committment. How long does it take to get to the gym? When do you have to begin getting dressed and ready to start the trip to the gym so that you make it exactly at 7:00?
It takes discipline to start a routine, but even more discipline to keep it up. If that alone is what a trainer can help you with, it's enough.