People acquire the services of a personal trainer for one reason.
To get results. We exercise to get fitter, increase strength,
look better, feel better and to improve our physical lifestyle.
All of the above require improvements in one form or another.
The main task of the personal trainer is to help clients achieve
their aims and objectives. The ways in which a personal trainer
do this may vary, but we think they boil down to a number of
key areas.
Motivation
Not only will a personal trainer inspire and cajole you when
you're training but simply by buying their services you have
set your stall out to commit to exercise for a set period of
time.
This means that you will be motivated to enter the gym or train
at home because you know the session with your personal trainer
will be worth while. You'll be motivated to train because you
won't want to cancel a session and risk losing your hard earned
money. And you'll be motivated because your personal training
programme will be tailored to compliment your timetable and
focus on your own personal goals.
Exercise technique
A personal trainer's coupe de gras is exercise technique. A
skilled personal trainer will be able to guide you through perfect
exercise technique during every repetition, every set and every
workout. This means greater results in less time.
Nutrition
Some, not all, personal trainers will be able to give your nutritional
and dietary advice. This skill can make the difference between
achieving your goals or being left with a feeling of frustration
and angst.
A personal trainer with knowledge of sports nutrition and diet
will be able to monitor your food intake (possibly using a food
diary or PC software) and advise you on how to adjust your eating
habits accordingly. Many sports science degree courses and personal
training diplomas now include components of nutrition, so if
you feel this is an area where you may need help simply ask
your personal trainer to assist you.
NOTE: A personal trainer should never take the place of a qualified
dietitian or nutritionist.
Goal setting and results
A personal trainer should be skilled in goal setting and periodised
training methods. Goal setting is ultimately about laying down
the path for clients to achieve their aims and objectives. Periodised
training methods concentrate on ways to allow this to happen.
A client's goal may involve losing 5 percent body fat, running
a marathon or lifting more on a bench press. Consequently a
personal trainer's job is to understand and incrementally plan
the journey a client will take while working towards their goal.
