Every year at this time many thousands of people, having over eaten and indulged over the holidays, make New Year’s resolutions to get fit, shed those pounds and join a gym. Yet, the business models of gyms depends upon their knowledge of past history that shows that the majority of people will not take up that gym membership. Or if they do, they will not last long. I think it is time to be honest about gym memberships not working for many people.
Other people make the resolution to get fit and decide to do it alone. This works ok for some, but many find they lack the commitment, the sense of responsibility and urgency required, and the results just don’t happen.
I would argue that far more effective for many people is to find a personal trainer that they are compatible with. Many people mistakenly believe that a personal trainer is too expensive. But, how expensive is a gym membership that goes unused? Moreover, many trainers will give discounts or even take a group.
It is also the case that it is not enough just to ramp up your physical training. Wellness requires a focus on nutrition as well. Indeed, my own personal journey is that I was overweight notwithstanding a regular regime of exercise because I did not pay any attention to diet. Once I had the advice of my nutritionist daughter I fairly quickly shed almost 20 pounds of weight, had more energy and have kept it off since.
Finally, you want someone to work with you who is an educator, ie someone who will find ways to increase your knowledge and motivate you to learn. Just as ‘wellness’ is a holistic concept, so too, is paying attention to physical exercise, motivation, nutrition and learning what works best for you. This equals a program that will work and be tailored to meet your specific needs.
So, what are some advantages of a personal trainer/nutritionist/educator?
Making it personal
Each person is different and has different needs and issues. Someone who is a personal trainer, teacher and nutritionist will have the knowledge and skills to develop a program that suits you and your needs. They will assess you, get to know you and work with you to develop and implement a program that will not just get you fit, but transform your life.
Not just for athletes
People sometimes think that personal trainers are only for athletes. In fact, everyone can benefit from a personal trainer who can develop a program tailored to your specific needs. The goal of a good personal trainer will be to help you determine your goals and develop a program and lifestyle choices that optimize your health and well-being. As Emerson said, “The first wealth is health.” Someone with a background in nutrition and education as well as physical training will be just as excited by the progress of the average man or woman as they are by the performance of an elite athlete.
You are more likely to commit
Like a music instructor, a personal trainer/nutritionist will work with you to develop a program. If you know someone is expecting you to meet your goal and is a member of your team wanting you to succeed, you are more likely to commit and perform because you want to meet those expectations.
They focus on motivation
A major factor in most effective learning is motivation to learn. Someone who is a teacher will have special training in motivation and learning. This approach is more likely to achieve ultimate success in meeting your wellness goals.
Your training can be tailored more readily to needs
A nutritionist/physical trainer/teacher is ideally suited to assessing your needs and designing a program that is designed to fit your specific needs, help you reach your goals. It will be a program that will change as your needs change and new goals are set.
Safety and supervision to stay injury free
It is important to train and not strain. Reaching your maximum wellness potential means that you have to stay injury free so that you can keep moving and progressing. Again, this requires someone who is qualified not only in physical training, but who is also aware of the optimal nutrition strategies to help you perform at your best and improve as rapidly as possible but does so in a way that will be sustainable and last.
Can be sports specific
Some clients will want to develop a program based upon optimizing fitness for a particular sport. Again, someone who themselves was an elite athlete and who has the research and qualifications will be able to do the assessment and research required to help you design a program that is sports-specific if that is your goal.
Wellness focused on results
A personal trainer/nutritionist/educator will help you focus on results. They will hold you accountable, keep you motivated and share your journey down the road to success.
Wellness can be a team/group activity
Some people are more likely to succeed when they are part of a group. Again a physical trainer/educator/nutritionist can also work with groups or a whole organisation to design programs that improve wellness, promote health and build upon team/collaborative exercises and strategies—in other words, “All for one and one for all.”
Good for you; good for business
Businesses and public sector organisations benefit greatly when their employees are happy and healthy. They are more productive and miss fewer days. They are also more likely to be loyal and hardworking when they feel the organisation cares about them. Increasingly, public and private sector organisations are employing/contracting with nutritionists/personal trainers and educators to implement wellness programs.
The start of a new year is a time to think about making a positive difference in your life, time for making a change. Change is required for growth. To achieve that growth:
“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.”
— Edmund Lee
