6 ways working with a personal trainer will boost your fitness

If you’re serious about your health and fitness, there are a number of reasons you should consider working with a personal trainer.

But before we dive straight in, you might be wondering, what exactly is a personal trainer and what do they do?

A personal trainer (PT) is a qualified professional who is trained to guide you safely towards your fitness goals. It’s hugely important that any PT you work with has achieved a level 3 personal training qualification from a course accredited by the Registry of Exercise Professionals (REP).

There are plenty of unregulated, unqualified people out there purporting to be PTs, but at Ellie’s Gym you don’t need to worry about checking anyone’s credentials. Every single one of the talented trainers at Ellie’s Gym are fully qualified and insured, with years of experience under their belts – in Ellie’s own case, under her 2nd dan karate black belt.

So, what are the benefits of working with a personal trainer?

1, They’ll help you set achievable goals

To make progress, you need goals. Without goals – and a means to measure them – you’re basically lost at sea. But how do you know what goals to set, especially if you’re new to training? Should you aim to be lifting 5kg or 50kg?

Enter your PT. They will ask you about your broader health goals – so it’s helpful if you at least know whether you want to be able to run a marathon or for the bus – and they will translate those ambitions into specific training targets to work towards in your sessions.

2, You’ll get a plan that’s tailored to you

Not only will a PT set you realistic goals, they’ll help you get there, too. Everyone is different – even if another person’s goals are the same as yours, the route you’ll take to get there might not look alike.

Your PT knows this, so they’ll spend time getting to know you, understanding your current fitness levels, your background in exercise, any injuries or concerns and the sort of activities you enjoy. Then they’ll use their expertise to create a bespoke plan just for you.

Plus, as your strength and fitness develops, they’ll be able to tweak it to make sure you’re always making progress, and not hitting a plateau.

3, There’s less risk of injury

Working with a PT is a safer option than going it alone. If you’re new to training, they can teach you the correct way to carry out exercises and use equipment. Even if you know your way around a gym, having a PT on hand to keep an eye on your form will not only make your sessions more effective, but reduce the risk of injury.

Plus, a PT will help make sure everything you need is in the exact spot you need it – so no more awkwardly wrestling with a barbell before you’ve even lifted it.

4,  No more testing your memory – or counting your reps

Ever got halfway through a set and realised you’ve completely lost count of your reps? Or had to wrack your brains to remember the weight you were lifting in your last session? Effective training is all about specifics – but with a PT you won’t need to worry about keeping track of the numbers.

Gone are the days of checking a hastily scribbled workout plan every five minutes, or puffing your way through a countdown. Your PT will track your sets, reps and rest periods, and keep note of what you’re lifting. In fact, they’ll pretty much do everything except lift it for you.

5, Get help breaking out of a rut

When you’re training on your own, it’s easy to wind up doing the same familiar exercises over and over again. But here’s the thing – our bodies are pretty clever at adapting to the things we put them through. It’s important to keep changing things up if you want to see results, and your PT can introduce you to moves and techniques that can take your training to new levels.

And if there’s something you’ve always wanted to try – tractor tyre flips, anyone? – your PT can show you the ropes.

6, They’ll keep you accountable

Training with a PT is a brilliant way to keep yourself accountable, and focused on your ‘why’ when it comes to fitness. It’s one thing bailing on your session when it’s just you, but another when it would mean letting someone else down.

Plus, when you do have dips in motivation – and don’t worry, everyone does – a PT can help you get back on track. That doesn’t mean bullying you through a session when you’re just not feeling it – PTs aren’t monsters. Instead, they’ll adapt a session, adjust your goals or simply offer some friendly advice when you need it.