January is the month of new beginnings and fresh plans, and for a lot of us, that means committing to some new fitness goals for the year. We go into the year with the best of intentions to shift the weight we put on over the holidays, eat better, or deal with a lingering problem we’ve ignored. However, by February, many of us are back at square one. That’s because the DIY approach to fitness isn’t always the best. Unless you’re completely disciplined and know exactly how to get results, you could struggle. Personal trainers can help you break those old habits by offering a series of benefits you don’t get by going DIY.
Personal Trainers Trainers Offer Routine And Accountability
The first challenge with any new fitness plan is to get started. The second challenge is to keep going. There’s a good chance that your first workout will feel awful simply because you’re out of practice. You’ll get out of breath, sweat through your workout clothes, and feel sore the next day. A strong fitness routine means having the discipline and the right scheduling to complete your workouts without hurting the rest of your week.
That’s easier said than done when you aren’t scheduled to work with a professional personal trainer. These experts will keep you in line and on target better than apps and notifications. They’ll also be able to offer more accountability for your efforts than you can yourself. Having someone to report back to and work with makes it easier to complete a regime. You may be able to do this with a gym buddy or a friend in the same position as you. However, it’s also really easy for you and that friend to decide to opt out and get brunch instead.
Personal Trainers Can Customize Plans
Routine is important if you’re going to get into the habit of building a fitness plan, but so is adaptability. This is where many people fall behind with their plans during the year. They find a set of exercises and a time frame that they like, and they start to enjoy how they feel when they do it, but they don’t see much improvement from it. A personal trainer can see what works for a client and what doesn’t. There may be a way to change an approach to a workout or try new forms of exercise that allow for greater gains.
A good personal trainer shouldn’t be afraid to say when something isn’t right or they misjudged an approach. They need to see you exercise and get a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses first. This is also why you should be upfront with personal trainers about your medical history and experience. That way, they have a better chance of designing an effective plan from the start.
Personal Trainers Push You To Your Limits
One reason people get a little wary of working with personal trainers is the idea that all they’ll do is shout at you to do better and make the experience miserable. You can find a personal trainer in Harrisburg who is encouraging and motivational enough to ease clients out of their comfort zone. These experts will show you what you can achieve. It might get uncomfortable at times, but there’s also the sense of achievement that comes from hitting new personal bests. Your trainer will figure out how to get you there, celebrate the wins with you, and look at how to do even better when the time is right.
Personal Trainers Keep Things Safe
Being pushed to your limits is great when you lack self-confidence and motivation. However, you still need to be sure you’re working out safely and productively. The last thing you need is a week of inactivity because you sprained something or tore a muscle. It’s too easy to push yourself too far, too soon, when taking the DIY approach to your fitness goals. Maybe you get frustrated at your lack of progress and increase your number of reps or the resistance on your machine too far.
Personal trainers can help you make the right adaptations to your routine at the right time. They can also help you with injury prevention by helping you warm up better, providing strapping and other aids, and generally making each exercise plan as accessible as possible. If they think they’re an issue, they’ll keep you in check and reign things back so you don’t put yourself at risk.
Personal Trainers Teach You About More Than Exercise
This final point is easy to overlook. You might see personal trainers and nothing more than people guiding you through an exercise plan and making sure you hit your targets. They will do this and do so pretty effectively, but you can get so much more out of your time with these fitness experts. The best personal trainers will also be knowledgeable about other aspects of your fitness goals.
If your main goal is to lose weight, they should be able to offer support with dietary changes. Maybe they have personal experience with particular brands or recipes you’re missing out on. If you’re trying to build muscle and tone in certain areas, they could advise you on different types of activities that could improve your gains outside of the training sessions. This may include recommendations for equipment at home. If you’re trying to recover from a medical issue or regain some energy or mobility, they could help you with information on supplementation or other alternative treatments. These recommendations should be safe, accessible, and proven to work with other clients.
Work With Trusted Harrisburg Personal Trainers
If this has convinced you that it’s time to ditch the DIY approach and call in the professionals, help is available. There are trained experts with years of personal training experience ready to take on new clients and help them reach their 2025 fitness goals. It all starts with one phone call and that first session. From there, it’s a steady road to a new you with plenty of challenges, accomplishments, and motivational tools along the way.