Hiring a personal trainer at Fitness Connection is among the best decisions you will make in your journey from being an overweight person to being a fit inspiration! As such, the importance of choosing the right personal trainer cannot be overemphasized, as is setting realistic expectations regarding what you can expect from him.
Here are the most important of these realistic expectations.
Provide Nutrition Guidance and Coaching
Weight issues are usually the result of overeating, which can take many forms including stress eating and an unhealthy obsession with food. Your weight loss success then partly depends on your realization that your diet plays a crucial role and, in the process, on your willingness to change your unhealthy habits.
Your personal trainer should then provide nutrition guidance and coaching for starters. Keep in mind, however, that it will likely be limited because your personal trainer isn’t a nutritionist, among other reasons. You have to research the best type of diet for yourself, ask a nutritionist about it, and adopt it on a daily basis – meaning that it’s your ultimate responsibility, not the personal trainer’s responsibility.
Make a Suitable Exercise Program
This is exactly why you hired a personal trainer in the first place! You have a fitness professional with the right knowledge and skills in choosing the right exercises including their sets and reps for your unique condition. Your exercise program should obviously be tailored to your age, gender, physical condition, and fitness goals; beware of personal trainers who use the same program for all clients.
With a good personal trainer, you will likely experience the following aspects, exercise-wise:
- Begin in a non-intimidating environment. You may be uncomfortable being the center of attention or you’re uncomfortable being surrounded by fit people. Your personal trainer will take your feelings into account and find a place where you will be more comfortable exercising.
- Start with bodyweight exercises. While you may be raring to go on an exercise equipment, it may be unsafe in your current condition, not to mention that most machines aren’t exactly made for obese persons (i.e., too small, too hard to get in and out of, too narrow). Your personal trainer will then start your exercise program with bodyweight exercises using free weights, if needed; examples include running in place, jumping jacks, squats, kettle bell deadlifts, and wall push-ups.
- Limit, if not completely, avoid uncomfortable positions. You may not be able to do floor exercise at first so bench exercises are preferred.
Your personal trainer will also start you on a low-impact cardio program first. Your exercises will likely include walking, swimming and boxing until you have the strength and stamina for high-impact cardio exercises like running, plyometrics and jumping.
In short, your personal trainer will start you on a slow but steady program. Go with the flow and you will see that you’re getting better with each session!