Personal Training

Trimming down and maintaining your ideal weight can be hideously difficult. From eating the right food to choosing the right exercise and everything in between, one may invariably forget one pertinent detail or make a mistake regarding their diet and end up 10 pounds overweight or with bulging biceps when all you really wanted was to tone your muscles.

Read and learn about the benefits of hiring a Personal Trainer:

Accurate Fitness Evaluation. Let’s face it; a lot of us tend to over- or under-estimate our physical abilities and therefore end up with strained muscles and joints (which can lead to health problems) or a lax exercise regime (which lengthens the time enabling us to reach our fitness goals). However, with a personal trainer, your physical fitness will be accurately evaluated and you can be quite sure that whatever fitness program you end up with is the ideal one for you.

Motivation. It really is easier to exercise with someone around and a personal trainer is just the right person to have on your side if you have a fitness goal you’re sweating to attain. A personal trainer will know exactly when he has to act as a tough general, a great source of encouragement and inspiration or simply as a friend to talk to and listen to your personal health woes.

Customized Fitness Program. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s no such thing as an exercise or diet program that fits all. In short, what may work for others may not work for you and what may take others weeks to achieve may mean one year’s worth of effort in your part. But how will you be able to determine what fitness program is best for you unless you consult an expert?

Safety. A lot of accidents can happen during unsupervised exercises so having a personal trainer will ensure that you are using health club equipment the right way. Not only does this prevent serious physical injuries, it ensures that you get the most out of your exercise routines.

The Need for Change. Perhaps one of the things that hits even the most health-conscious individual is boredom! Sometimes, all that one needs is a little change in one’s exercise routine and with a personal trainer beside you, he or she can can come up with different exercise programs, all geared towards keeping you active and interested in going to the gym.

What is a Personal Trainer?

A personal trainer should be, at the least, educated and certified through a reputable fitness organization. This person's job is to assess your fitness level, set up a program for you and keep you motivated. He or she will push you past your comfort level--something difficult to do on your own. A trainer also provides:

guidance on reaching your goals
education about strength training, cardio and basic nutrition
a reason to show up at the gym each week
accountability
ways to help track your progress

What is a Session Like?

Each session lasts about an hour. The first meeting is devoted to assessing fitness level, body measurements, exercise and health history and goals. Be prepared to step on the scale, have your body fat tested and answer specific questions about your goals. After that, you'll spend most of your time on strength training and cardio.

What to Look for In a Personal Trainer

Education: A personal trainer should be certified through a reputable personal training organization. An exercise science or other related college degree isn't necessary, but the more education your trainer has, the better your workouts will be.
CPR: your trainer should have an updated certification in CPR and/or first aid.
Experience: Make sure your trainer has several years of experience, especially in relation to your goals. For example, if you're a bodybuilder, you want someone knowledgeable in that area.
Specifics: If you have a specific medical problem, injury or condition (such as being pregnant, heart problems, diabetes, etc.) make sure your trainer has education in these areas and will work with your doctor.
A good listener: A good trainer will listen closely to what you say and make sure he understands your goals.
Attention: A good trainer will be focused only on you during your sessions.
Tracking progress: A good trainer will regularly assess your progress and change things if necessary.

Personality is important too since you'll be working very closely with this person. Make sure you get along with your trainer and feel comfortable asking questions.

How to Find a Personal Trainer

One place to look is on the ROC Fitness Floor.

The ROC has 5 Personal Trainers ready to assist you with your Fitness Goals.

At only $40/hour, you get their undivided attention to your needs.

NEW: You can now purchase a package of 10 sessions for just $300. That's a savings of $100!

You will find you reach your goals twice as fast as you would have without them by your side.

Get a referral from a friend who's had success in reaching their goals with a personal trainer
When you're at the gym, watch trainers with their clients and see how they interact.
When you get assigned to a trainer, make sure you tell them if there's anything special you'd like to work on. (getting in shape before pregnancy, getting ready for a marathon, etc.)