Getting Fit With Personal Training | Fitness | Health | Epoch Times

By Emma-Kate Stampton Created: August 24, 2012 Last Updated: August 24, 2012

A personal trainer can motivate you to set fitness goals and reach them. ( Henry Chan/The Epoch Times)

We all know regular exercise is good for us. The Olympic Games in London may have inspired us to get more active, but staying motivated can be a struggle for even the most intense fitness fanatic, let alone the majority of sedentary individuals.

You find yourself doing things you thought you could never do, which in turn gives you a lot of confidence in yourself. ? Kimberly Ouston

So how do all those people out there who are battling the bulge or huffing and puffing to get up a short flight of stairs get motivated to exercise? How do the gym junkies stay pumped for their next workout?

The answer is simple?get a personal trainer! Personal training is no longer just for the famous or wealthy. Instead, it has become an accessible option for anyone wanting to get on the fitness path, stay on it, and reach goals they may have previously thought impossible.

Kimberly Ouston, 29 years old, can certainly vouch for that. She works as a personal assistant and started personal training seven months ago when she signed up for a 10-week challenge at her local health club in Brisbane, Australia.

?The benefits of having a personal trainer have definitely been worth it. You find yourself doing things you thought you could never do, which in turn gives you a lot of confidence in yourself,? she explained.

?I started off by running on the treadmill at 9 kilometers [5.6 miles] per hour and am now able to run at 19 kilometers [11.8 miles] per hour, which is pretty fast for someone who has short legs! I am also now leg pressing just over 200 kilograms (441 pounds), which is over four times my weight,? she said.

Getting Started

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Getting started with a personal trainer can seem somewhat daunting at first, as working with someone in a one-on-one situation can take a little time to get used to. However, you will have the trainer?s undivided attention, and a qualified and experienced personal trainer will tailor each session to suit your needs.

Finding the right personal trainer is similar to finding the right pair of jeans?you need to find the right fit.

Whether you start in a large gym setting or a smaller studio environment, in almost all cases, you will have the option of doing a starter pack of approximately three sessions to decide if personal training is for you.

Some places will even offer you a free session. Take it, as you will never know unless you give it a try. If you do decide the personal trainer is right for you, then you will have the choice to sign on for a period of time or a number of training sessions.

Setting Goals

Personal training can help you achieve a myriad of goals. Your personal trainer will do a goal-setting session with you so you are both on the same page.

Your goal may be to lose weight, increase your cardiovascular fitness, compete in a triathlon, drop down a dress size, tone your arms, complete 100 push-ups, and the list goes on.

Having open communication is important so that your personal trainer knows exactly what you want.

Personal training is a definite way to fast-track your results, but always bear in mind that personal trainers are not miracle workers. They have the tools to get you where you need to go, but you need to follow their advice and the requirements they set for working out on your own.

Most personal trainers will give you nutritional advice and a program to follow to ensure you maximize your results.

Training with a personal trainer can be three times a week, more often, or as little as once a month. It all depends on how much motivation you need and what goals you want to achieve.

Give It Time

Keep in mind, results don?t happen overnight. Give your body a good six weeks to start noticing a difference in your clothes and with your weight and overall strength and fitness level.

A testament to the benefits of personal training, Kimberly admits that although looking good is great motivation, it is the overall benefit to her work and home life she enjoys the most.

?The combination of cardio, weights training, and eating right has made a huge difference to my confidence and general positive outlook for life in general,? she said.

?I only see my trainer once a week, but find that I push myself even harder in the other exercise classes I do because I have learnt through my trainer that I can push myself harder and to never give up.?

If you are feeling a little stale and need some fresh ideas and a push in the right direction, or even if you have never set foot in a gym before, personal training is for everyone. So give it a go.

Emma-Kate Stampton certifies Pilates instructors and is a certified personal trainer. She is based in Brisbane, Australia.

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Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/health/getting-fit-with-personal-training-283936.html

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