Exceed your limits and make the most of each session with the help of a personal trainer

With the arrival of good weather, many people want to improve their physical condition. One way to start off on the right foot is to hire the services of a personal trainer.

Personal trainers (also known as personal trainer) are fitness professionals who provide their services individually or in small groups, providing advice, motivation and support to their clients.

The concept was born in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, when Hollywood actors began to request professionals to attend them in a private way in their own homes to avoid going to gyms where they used to be recognized and photographed.

This is how the idea of ​​the personal trainer arose as something very exclusive and linked to the world of celebrities. However, nowadays you don’t have to be a movie star or an elite athlete to take advantage of his knowledge; All you have to do is set a goal and be committed to progressing until you reach it.

How to choose a good personal trainer?

Finding a qualified trainer is key to making sure that the training plan they design for us is effective and safe.

The first step is to find out about your academic background. You should have a Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences. Also, if you are interested in a particular discipline, it would be a good idea to look for a personal trainer who specializes in that specific area.

A good way to find these professionals is to ask at gyms and sports centers. For example, if you are looking for a Zaragoza personal traineryou can contact the training center JG Fitness Zaragoza. From €19.90/ session You can access their service online or in person (individual or in small groups). In addition, they have other specialties such as nutritional counselingthe electrostimulation (which is a good complement to strength training to get quick results) or the sports physiotherapy (aimed at rehabilitation and injury prevention).

In the case of athletes, it is essential to have the support of a personal trainer to optimize the sports performance and prepare for the competition.

However, even people who are untrained or in poor physical shape can notice the positive effects of the accompaniment.

keeps us motivated

The teacher Steven R. McClaran from the University of Wisconsin, published the study «The Effectiveness of Personal Training in the Change of Attitude towards Physical Activity» (2003) in which 129 clients who followed a personalized training program for ten weeks participated. At the end, he came to the conclusion that targeted training improves the attitude towards sport.

People often get discouraged and give up physical activity for many reasons such as lack of time and boredom. A personal trainer teaches us to be more organized and not make excuses. In addition, he will try to always show a positive attitude encouraging us to give the best of ourselves.

Helps us define goals and meet them

In the initial interview, the trainer will analyze our fitness objectives (tone up, lose weight, increase resistance) and design a training plan in stages and adapted to our individual needs.

Unlike standard workouts, the personalized approach takes into account things like age, physical condition, and lifestyle. This prevents us from setting unrealistic goals that could be unattainable.

Reduces the risk of injury

The exercises must be well structured. It is important to do them correctly as malpractice (for example, lifting weights in the wrong position) will increase the risk of injury.

The personal trainer teaches us to exercise safely, supervising each of our movements and instructing us in the proper technique. It also alerts us to the dangers associated with the misuse of machines or excess load.

In this way we can avoid both accidents and overload in the joints or in certain muscle groups, which over time usually gives rise to stress injuries such as tendinitis.

It prevents us from typical beginner mistakes

If we are new to the gym and no one directs our workouts, it is normal to make many mistakes such as abusing cardiovascular exercise, doing without stretching or not wearing the right equipment.

The personal trainer gives us guidance on these and other issues, helping us to develop good habits from the beginning.

Helps avoid stagnation

As we progress, we can reach a sticking point in which the muscles become accustomed to stimuli and do not continue to develop. An experienced trainer will introduce variations into our routines, challenging us to get out of our comfort zone to keep moving forward. In addition, it can also teach us advanced training techniques such as supersets, drop sets, and forced repetitions, among others.

Provides nutritional advice

Food and training are an inseparable tandem to achieve our fitness goals. Our personal trainer can also help us in this regard, designing a nutritional program oriented to our needs and goals, whether they are losing weight or increasing muscle mass. By combining a comprehensive approach to training and nutrition, we maximize the chances of success.

Don’t underestimate the value of having a professional by your side as you delve into the world of fitness.