Personal trainers are no longer a luxury, only affordable for the rich and famous but a great option for individuals who are seeking a more flexible, tailor made way to exercise that helps motivate you towards your goals.
My goal as it often is with most women was weight loss. Having been stuck in an endless cycle of fad diets and a dislike for exercise I’d never been able to stick with anything long enough to see results or really make a difference.
I kind of dreaded the thought of working with a PT to begin with – my expectations included drill sergeant shouting and a Lycra clad Victoria secret model telling me how much weight I needed to lose but this couldn’t have been further from the reality.
There are many reasons why I chose to work with a personal trainer in London but the benefits of my sessions have far exceeded all expectations and impacted me in ways I didn’t expect – making me a better person all round. Here are just some of the ways that having a personal trainer has changed me for the better.
How I See Myself
Probably my biggest benefit I have gained has been how my PT changed the way I feel about myself. Pushing out the negative thoughts about how I see myself and realising that I needn’t aspire to look like the women on Instagram with their unattainable bodies and airbrushed photos – looking like someone else is no longer something I even consider or desire.
My personal trainer is always so positive about how hard I am working, how much I am improving, continuously looking forward and ensuring that I see and recognise all my progress and I have a new found confidence that pushes me to do things I never used to.
Adapting to what I need
Cardio is not for me – don’t put me down for cardio! If my PT had pushed me to do endless running, cycling or other cardio I would have quit after 2 sessions. I don’t enjoy it, my body doesn’t like it and it doesn’t make me feel good. It’s different for others – some people live for it, but straight away my PT knew she was not going to get the best out of me by making me jog or run or cycle miles.
So I was introduced to weights, lifting and resistance based work which has completely changed how I feel about exercise. My PT found something I loved and worked with me. Not only am I stronger but my body shape is changing and because I enjoy the training, I have stuck with it consistently for the first time ever. There is no ‘cookie cutter’ one size fits all exercise plan – a good PT listens to what you say and helps you get the most out of your workouts.
Physically and mentally stronger
Being physically stronger might seem like an obvious benefit of exercise but the one that shocked me the most was the effect it had on me mentally. Having never enjoyed exercise or been a ‘gym bunny’ I have never previously understood the desire to exercise or the buzz people would talk about after a session.
But working with a PT has completely changed my mind-set and my workouts are something I look forward to immensely and have even become a type of therapy for me. If I’ve had a particularly stressful or bad day then an evening trip to the gym always makes me feel so much better and mentally stronger.
Motivates me to work harder
Having my PT alongside me during my workouts is a real motivator and helps me to graft that much harder and get the most out of my appointment. It also benefits me when I am training alone because I know that I can show off my increased reps or higher weights to my trainer at the next session so they can see I’ve not been slacking and have been hard at work.
There are just so many ways in which working with a personal trainer has changed my life for the better and I encourage others to really invest in their health and find a great PT that brings the best out of them!