Why Personal Training Is More Than Just a Workout

Today, we are all well acquainted with the benefits of physical activity and structured exercise. Exercise reduces our risk of chronic disease, and reduces the perception of pain.^1,2 We also know that the benefits are well beyond physical. Exercise is comparable to antidepressants as a treatment for depression.³ Even though this information is commonly known, we are making minimal efforts. Less than 25% of adults make time to exercise as recommended.⁴ Why is there a disconnect between what we know is good for us and what actions we take to address this well-known concern? There are several barriers to exercise that personal training can address. 

1. Motivation That Sticks

One of the biggest challenges with solo exercise is maintaining motivation. How many times have we set a fitness goal and thrown ourselves into the challenge entirely only to reach the deadline we set for ourselves disappointed? This type of discouragement makes a lot of people give up entirely. We ask ourselves, “Where did I go wrong?” For a lot of people, the problem is the goal itself. There are limits to the types of changes we can trigger in a healthy way with the most common limiting factor often being time. How long would it take to gain 10lb of muscle? What is the appropriate intensity of exercise needed to gain muscle? How do you lose body fat? You may not know the answers to those questions but a qualified personal trainer does and can create a plan to help you achieve your goals. They keep you motivated by recording your progress and making sure you stay on track. They can even help you to make the required course corrections before you know they are needed.

Whatever your goal may be, a personal trainer’s experience will pay off in many areas outside of your session. Living a healthy lifestyle means getting the recommended activity. Personal training often means you need to set new habits outside of the gym and make an active lifestyle your way of life instead of experiencing it as a dreaded punishment.

2. Real Accountability

It can be difficult to manage busy schedules. This is why you need to have a workout planned and scheduled. It provides motivation knowing someone is expecting you to follow through with your commitments. This can make it more likely you will keep the appointment.⁵ If you are not feeling your best on a given day, a personal trainer can help you make the needed adjustments and keep you motivated. Your trainer will keep track of the progress you make so they can show you how far you have come when you feel frustrated with your progress. 

3. A Balanced, Progressive Program

Staying active with physical hobbies is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Staying active is linked to a 30%-35% decrease in all causes of mortality compared to inactivity.⁶ All those small choices add up over time. So, how is it that healthy habits like gardening, tennis, weight lifting, and running can so often cause injuries? The answer is repetitive overuse. Personal trainers know healthy limits. They know how to avoid overuse and over-training. They take into consideration what you are already doing and build a program that complements your lifestyle. When you work with a personal trainer, you have a qualified expert keeping an eye on you and “spotting” breakdowns in proper joint mechanics. 

The goal of personal training is to avoid injury and pain while maintaining strength and mobility to allow for the best quality of life and the best possible life expectancy. Personal trainers use their expertise and experience to build progressive, safe programs. They assess what their clients are capable of, what they want to accomplish, and incorporate all that information into an effective and efficient plan. 

4. The Mental Health Boost is beyond just the exercise.

The benefits of working with a personal trainer are far beyond just the exercise alone. Social connections are an important part of our mental health. Loneliness increases our risk of cardiovascular diseases.⁷ Loneliness is of increasing concern in the years following Covid-19.⁸

The mental health benefits of exercise are not limited to mood and depression. Exercise improves cognitive function and reduces the risk of dementia.⁹

With the mental health boost of exercise and the benefits of a personalized fitness program, you will be more motivated than if you were to exercise alone. You will have safer and more effective workouts. With the added support of a personal trainer holding you accountable, you will have the resources you need to reach your goals. Personal training offers so many more benefits than simply exercising alone.  Consider contacting Live Your Life today to start living your best life ever. 

References

1. Mayo Clinic Staff. What you need to know about exercise and chronic disease. Mayo Clinic. Published January 14, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise-and-chronic-disease/art-20046049
2. Lima LV, Abner TSS, Sluka KA. Does exercise increase or decrease pain? Central mechanisms underlying these two phenomena. The Journal of Physiology. 2017;595(13):4141-4150. doi:https://doi.org/10.1113/jp273355
3. Recchia F, Leung CK, Chin EC, et al. Comparative effectiveness of exercise, antidepressants and their combination in treating non-severe depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;56(23). doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105964
4. Kruger J, Carlson SA, Buchner D. How Active Are Older Americans? Preventing Chronic Disease. 2007;4(3):A53. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1955422/
5. Gershon R, Cryder C, Milkman KL. Friends with Health Benefits: A Field Experiment. Management science. 2024;71(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01401
6. Reimers CD, Knapp G, Reimers AK. Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature. Journal of Aging Research. 2012;2012(243958):1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/243958
7. Grover S. Loneliness Among the Elderly: a Mini Review. Consortium Psychiatricum. 2022;3(1):30-36. doi:https://doi.org/10.17816/cp143
8. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory . Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.
9. Alzheimer’s society. Physical activity and the risk of dementia | Alzheimer’s Society – Connected Content. www.alzheimers.org.uk. Published August 2024. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/physical-activity