Why Having a Personal Trainer will Give you Better Results
If you are working towards a specific health and fitness goal, or simply would like to, I can almost guarantee that you will get better results, or at least reach your goal more quickly, if you work with a good coach or trainer. Having a Personal Trainer is obviously a discretionary service - it is not for everyone, and nor is it necessary for everyone to have a trainer - but if you have the capacity to hire a coach/trainer, I would strongly recommend you do.
Now, the question of whether having a trainer will improve your results has been shown, both through a multitude of anecdotal evidence, but also in scientific research: a 2014 study by Storer et al. (1) found that “members whose training is directed by well-qualified personal trainers administering evidence-based training regimens achieve significantly greater improvements in LBM and other dimensions of fitness than members who direct their own training.” In other words, having a Personal trainer can lead to better improvements in strength, building lean mass (muscle) and VO2max (endurance fitness).
Of course this is just one study, but it does confirm what we see a lot in anecdotal evidence, and I am confident that future studies will show similar results. The key caveats I do want to emphasise, and that the study authors pointed out are:
The trainer needs to be well-qualified (knowledgable in what they are doing)
Their recommendations need to be evidence-based (which many trainers are not, but we at Core Training are).
But, assuming that you are able to find a well-qualified, evidence-based trainer (more on that later), you will get better results working with them, than by going it alone. The question is, why is that? Well, I’m going to give you my thoughts (N.B: this is my opinion more than it is irrefutable fact) on why this is the case.
On a really fundamental level, Personal Trainers are fitness professionals - it’s our job to help you improve your fitness, no matter what your goal may be. Think of it this way; if you have a problem with the pipes in your home, you will probably call a plumber. Now, some people will be able to fix the problem themselves, in the same way that some people are able to plan and execute their health and fitness regime all by themselves - but most of us will feel more confident, and end up with a better result, if we employ the professional to help us. A good, evidence-based personal trainer (which for the rest of this blog you should assume we are referring to) devotes their professional life, and plenty of their time, to learning about the latest methods and approaches, and honing their skills in terms of implementing these approaches with their clients.
A Personal Trainer will be able to understand what you want to achieve, and understand how to put that into practice in a way that is best for you. They also have the time and resources to dedicate to your training and goals, because that’s their job - just like you have your own job! Planning your training and nutrition is an extra stress and commitment you have to devote time to on top of your ‘9 to 5’ and the rest of your life - which again, some people are able to do successfully. However, many people simply don’t have the time, energy or bandwidth to do that - so it makes sense to outsource it to someone who does. The way we put it to our members is like this: “we take care of everything else, so that all you have to worry about is turning up and having a great workout.” This is true whether we work with them in person or remotely - the planning and preparation is taken out of the equation, so they just need to do the workouts planned for them, and be confident that it is taking them closer to their goals.
We always say that the single-most important aspect of any training program is consistently adhering to it. This is perhaps the area where trainers can also have the biggest impact on you and your goals. Having a Personal Trainer doesn’t only provide the accountability of having to turn up to your session, but also in doing everything that is required of you in that session. You will likely complete more workouts than you would if left to your own devices (turning up even when you don’t feel like it), but also stick more closely to the required program when you have a trainer standing there coaching you (or one that you need to check in with on a regular basis). You may be picturing the stereotypical ‘beast mode’ trainer pushing you to exhaustion (and beyond) in every session, but that’s not quite what I’m getting at.
Yes, as a Personal Trainer I do often push my clients to finish sets or exercises even when they don’t feel like it, but I also am able to adjust sessions to accommodate for when they really aren’t feeling it. That might mean one or two less sets completed in that one workout, but it also means setting them up for improved recovery, and therefore more sets and exercises completed in the long run. A Personal Trainer who takes the ‘personal’ part of their job seriously will understand the difference between a client slacking off in a session, and one who needs to take it easier - and they will make the necessary adjustments to allow for this.
Perhaps that’s the side of adherence we don’t always think about - overall, long-term adherence to a program (or diet for that matter) can sometimes mean less strict adherence in the short-term. Yes, this might sound somewhat counter-intuitive, but hey - that’s why you should hire a Personal Trainer who understands this nuance! More is not always better, and a trainer will be able to make a more objective, and informed, assessment of when you need ‘more’ and when you actually need ‘less’ - meaning your program is not only tailored to you as an individual, but also to your ever-changing life circumstances.
Working with a Personal Trainer will provide you better results, and faster progress towards your goals, as it will provide you with the most effective program and approach, tailored to you and your needs, and with the accountability needed to ensure you adhere to said program. Working with a fitness professional means you will receive a top-quality level of service, with all the knowledge and expertise that goes with that service. You will not only achieve your goals more quickly, but you are also likely to end up with better long-term progress, too.
Now, the question you may have is “but how do I know my Personal Trainer is good, and evidence-based?” This is not necessarily easy, and I could write a whole blog on the subject. Suffice it to say, at Core Training we pride ourselves on being evidence-based trainers, and invest a lot of time, energy and resources into staying up to date with the latest research and best practices - so we do hope you would trust us first and foremost!
However, in my experience, an evidence-based personal trainer will not be the one selling you a quick fix with simple, easy answers. They won’t be guaranteeing a specific result, and telling you exactly what you need to do before even getting to know you. A good Personal Trainer, and one who is evidence-based, will be asking you lots of questions, and will also be welcoming to your questions. They may not always have a simple answer, but they will be able to explain to you why they have made choices for you.
If you are looking for an evidence-based trainer, and we don’t fit your criteria (either through location or otherwise), then get in touch and we would be happy to help you find one! Or, you know, you could take the leap and try out Core Training first - we are always here and happy to help you progress towards your goals, and if we know of someone better suited to help you, we will always refer you on!
Send us an email today at coretrainingpt@gmail.com to get started!
(1) Storer, T. W., et al. (2014). “Effect of Supervised, Periodized Exercise Training vs. Self-Directed Training on Lean Body Mass and Other Fitness Variables in Health Club Members.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258922751_Effect_of_Supervised_Periodized_Exercise_Training_vs_Self-Directed_Training_on_Lean_Body_Mass_and_Other_Fitness_Variables_in_Health_Club_Members
