As a member of a gym, you may be wondering whether personal training is suitable for you. Members train with a personal trainer for many reasons, such as motivation, a change of routine, discipline, etc. Here are some tips to get the most out of your training sessions.
1. You must be consistent with your workouts. This includes cardio 3-5 times per week and weight training/toning/strength training 2-4 times per week. You can do cardio the same day you do weight training, but do not exhaust your body to the point where you can’t function.
Do not work the same muscle group everyday. Rather, alternate the days. For instance, work your upper body on Monday and Wednesday and your lower body on Tuesday and Thursday. Or, do a total body workout on Monday and Wednesday, but don’t lift weights on Tuesday. Always make sure you do cardio for 5-10 minutes before starting weight training.
2. Eat a well-balanced diet. To control portions, write everything down that you eat on a daily basis. Stay away from foods high in fat, carbohydrates, and sugar.
3. Ask questions. If you have any concerns about your training, ask your personal trainer so that he or she can give you suggestions or tips to help you.
4. Apply what your trainer shows you to the workouts you do on your own. After finishing your personal training sessions, continue to eat well and exercise 3-5 times a week. Pay very close attention to the different exercises your personal trainer shows you so that you can continue with them on your own. Keep in mind that just doing one personal training session per week and not working out on your own/not taking classes will not get you the results you want. Personal training should supplement, not replace, your regular workouts.
Good luck with losing weight, toning up, and feeling better about yourself! Remember that you are #1!
Trainer Tip by Gisela Andalia, group fitness instructor and personal trainer at Lucille Roberts Jersey City.
