Answers to 5 Common Excuses for not Exercising or Hiring a Personal Trainer
1. I Don't Have Time to Exercise-
In today's hectic, fast-paced world, most of us are stretched for time. The demands of our daily lives consume almost every waking minute. However, take a few moments to assess how you spend your time each day. How often do you watch TV, check your Facebook page, chat with friends, etc.? These are times you could possibly devote to exercise. If you could squeeze in 15-20 minutes a day at least 3 times a week, you will do wonders for your health and well-being. Other tactics you could try are getting up a half-hour earlier in the morning or exercising during your lunch break. A personal trainer can help you evaluate your daily schedule and formulate an exercise plan that fits your lifestyle.
2. I Can't Afford It.
This is a plausible argument in today's economy. Most people have to watch every penny they spend. However, think about the subtle ways you spend your money. The daily cup of Starbucks, the daily lunch at your favorite fast-food place or the weekly happy hour meetings with co-workers. Now think about how much these things cost you every month and you may begin to see the point. For what you spend on such subtle things, you could more than afford to invest your money toward your health and live a better life. A much wiser investment indeed!
3. I Don't Like to Work Out
Many people have various reasons for not enjoying exercise. Some of the more common reasons are boredom, lack of motivation, insecurity and discomfort. This is all the more reason to hire a professional trainer to help you overcome these obstacles. You would be amazed at how much more enjoyable exercise can be when you have someone to motivate you and help you overcome the obstacles that have been holding you back for years. For example, if you feel pain and discomfort when exercising, chances are you are performing the exercises incorrectly and putting your body at risk for injury. A personal trainer will ensure you are performing the exercises correctly and within the appropriate capacity to ensure your comfort and safety.
4. I Can Train Myself
True, but are you doing it correctly and are you adhering to all appropriate safety constraints? Many people, especially those who have been exercising regularly for many years, don't feel the need to hire a professional trainer. They may have taken advice from a gym buddy or watched an exercise video and think that's all the information they need to exercise appropriately. However, they may be doing more harm than good by not following proper guidelines. This is where a personal trainer can help. Even though you may not be a newbie in the gym, you also may not be performing exercises with proper form and therefore placing your body at unnecessary risk of injury. Also, you may have hit a plateau in your exercise program and are beginning to see fewer and fewer benefits as a result. This is another area where a personal trainer can help you. When your current program is no longer producing desired results, a trainer can help you redesign and modify your current program so that you can take your health and fitness to the next level.
5. I Once Had a Bad Experience with A Personal Trainer
This is not uncommon but like people in general, not all trainers are the same. The key word here is "professionalism". Although all personal trainers are expected to act with maturity, integrity and professionalism, this doesn't always happen. This is unfortunate and unfair to the client. However, shopping for a personal trainer is much like shopping for a new car, you have to keep test driving and shopping around until you find one that meets your needs. It is easy to get discouraged after having just one bad experience but you owe it to yourself to keep trying until you find the right one. The best way to do this is to make sure you do your research before hiring a trainer. Double check their credentials, ask for references and search the internet for client reviews. These sources should give you a vast amount of information to make a more educated decision.
Until next time, work hard, stay motivated and be safe!
Seth Spradling
Certified Personal Trainer
Mixed Martial Arts Strength and Conditioning Coach
Heart Rate Performance Specialist
The American Council on Exercise
National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association