Below are some of the questions that many prospective clients ask about personal training. If you don’t find answers to your questions, click here to send us an email.
Q: Why do I need a personal trainer?
There are several reasons why working with a personal fitness trainer is beneficial. A well-qualified trainer will be able to teach you how to safely use the equipment and knows what exercises are appropriate, with the right amount of weight, repetitions, and rest between sets. Your trainer will advise you on proper nutrition and help you to separate the myths from the realities. We will monitor your progress and introduce progressively harder exercises and weight load increases as appropriate. Finally, working out alone is not much fun. Your trainer will push you along but also make sure that you have an enjoyable workout while you are working towards your fitness goals.
Q: I do cardio now, isn’t that enough for overall fitness?
While cardiovascular (aerobic) conditioning is an important part of overall fitness, it is not sufficient. Cardio conditioning can help to reduce body fat by burning extra calories and can help condition the heart. However, resistance training is needed in order to add lean mass (muscle). Resistance Training is also needed when undertaking a weight loss program in order to minimize the loss of muscle. Too much cardio is no good. In addition to putting added stress on your joints, excessive cardio training can lead to reduced lean mass. Lean mass will actually shape our body and help burn body fat.
Q: Why do I need to do resistance training at all?
Once you reach the age of 40, you can start to lose up to 6 pounds of muscle every 10 years. Even though your weight may remain constant, without resistance training, you are replacing muscle with body fat. Fat is less active metabolically than muscle, so as your body replaces muscle with fat, you need less and less calories to keep your weight constant. Other advantages of resistance training may include lower blood sugar, stronger bones, harder joints, improved appearance, and a better sex drive.
Q: I’m a woman, why do I need to train with weights?
In addition to the reasons cited above, resistance training for women is particularly important. By placing a load on your skeleton, you help to strengthen your bones. This can help prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
Q: I’m a woman, if I do resistance training, am I going to become muscular like a man?
This is a common misconception. Testosterone is the key hormone for building muscle. Since women don’t have nearly as much testosterone as men, you do not have to worry about becoming too muscular.
Q: I simply don’t have the time to exercise.
This may be the most common reason people give for not exercising. Exercise must become a priority in your life. The ideal is for it to become part of your normal routine, just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly actually have the same time constraints as those who don’t.
Q: I work now and I don’t know if I can commit to any particular time for training.
At Body by Bobbie, Inc. our personal trainers will work around your schedule. Many of our clients are professionals who frequently travel, so we are used to accommodating our client’s needs.
Q: How many times a week do I need to workout with a trainer?
That depends on you and your schedule. We like to see our clients 2-3 times per week. This gives us enough time to adequately work your major muscle groups and make sure that you continue to make improvements.
Q: Is it okay that I’ve never worked out with weights before?
Absolutely. That’s what we’re here for. We are trained to teach you how to lift weights safely. We will gradually introduce you to resistance training, taking special care to teach you the correct form and techniques.
Q: I used to lift weights regularly but I’m out of shape now. Will you be able to give me a challenging workout program?
Definitely. One of the advantages of personal training is that we design custom programs to meet your fitness level and fitness goals. And we are constantly monitoring your progress and making adjustments to your program.
Q: If I workout with a trainer, will that be enough to get me into shape?
Not really. Getting fit means paying attention to all three aspects of your fitness program: your nutrition, your cardiovascular conditioning, and your resistance training. We will be there to encourage and guide you every step of the way.
Q: I have a special medical condition (such as hypertension or diabetes). Can I still train with you?
In general the answer is “Yes!” But you should always obtain clearance from your physician before you start your training program. We are trained to work with clients that may have special medical conditions. We will rely on information provided by your doctor to outline any special circumstances.
Q: How long will it take me to get into shape?
That depends on your current physical condition and your fitness goals. If you need to lose weight, then you should know that we don’t ascribe to any gimmicks. A safe rate of weight loss is about 1-2 pounds per week. That will minimize muscle loss and also give you better long-term chances of keeping the weight off. Resistance training will also help to minimize your muscle loss. If you are patient and diligently follow your fitness program, you will be successful.
Q: Are there any age restrictions to resistance training?
Not really. Children as young as 6 years of age can start working out with weights. And studies have shown that people in their 90’s benefit from resistance training and can add muscle. As you get older, resistance training can help prevent the many complications associated with falls. This is because you will be strengthening your bones and joints, as well as building balance and stability.
Q: I work out regularly and I’m in decent shape. How could a personal trainer help me?
Many people do the same exercises, in the same order, and reach a point where they no longer make any further progress. You can use our experience to design a fitness program to keep your workouts fresh and to help you reach the next level. This might include incorporating more advanced types of exercises into your workout, varying your exercises, and even developing a periodization program that will take you through stages of muscle development (hypertrophy), strength, and power.
