Don't Just Sign Up to a Gym, Wake Up to the Future You ...

Perth-based personal trainer LUCY MORRIS offers some inspiration for getting into shape mentally and physically ...

After the post Christmas gluttony is over and the New Year’s Resolutions lists are compiled many people will identify weight loss and improved fitness as priorities at the start of January.

Commercial gyms and fitness centres love this time of year as they know that people will be eager to sign up and commit to a 12 month membership, but remember signing up is the easy part – you have to actually turn up to get the results you are after!

And once you have turned up you also need to know how to make the most of the time you spend there, as a haphazard approach to training will only lead to frustration when you hit a plateau.

In order to get real value out of your gym membership, or any kind of training (e.g. outdoor or at home) that you are thinking of doing, it is worth teaming up with a good personal trainer to help you.

The benefits of having your own trainer go way beyond merely having someone there to motivate you and hold you accountable for keeping an appointment.

A good trainer will conduct a thorough pre-exercise questionnaire which will identify any pre-existing conditions that may affect the program you undertake. It is also an opportunity to identify your goals and devise a strategy to achieve them.

Prior to prescribing any kind of training program a good trainer will also carry out a range of flexibility and strength testing protocols and use the results to design an individualised program.

Almost everyone (irrespective of their exercise history) has muscle imbalances and weaknesses, as well as flexibility issues that need to be addressed in the preparatory stage of training.

You should also expect your trainer to provide you with a program detailing the exercises you are required to do and this program should be changed every 4-6 weeks.

Tracking your progress is key to your success so it is important to have everything written down.

If your trainer does not provide you with a copy of your program and appears to making things up on the spot then chances are they are doing the same exercises with their other clients, in which case you may as well attend a group fitness class instead and save your money.

A good trainer will demonstrate a genuine interest in you as an individual and will be able to provide information regarding nutrition and other lifestyle factors that will influence whether you achieve your goals or not.

While the time you spend training is important, it is what you are doing the rest of the time that will also play a huge role in your progress.

Have high expectations of your personal trainer – if they are going to demand your best while you are training then you have the right to expect a top quality service from them too.

The trainer/client relationship should be rewarding for both parties, and when it is you will be reaching your goals, setting new ones and constantly raising the bar.

As a trainer myself I could write my own programs and make good progress, but I know the value of having someone else to work with and wouldn’t be without my PT ... !!

For more information on Lucy Morris check out www.mobilitypt.com.au