When your exercise routine has become boring, repetitive and results are non-existent and hard to come by, a personal trainer can take you to your next fitness level. I know this from firsthand experience.

Three years ago, I injured my shoulder in a really bad way. I couldn’t do anything without experiencing extreme pain in my shoulder. As a result, I had to do the hardest thing I had to do – I had to quit from studying martial arts on a full-time basis. As every movement irritated my shoulder and I did not want to create more damage.  I was panicking as I did not know what to do. I never experienced an injury as intense as this one and I felt lost and discouraged.

My sports injury doctor gave me some exercises to rebuild the muscle in my shoulder; however, I only did these exercises for a few weeks before giving up. Nevertheless, after careful thought, I decided to join a new gym. While at the gym, I felt depressed. I thought I would never get my shoulder back to normal and I would have to say good bye to martial arts forever.

As I struggled through my lacklustre fitness routine, I realized I needed direction to rehabilitate my shoulder efficiently and effectively. So I did a fitness assessment and hired a personal trainer.

I was really apprehensive and sceptical at first. I did not think a trainer would be able to help me recover from a shoulder injury. Boy, was I wrong! Not only was I able to get my shoulder back, I also lost weight and toned in the process. I also learned some key exercise fundamentals which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Furthermore, I learned a vast amount of exercises I can do at my local gym or in the comfort of my own home. The highlight for me though was being able to return to martial arts as a stronger and healthier practitioner.

A personal trainer can help you achieve your health and fitness goals. They keep you focused and accountable. If you do not like working out or your current routine has become boring, you should consider hiring a personal trainer. A trainer will keep you accountable by keeping track of your food diaries, giving you suggestions on what to eat to get the appropriate protein and they will remind you to keep hydrated. Furthermore, they will push you past your comfort zone to an achievable fitness level.

If you are seriously thinking of hiring a personal trainer, here are some things to consider:

• What is your trainer’s educational background?
• What is your trainer’s work experience?
• Is your trainer knowledgeable about your medical problem, injury or condition?
• Does your trainer listen and understand your needs?
• How will your trainer monitor your progress?

If your potential trainer is lacking in any of the above areas – this is a huge warning sign. There are a lot of fraudulent trainers in the industry. Stay clear of them!  Ask a lot of questions and if your trainer is not knowledgeable in an area that’s of importance to you, it is best you consider going with another trainer.

Tags: Personal Trainer

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