Hiring a Personal Trainer vs. Going It Alone

If you have been following my blog for a while then you know that I work with a personal trainer. I also joined a gym after my husband was able to score me a great deal for piggy-backing on his membership. When I tell someone that I am working with a trainer their first comment is usually something to the effect that they would love to do the same-if they won the lottery. They wonder why I don't just stick with the gym since I am already paying for a membership and how I can afford to work with a personal trainer. If you are working out at home and are considering either of these options, I'd like to share my thoughts.

Gym Membership

There are a number of advantages to using the gym where I workout. Included with the membership fee is use of all free weights, machines, cardio equipment, a pool, a racket ball court, a basketball court, a running/walking track and a variety of group fitness classes. There are additional things offered such as tanning, child care, a juice bar and personal training. These options cost extra.

I rarely use most of the options that are offered with the general membership fee. I tend to use the elliptical machine for cardio and a limited number of the machines and free weights. Also, when I initially joined the gym, I planned to workout in the evening with my husband or early in the morning just after dropping my daughter at school. Unfortunately, the gym tends to be very crowded at both of these times. When it is crowded there is often a wait for the machines and equipment. That can be frustrating, but when you join a gym you go in with the knowledge that you will have to share equipment with everyone else. However, let's just say not everyone follows the basics of gym etiquette. Remember this post?

I joined the gym in May and have yet to attend a group fitness class. While they do offer a variety of classes, only a small number appeal to me. I am at a slight disadvantage because I have osteoarthritis in my knees and many of the classes offered would be too challenging for someone with my condition because of the rapid pace at which they move. I'd love to try a Spinning class, but generally these classes are full. I often hear women in the locker room complaining that they rushed over after work to attend a Spinning class only to be shut out because the class was full.

Spinning might be fun-if I could elbow my way in!

Image from Franklin Fitness

As far as the options available at an additional fee, I could do without these. It is handy for parents of small children to have an on-site facility for child care, but my children are teenagers. I don't plan to order a fruit smoothie that probably contains about 500 calories after I work out. I am opposed to pre-mature aging and skin cancer so tanning is also out. That leaves personal training. Since the gym is so large and crowded, I feel like I would be on display if I worked with a trainer in that environment. The cardio equipment on the second floor of the gym overlooks the area where the trainers tend to work with their clients. When you are on one of the cardio machines you have a tendency to watch what is going on below. I'd rather not have an audience when I'm working out. I prefer to work out in the private setting at the studio where I go for personal training.

I'd rather continue to rock the pasty white look that I'm currently sporting.

Overall, since I own a good deal of fitness equipment for at-home use, I would probably give up my membership if it weren't for my love of the elliptical machine. Since these machines can cost $2,000 or more, it is more cost effective for me to pay the membership fee than purchase one for home use.


Personal Training

I worked out on my own at the gym for five months before I started working with my trainer, Gregg. Remember, I am a massage therapist and have a good working knowledge of the human body and the musculoskeletal system. Even so, my progress had stalled. The osteoarthritis in my knees was also a factor. Certain forms of exercise are out because they are painful or can exacerbate the condition. I wanted to be sure that anything I did in an effort to increase my level of fitness would be safe.

Before I chose Gregg as my trainer, I did my homework. It is important to find a trainer with good credentials and experience. Gregg specializes in preventative and rehabilitative training, perfect for my personal needs. Also, you can't discount the role that personality plays in choosing a trainer. Gregg is an upbeat and positive person who motivates me to work hard without making me feel like a wimp if I can't do one more repetition. He's more Bob, than Jillian. I respond better to that type of approach.

I belong to Team Bob. How about you?

Yes, training can be expensive. Depending on the area where you reside, the cost of a session can be anywhere from $30-$400 per hour. In comparison, gym memberships can be much less expensive. However, at the gym you are on your own. Most gyms will not offer more than one initial free session to instruct new members on the proper use of equipment. It is hard to determine a person's individual needs and instruct them on how to best utilize the equipment in a single session.

At American Mobile Fitness, Gregg's business, he believes in making training affordable for everyone and is willing to work within your budget. The reason that I was able to add a second session per week was because American Mobile Fitness offers small group sessions for only $18. Gregg was able to find two other clients who were looking to start a group and arrange for one of his trainers, Kathy, to work with the three of us. Unlike the group fitness classes at the gym, Kathy has a chance to get to know our abilities and weaknesses and can individualize the session to meet everyone's needs. Shelly and Kim, my workout buddies are a lot of fun too. (I promised Kim that if I wrote about her, I'd mention that she's a real bad ass. There you go Kim!)

Another option that American Mobile Fitness offers their clients is Virtual Training. Any of the trainers at AMF can train clients via the internet in real time with the use of a web cam. Essentially, they can train you from anywhere around the world. For me, this is a great option because we live in the Midwest where winters can be very snowy. If I have a session scheduled but there is a snow emergency and residents are advised to stay off the roads, I can still train in the comfort of my own home using this option with no increase in fees.

Also, I only pay for what I use. If I decide that I only want to train twice a month, I only pay for two sessions. With my gym membership I am required to pay whether or not I use the facilities.

I can't speak for all trainers, but Gregg and his staff provide every client with an individualized program to use at home on days when they are not in the studio. They can tailor the program to work with the equipment that you have available. I have a designated area in my home with a treadmill, bench, free weights, etc...but if I lived in a small apartment and had very little equipment, they could put together a program using exercises that incorporated the use of just body weight and still provide me with a challenging workout.

My conclusion, while both have their benefits, I gain more from using a trainer than going it alone. A good trainer can help you prevent future health issues which can lead to costly treatment down the road. Since I've started working with Kathy and Gregg, I have made tremendous gains in my overall strength and am no longer experiencing knee pain. That, to me, is priceless.