ULTIMATE WORKOUT GUIDE

As a personal trainer for 10 years, I have worked with clients as infrequently as once a month and as frequently as 6 times a week. A good rule of thumb is the less experience and knowledge you have about exercise, the more necessary it is to meet frequently especially in the beginning. Maybe you have been working out a long time but you still need that accountability so one weekly appointment is enough. Some people are motivated to workout on their own and just want to ‘check-in’ once a month to get some new material. There is no right answer because it depends on your particular needs and wants. Below are my recommendations:

If you are new to exercise I suggest meeting with a trainer 2 or 3 times a week. I realize this adds up quickly but the beginning stages of a new exercise regiment are a critical time. For example people with great intentions of getting in shape often injure themselves quickly because they don’t really know what they’re doing. The supervision by a trainer in the beginning will get you off to a great start by learning the basics about good form. This will help to prevent injuries down the road. Also, most people fall off course during the first 3 weeks of a new attempt at exercise. By having several training appointments early on you will gain the momentum you need in order to hang on through this tough period.

Lots of people are very well aware of what to do at the gym but just can’t seem to get to the gym. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably a good idea to always have a weekly appointment on the calendar. Accountability is a very legitimate reason to have a trainer. My clients say to me all the time: “If I didn’t have this appointment, I wouldn’t have exercised today.” Be honest with yourself and if you know you won’t do it on your own then some accountability might be just what you need.

If you are at a pretty good level of fitness but you do the same exercises all the time, having an appointment once a month to spice up your routine is a great idea. Here’s why: Have you heard people talk about the need to ‘confuse your body’? What it basically means is that you don’t want you body to become too comfortable. This happens when you do the same thing all the time. Ideally, you should be challenging your body and ‘confusing’ it by doing different exercises with different levels of exertion. This is the best way to optimize your exercise. So, if you find yourself bored in your routine or not challenged but motivated enough to do it on your own, you would greatly benefit from a once a month appointment. The new material will keep you challenged and engaged.

Maybe you don’t need any instruction from a trainer because you’ve been exercising for years. Maybe you’re exercising consistently on your own and you don’t need the accountability. I would still suggest having a trainer that you check in with once a month. I’ll tell you why. Everybody needs a coach. Even professional athletes and Olympians need coaches. If you work out alone, it’s very easy to ignore injuries, fall into a run, get bored and not challenge yourself. Meeting with a trainer once a month is great way to mix up your workouts and keep them fresh and challenging. Also, a trainer will not let you ignore an injury.

Remember that the frequency of your training is not set in stone. Sometimes it may be more frequently, other times less frequently depending on what’s going on in your life. Your trainer will always work with you to do what is appropriate at any given time. If you’re lucky enough to have a trainer that you really enjoy and that’s helping you to get the results you want, they’re probably going to be in your life for a long time!

Picking the right Denver Personal Trainer can make or break your resolution to get fit. Let us be your fitness confidant and sketch a individual workout plan that is best for you. Visit www.filettifitness.com right now for more information.