For those who have either reached a plateau in their fitness journey or are simply new to it, personal training may be the missing piece to meet their fitness goals. Working with a personal trainer can bring your fitness journey to the next level in various ways.

No matter where you are, it can be helpful to have some insight into the benefits of personal training and to see if this option is something you should consider.

Let’s examine personal training, its benefits, and how our trainers at Carbon Performance can personalize your training needs.

Who is a Personal Trainer?

A personal trainer, also known as an exercise trainer, is knowledgeable in the fitness world and can strategically help clients or small groups meet their weight, fitness, or health goals. Typically, personal trainers can meet with their clients at a local gym or can meet the client in the comfort of their own home. Your fitness trainer can help you narrow down your goals and create a personal plan for you to reach them with the help of a consistent workout schedule and proper nutrition.

Are Personal Trainers Certified?

Most personal trainers are certified through NCCA accreditations, like NASM or ACE. These programs provide fitness instructors with the knowledge, expertise, and training required to be personal trainers and give them the credibility, experience, and confidence to train and coach clients. When looking for a personal trainer, be sure to inquire about their qualifications and credentials, as this shows their dedication to their role and their care for you as a client to provide you with the best possible knowledge, safely. In the same way, you would not visit a health professional who is not licensed or certified, your approach to finding a personal trainer should be the same.

How Personal Trainers Tailor Workouts For Your Goals

One of the most unique aspects of a personal trainer is that they can tailor workouts specific to your goals. For example, if you’re looking to lose weight, your trainer will create a schedule that is focused on strength training, cardio, and a specific meal-prepping plan.

Before a personal trainer can tailor a workout for your goals, they typically use a “5-Step Plan” to ensure they cover all their bases.

Here is how a trainer could curate a workout plan for you:

  1. Assessment: First and foremost, your trainer will review your body composition, consisting of your fat and lean mass. Usually, these markers can be determined with non-invasive scans to understand your current body makeup better and build. During this time, they will also discuss your current fitness level and if you are facing any mobility issues that could interfere with specific workouts. Think of this kind of assessment as the starting point for your trainer to ensure they are creating a plan that makes sense for you, and only you!
  2. Set Goals: Your trainer will want to know your goals regarding your fitness and health. Getting specific on your goals is essential at this point, such as if you want to lose weight, meet a certain weight by a particular time, gain muscle, or simply improve overall fitness.
  3. Curating Your Plan: Now that your trainer better understands you and your goals, the fun part of creating your personalized workout plan comes to life. You and your trainer will discuss your current schedule and what time you can devote to meeting up for your workouts. Let’s say you’re someone who can only work out 4 days a week, to gain muscle, but lose excess weight, then your personalized workout plan may look like this:
    Sunday: Rest day
    Monday: 45 – 60 minute cardio focus
    Tuesday: 45 – 60 minute strength training (lower body)
    Wednesday: Rest day
    Thursday: 45 – 60 minutes strength training (upper body)
    Friday: Rest
    Saturday: 45 – 60 minutes cardio focus. This is just a general idea, but your trainer is there to guide you during each of these workouts. During strength training days, they will coach you through specific movements and repetitions, focusing on the upper or lower body. On cardio days, they may incorporate the treadmill while using speed and incline to keep the blood flowing.
  4. Implement Cardio or Strength Training: Depending on your goals, you may recommend cardio more than strength training. Cardio is excellent for the heart, lungs, and overall health. Strength training is ideal for the person whose goal is to build muscle, improve bone density, and lose weight. Both cardio and strength training are excellent forms of exercise. With your trainer’s knowledge, they can strategically determine where to sprinkle these forms of exercise into your plan.
  5. Implement a Nutrition or Diet Plan: Your fitness goals are only as good as your nutrition! With this in mind, your trainer can help create a clear and direct nutrition plan for you. This can look like making a plan for meal prepping, determining how much protein to intake, and ways to limit processed foods and sugars. Since food is fuel, the goal is to curate a helpful nutrition plan that works for you, not against you.

5 Key Benefits of Working One-on-One With a Certified Personal Trainer

Beyond a personalized workout and nutrition plan with a personal trainer, they bring additional perks. Some key benefits of working one-on-one with a certified personal trainer include:

  1. Accountability: Many people work hard not to disappoint those in their lives, and when you work out with a personal trainer, that accountability is at an all-time high, which is a plus! Strong accountability from a personal trainer can ensure that you are meeting the right benchmarks to push you toward your goals further. Your trainer can hold you accountable by checking in with you via text or call weekly or daily. The iKnowingone is waiting for you at the gym to show up and show out can prevent you from backing out. Instead, you will hold yourself accountable to make your trainer and future YOU proud!
  2. Balanced Workouts: Since personal trainers have received extensive training and certification in their field, you can trust that you will get top-quality and balanced workouts. This means that you will not have to worry about neglecting certain parts of your body when it comes to working out. Balanced workouts add variety to your workout routine, such as some days being devoted to the upper body, other days to the lower body, and the rest focusing on cardio.
  3. Nutrition Guidance: Knowing foods to add or limit in your diet to reach your physical goals can be daunting. With a personal trainer, they will help you create a realistic plan for what your nutrition should look like. Protein plays a vital role in losing weight and gaining muscle, and having a guide to help you know how many grams to get in a day can be incredibly helpful. In addition, your trainer can remind you that it is okay to have a “cheat” day here and there!
  4. Injury Prevention: Workout injuries are common, but you can easily prevent them when you are taught the correct form. Personal trainers fill that gap by coming alongside you to ensure that each exercise movement is correct from head to toe. Similarly, they can help you pace yourself on the treadmill or when lifting weights. Injury prevention is essential, and by decreasing the risk of injury in the gym, you are increasing the time you can spend at the gym pushing toward your goals.
  5. Flexible Schedule: We all have busy schedules and lives, and at times, going to the gym can be at the bottom of the list. Some gyms only offer workout classes during the middle of the workday, or are not open when you are available. With a personal trainer, you are afforded the option of having a flexible training schedule. If you can only go to the gym three times a week on certain days, then a personal trainer is the right option. Typically, personal trainers are not limited to one set schedule but rather work around their clients’ schedules to better serve them and their needs. Similarly, if you can only devote 30 minutes, trainers can honor your time while working towards your health goals.

Who is an Ideal Client for a Personal Trainer?

Everyone can benefit from working with a personal trainer, no matter where you land on the fitness spectrum. More specifically, clients who are experiencing or wanting the following may see growth from working with a personal trainer:

  • Experiencing a plateau in their fitness journey regarding their weight loss, muscle gain, or nutrition
  • Wanting further accountability in the gym
  • Wanting a clear, direct, and personalized structure in the gym
  • Wanting to further invest their time and money into working out one-on-one with a trained fitness coach
  • Wanting to be consistent and disciplined in their fitness journey

How Long Will It Be Before I Can See Results From Personal Training?

The most common question in the gym is, “How long until we see results?” And while we wish we had a clear answer, the reality is that achieving results looks different for everyone. Factors to consider include the client’s starting weight and overall fitness, how often they train with their trainer, and how dedicated the client is to their plan. In some cases, clients can see initial results in their energy and sleep within 1 month, while more physical results can be seen in 3 – 4 months.

The bottom line is that discipline and consistency are key to seeing those results within a few months. And the goal of our trainers is to offer not only accountability, but also support and encouragement.

Alternatives to Personal Training

If you’re someone looking to elevate their current fitness routine, but working with a personal trainer is not an option, there are alternatives. Instead, you may want to consider group fitness workouts like yoga, cycling, or pilates. In these group settings, you are still guided by a trained fitness group, performing the repetitions and movements with other gym-goers. The benefits of group training are similar to personal training in that it provides further accountability and decreases the risk of injury. They can also give a stronger sense of community with those at your gym.

Carbon Performance’s Personalized Approach to Fitness

Our trainers at Carbon Performance are here to help you on your health and fitness journey. We provide top-quality customer service in personal training by offering:

  • Custom nutrition plans
  • Custom workout plans
  • Supplementation list
  • Weekly check-ins
  • 24/7 communication and access
  • Up-to-date information on the latest research and science on fitness

Don’t believe us? Find out by scheduling a FREE consultation with one of our trainers today. They will happily answer any questions and help you determine the following steps to meet your fitness goals.

With locations in Franklin and The Nations, our mission remains the same: helping clients transform their fitness story by allowing each one to experience the difference with Carbon Performance. Connect with us today!

Personal Training FAQs

How Often Does Someone Need to See a Personal Trainer for Results?

The amount of time needed to see results from working with a personal trainer will depend on goals and how often someone can commit to a set workout schedule. For those looking to lose some extra weight, working out with a personal trainer anywhere from 3 to 5 times weekly can be helpful. Remember that a good workout is only as good as your nutrition, and a skilled personal trainer can help create a proper meal plan for you to reach your fitness goals.

Can a Personal Trainer Help with Nutrition?

Yes! Personal trainers can help fine-tune your diet to ensure your work in the gym is not in vain! They can help create a meal plan that allows you to lose weight and tone your overall body. Usually, this looks like a diet focused on high protein, with healthy fats and carbs.

How Long Do I Need a Personal Trainer For?

In most cases, clients can see results from consistent training with a personal trainer anywhere from 3 to 6 months. However, this will depend on the level of consistency and effort the client brings! The goal is to then create a lifestyle change where weekly exercise and a healthy diet are a habit.