7 Tips for Maximizing Results with a Personal Trainer

You want to look and feel your best. The best way to accomplish your goals? A personal trainer.

A personal trainer is an investment. Working with a personal trainer requires you put the effort at the gym and at home. This person also will ensure that you stay on track for your fitness goals.

But just hiring a personal trainer isn’t enough to guarantee the results you seek. For that, you want to maximize your time with them. 

Try out these 7 tips that will maximize your results!

Attend Every Session

If your workout session is at an odd hour of the day, making every appointment can be difficult. An extra hour of sleep or a night out with friends can tempt you into skipping a session now and then.

This is not only a waste of your hard-earned money, but it also hurts your progress! Even skipping one appointment can establish a bad pattern.

Hear from the experts themselves. Leah Georges, an athlete and personal trainer in London, says that her biggest motivation is seeing her clients make the effort to stay fit. Who doesn’t want their trainer on their side? Do yourself and your trainer a favour by making every scheduled session.

If you need to cancel a session, let your trainer know in advance. This way, you can avoid a last-minute cancellation fee. Cancelling in advance also shows your trainer you respect their time.

Eat Healthy and Stay Hydrated

Even if you leave every workout session with sore muscles and a soaked-through t-shirt, you won’t see progress without properly fuelling your body. Follow these steps for making sure you have enough energy:

• Drink and hydrate before your workout. This way, you won’t become fatigued during your session.
• Bring water and a snack to your session. Make sure you have the fuel you need to exert your full effort throughout each session. 
• Consume enough protein. This helps your body repair micro-tears and build muscle.

Take Care of Yourself

If your trainer isn’t giving you homework, ask for it. Stretch before and after every workout. Perform stretches throughout the week to keep your body from becoming tense. Tend to injuries properly.

Communicate

Tell your trainer if a workout is:

• Too intense
• Too simple
• Causing you pain unrelated to the build-up of lactic acid.

You likely aren’t the only client your trainer is supporting. Be vocal about what you’re capable of and what you want. If you want to replace some cardio with more weightlifting, voice your thoughts.

Be Honest

Be honest with your trainer. If you had a week of bad dieting, tell them. They can give you advice on how to curb cravings and eat healthier. 

It’s also important to be honest with yourself. Why are you requesting to do more yoga instead of more cardio? Are you doing so to improve your flexibility? Or are you trying to avoid intense sprints that tire you quickly? Being honest with your trainer also will enable them to give you honest feedback.

Be an Active Learner

It’s likely you won’t be with your trainer forever. Take advantage of your time with them. Keep a workout journal or take notes on your phone. Record things like weight amounts, repetitions, and techniques. This way, you’ll have a valuable resource to revisit when you start working out on your own. 

Prioritize Your Fitness Goals

Don’t treat each session individually. While it is important to be focused throughout each workout, you should always have your long-term goals in mind. Inform your coach of your goals and any changes that arise. Have your coach create a plan that’s meant to fulfil your goals. 

If you’re struggling to come up with goals, have your coach help you. After seeing you work out, they’ll be able to judge your fitness level and capabilities. 

Setting goals while you’re with a personal coach is a great way to get in shape. Your coach will hold you accountable to your goals and motivate you through challenging exercises.  

Implement these 7 tips to get the most out of your experience with your trainer!