"A lot of trainers will let the client dictate the workout when they don't feel confident enough in their own knowledge or belief system in how they teach," says Borden. "You'd be surprised at how many clients dictate to their trainers." So make sure you are getting the most out of what you pay for and go to an instructor with a lot of experience. You're paying them for a reason.
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They might not push you
A lot of people go to trainers because they want someone to motivate them -- make them get the job done even though they don't feel like it. And unfortunately, some trainers will let you get away with having a lazy workout. Some fitness trainers "operate out of fear that they will lose a client if they say anything negative," says Borden, which means they won't kick your butt when you need it most. These are the trainers you want to avoid, because you can be lazy and ineffective in the gym all by yourself and for a lot less money.
So as it turns out, getting in shape isn't the great mystery we all like to think it is. In reality it's just: Eat right. Work out. Repeat.
But of course, as anyone who's ever tried can attest, that's way easier said than done. Getting the motivation to haul our hasn't-seen-a-bikini-since-high-school butt to the gym and saying "no thanks, I've had enough" to the chocolate Bundt cake crying our name from the kitchen at 11 p.m. is hard. Really hard. Almost as hard as our fantasy abs.
Sometimes, we just can't do it by ourselves. We like our excuses too much -- we made them up after all. Which is why it can often be extremely helpful to buckle down and hire a fitness trainer. Someone to motivate you, help you stick to your goals, and most importantly, help you navigate the gym and all that equipment so that you get the most out of your workout.
But just like anyone trying to make a buck off your self-improvement, there are bound to be some things they don't mention to you in order to get your business. And with price tags ranging anywhere from 50 to 200 bucks a training session, your business is worth fighting for. So if you are spending the dough on a fitness trainer, make sure you're putting your muscle (however weak) behind that money. Learn the secrets your trainer would rather you not know from fitness and lifestyle consultant Ashley Borden, because your brain is a muscle too you know.
