Why Custom Built Personal Training Sessions Are Superior To A Cookie Cutter Fitness Mentality

Within the field of fitness, there are many approaches that can be taken when it comes to one’s workouts.  Some people get the bulk of their information with regard to exercise from talking to other people at the gym.  Some people try to learn by watching those who they perceive to have had success in their workouts, and then attempt to replicate those actions.  Still others utilize workout dvds and videos to help them reach their fitness goals.  The idea of a “one size fits all” approach or what I call a “cookie cutter approach”, is not only an inferior means of reaches one’s maximum potential, but it can also result in injury and/or other health problems.  A cookie cutter or one size fits all approach assumes that what works best for one person will also work best for another.  This idea is not true in many aspects of life, and it is not true in fitness either.  A custom built personal training program can be just the thing you need to maximize your results and keep you safe. 

 

With the various methods mentioned that people use to develop their workout programs, there are some inherent problems.  First, there are many people who workout at gyms and fitness facilities who consider themselves experts, but are not.  These people may offer advice and workout techniques that could potentially hurt another person.  I have seen this myself numerous times over the decades I have spent in workout facilities.  These individuals may have the best intentions for helping someone, but they may inadvertently hurt someone without even realizing it.  Based on individual backgrounds, there are certain exercises that should not be done regardless of whether or not the person uses good technique.  Certain diseases, ailments, and physical conditions can contraindicate any number of exercises.  The person in the gym who thinks he or she is an expert would likely fail to know this, much less think to ask.  A good custom built personal training program will factor in all appropriate facets of your background. 

 

Part of studying for and passing any of the top personal training certifications entails learning what not to have someone do, and when not to have them do it.  These are some of the most important things that a personal trainer can learn.  Failing to know and understand these important precautions and contraindications can lead to serious injury or worse.  Before even starting a workout, a good certified personal trainer will sit down with a potential client and review various factors in order to ascertain which methods of exercise and resistance training will be safe and appropriate.  A good personal trainer is educated in what to look for, and how to deal with any relevant issues.  Your customized workout program should help you maximize your goals while being mindful of your medical background and fitness aspirations, and a good personal trainer can be crucial to that end. 

 

Watching others and trying to duplicate their results by mimicking their actions can also be counterproductive and even dangerous.  Again, not all exercises are appropriate for all people even if they do the exercises correctly.  Additionally, there are many finer points particularly when it comes to free weight resistance training and plyometrics that the average onlooker may not pickup on.  A good personal trainer will first decide if an exercise is appropriate for you to do.  After that, the trainer will then instruct you in the proper way that an exercise should be done.  As you proceed to do the exercise, a good trainer will watch your form and technique, and correct you accordingly so that you move in the way your body is bio-mechanically designed to do so. 

 

Workout dvd’s can be a great tool for many people who like to workout in the home.  One problem however that can arise here is the fact that many workout dvd’s operate on the one size fits all approach.  If a person has any number of orthopedic problems, cardiovascular issues, or other medical problems, some or all of the dvd may be inappropriate.  It’s important to check with one’s doctor before engaging in any workout routine.  It’s also very prudent however to get the opinion of a good experienced personal trainer who, based on knowing your background, can caution you or steer you clear of certain exercises and movements that may be dangerous for you to do.  Even if you do not intend to work with a fitness professional long term, a good custom designed personal training program can set the stage for future success with your workouts. 

 

What To Expect With A Custom Built Personal Training Program 

When you first meet with a good certified personal trainer, he or she will usually spend a good amount of time having you fill out various forms related to your health, medical, and fitness background, as well as your eating habits and fitness goals.  Without this information, a good personal trainer can neither safely guide you through an appropriate workout, nor can he or she optimize your custom designed personal training program.  Information is key when it comes to training someone, and the more information the better. 

 

In a custom designed personal training program, a good personal trainer will carefully examine your background and goals, and then come up with a game plan for your workouts.  He or she will then begin to actually take you through the workout giving you proper instruction as to how to maximize the exercises, how to keep your back and various joints in the proper position, breathing techniques, and so on.  He or she may also help to educate you on some of the different aspects of nutrition as it relates to your goals.  The top personal training certifications devote a fair amount of emphasis on making sure that trainers understand a considerable amount regarding diet and nutrition. 

 

Avoiding A Bad Personal Trainer

Unfortunately not all personal trainers are competent or excel at helping others reach their fitness goals.  I have seen more than a few personal trainers in years past who themselves instituted cookie cutter programs with their clients.  They would go from one client to the next basically doing the same workouts in the same way.  Whether this be from laziness or ignorance, clients who have such a trainer will not realize optimal benefits from this approach.  Finding a personal trainer should entail taking the time to search for a certified, experienced professional who takes their work seriously and has a track record to prove it.  A good custom built personal training program will be unique to you and your needs and help you see the results you’ve been hoping for.