I’ll be the first to tell you that you need to consult an expert when it comes to your fitness program. A well qualified personal trainer will assist you in developing a program with your exact goals and physical limitations in mind. Having said this, I know that a personal trainer is out of the financial reach of many folks. What can you do? You still have a variety of options to help you get on the best fitness track for 2010.
Small Group Training
Rather than looking at personal training in a one on one setting, have you considered it in a small group? This option works best when a group of people with similar fitness goals hire a trainer to work with them at a mutually agreed upon time. This works out to be a fraction of the cost of one on one training and you can benefit from the energy of a small group as well.
Group Fitness or Boot Camp
This is another viable option for you. Your best ‘bang for your buck’ is to sign up for a series of classes or a boot camp. This gives the personal trainer of the group the opportunity to get to know you, your goals, needs and limitations. Any good trainer will work with this information to modify or intensify the ‘class workout’ to fit your personal needs. If you do a ‘drop in’ to any group class or boot camp, you miss out on the chance to get to know the trainer or have the trainer get to know you. Building a relationship with a trainer is the key and it is totally possible to do with this low cost option. I’d love to see you in my boot camp if this is something that is of interest to you.
Online training
If time is a limiting factor in your day, you may consider training on your own with the support of an online personal trainer. There are some fabulous online programs available with all kinds of support. There’s no need for a gym membership or fancy equipment. Many of these programs require only a small space, a few dumb bells, perhaps a skipping rope and basic items from your home like a wall, sturdy chair and set of stairs.
Before you buy into this sort of program, be sure to thoroughly research the trainers credentials. Look at the testimonials and ensure they are from real people with realistic results. You may be able to ‘follow’ this trainer first on Facebook, a blog or from an established online community before buying the program. This would allow you to get to know and trust the trainer at no cost first before you spend a dime. If this seems like a viable alternative to you, you can check out my e-book for at home fat burning workouts.
The ‘take away’ message here is that lack of time or finances are no longer a good excuse for avoiding fitness. There are options out there that will fit any budget.