Spring into Fitness

Why are people choosing to use the services of a Personal Trainer?

Personal training is becoming more and more popular at a time when health and fitness are at the forefront of the news. You can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV without reading or hearing about (a) the latest stats on obesity & related illnesses or (b) the latest fitness craze or superfood that you simply must try!

So why do some people choose to employ the services of a personal trainer above simply joining the local gym or weight loss group? I believe that there are a number of reasons:

1. Motivation

Many people lack the motivation to exercise on their own. I certainly know from my own experience, even as a personal trainer myself, some days I can find it very difficult to motivate myself to get out there and get my 10,000 steps in or lift some weights (I’m only human!). However, I do love motivating my clients to get their workout in and more than that, to enjoy it! A lot of people see exercise as a chore, a job that needs to be done, even a punishment! A personal trainer can help to change that mindset, making exercise a positive experience and ensuring that their clients see their workout as a reward for the body! After all, your body is amazing and deserves to be looked after!

2. Scheduled Workouts – creating good habits

If you have a scheduled appointment in your diary you are more likely to stick to it, right? Having a personal trainer means that your exercise is scheduled in and you are less likely to miss it. You create that habit of exercising every week with a trainer and many personal trainers will also create a plan for you to do at home or in the gym when you are not with them to keep up the good work!

3. To help you to set SMART goals and achieve them

A personal trainer will talk to you about what you would like to achieve and assist in setting short & long term goals which are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time based). They will design a plan which is specific to you, and you only, to enable you to achieve those goals.

4. Understanding the exercises and how to perform them properly

It is essential, if you want to avoid injury, to understand the exercises you are doing and how to do them correctly. A personal trainer will work out which exercises are best suited to achieve your goals, and will show you the correct technique, as well as practice them with you giving you as much assistance as you need to get the most out of them. Knowing how to do the exercises correctly will give you the confidence to exercise at home or in the gym independently too. A trainer will create a plan that will progress you at the correct pace in order to build up to more advanced exercises and to an increased intensity that is right for you.

5. To understand & enjoy healthy nutrition

Many personal trainers are also trained as nutrition coaches and can advise on and encourage healthy eating habits. Sometimes all it takes is some new recipe ideas, but for some, a complete overhaul is required. With a personal trainer, this can be taken one step at a time to ensure that the new regime is sustainable. A personal trainer can help create healthy habits and make them a way of life.

6. To help cope with stress & improve mental health

Stress is one of the most common problems of modern life. In today’s busy world, it’s easy to become stressed out trying to cope with work commitments & long hours, family, children & keeping up with friends. Although people cite lack of time as one of the biggest barriers to exercise, actually getting that workout in can help to relieve stress. According to NHS statistics, people who do regular exercise have up to a 30% lower risk of depression. I believe that exercising with a personal trainer, encouraging you all the way and monitoring your progress, could be the best medicine!

7. Training for a specific event

People that are more experienced with exercise often chose to work with a personal trainer to help them to train for a specific event, be it a mountain climbing expedition or a running race. A trainer can offer the expert advice and support needed for more specific training, and provide honest advice and feedback when required.

As a Personal Trainer at Team Goss Fitness in Epping, I work with both women & youths with completely different goals, from local mum’s trying to shed a few pounds and maintain their fitness in order to run around with the kids and feel great about themselves to young Ice skaters working on improving their fitness in order to achieve their competition dreams (I was there once!). I hope that as a personal trainer, I make my clients feel relaxed, build up their enthusiasm for exercise, and inspire them to achieve their goals!

Spring into Fitness with my Top 3 moves!

Spring is here at last and summer is (hopefully) just around the corner! Here are my top 3 moves to spruce up your work out:

(1) Squat with side leg raise

I love squats as they are simply a great exercise for the whole lower body. Taking the feet outside hip width, keep the tummy tight & chest up with the shoulders relaxed. Sitting downwards as though sitting on a chair or a bench, taking your weight through your heels. As you return up to the start position squeeze your glutes & lift the left leg out to the side (you will feel this working the outer thigh & hip). Repeat to the right side.

If you are a beginner, you can put a chair or a bench behind you to tap your bottom on as you squat.

If you are a seasoned squatter, add some weight in the form of dumbbells, a kettlebell or a barbell! Challenge yourself with a heavier weight after every second workout.

(2) Low Impact Burpees

I like this exercise because if you slow it down and keep it controlled you will really feel it working all the muscles in your body!

Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and arms by your sides. Crouch right down, bringing your hands to the floor, your bottom sits right down on to your heels. Step one foot back, then the other foot back so you are in a plank position. Hold that position for 3 seconds keeping your tummy tight, then step one foot in, then the other foot so that you are back sitting on your heels. Finally, stand back up and reach up to the sky.

To challenge yourself you can add dumbbells to this so that you shoulder press at the end when you stand back up.

(3) Skaters

This is a great cardio move that targets the lower body including the core.

Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart in a shallow squat position. Keeping your tummy muscles nice and tight, jump to the left, landing on your left leg, knee soft. Bring your right leg behind your left ankle, and don’t let it touch the floor (a bit like the position of a speed skater!). Then jump to the right and bring your left leg behind to your right ankle, and don’t let it touch the floor.

Once you have got the hang of it you can speed it up so you feel your heart rate increase.

I hope you enjoy these exercises in preparation for the summer! They can easily be done in the gym, at home or in the park with the kids! Have fun!

Nicola Goss
www.teamgossfitness.co.uk

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