We get many calls or drop-ins from people looking for information on fitness training and their primary questions revolve around cost. Especially in these uncertain times the cost of any item should be a consideration, but you should also be considering the “quality” connected to the price.
Many people do not know what quality Personal Training entails. With true Personal Training you have a Certified Personal Trainer with you every moment of your fitness session not only guiding you, but motivating you to achieve a fitness level that you probably would not be able to achieve on your own. Your trainer should continuously build training programs that will help you to progress quickly towards your fitness goal, while building confidence and well-being.
There are many choices for fitness studios:
There is the gym where you can go on your own and use their equipment. The downside to a gym is that they are usually crowded, the equipment that you want to use is not always available, and most people don’t have the expertise to use the equipment to achieve maximum benefits.
There is the fitness studio that offers various options: spinning classes, aerobic classes, yoga, Pilates, etc. They may also offer sessions with a “personal trainer” for an additional fee. When you go to a studio like this, there is no guarantee that you will be working with the personal trainer on a one-to-one basis; oftentimes there is more than one client in the session. In addition, you may not always have the same trainer, so that trainer will not know your strengths or weaknesses, or how to train you to reach your maximum benefit. There is also less motivation; you just go whenever you want to go for a session, not on a regimented schedule.
There is the circuit-training studio. You will use various pieces of equipment, going from one station to the next for about 3-5 minutes on a regular basis. The problem with this is that you can rarely change intensity at any station, so you never progress. You just keep doing the same thing over and over again with no one to monitor your progress, if any. I call this being able to “say” you are exercising, without actually doing so.
There are also places like the YMCA or Rec Centers that cater to families. Here you can also train with a “personal trainer” for an additional fee. Oftentimes these trainers are not true personal trainers; they are employees that will help you use the various machines but have no real investment in your fitness or goals.
And now, back to prices. When you go from one establishment to another and ask for prices - what are you comparing? Every establishment is different, so you are comparing “apples to oranges” as the saying goes. True Personal Training cannot be compared with any other fitness location. Bottom line – you get what you pay for. If you want to throw your money away just to “say” you are exercising, that’s your choice. But if you actually want to get results and make your money work for you, then go to a quality Personal Training Studio.
Here at Fitness Together we offer more than just training sessions; we honestly care about our clients. Few other establishments can make that claim.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
"Peggy's Story"
I have been blessed in owning my own Personal Training Studio. I’m doing something I love and helping people in the process. I’ve been lucky that the clients we have had at our Studio in Williamsburg have all been wonderful people who appreciate the benefits of Personal Training and continue to come to us to not only achieve their fitness goals, but exceed them.
I’m so proud of the fact that, after almost 2 ½ years, I still have my very first Williamsburg client. She is still one of my hardest-working clients, and continues to improve week to week. Because she has been a client for so long, my wife and I know a lot about her thoughts and how she views not only her life, but how fitness fits into her daily routine. I thought that her “story” might be of interest:
“Almost two and a half years ago, I first signed up with Fitness Together because I knew that I had to do something to improve my health and lifestyle. At age 72, my joints ached, my steps were slower and I was beginning to feel what I thought were the effects of aging . . . this was NOT acceptable!
Fitness Together was just in the process of opening when I first stopped by for some information. One on one workouts with a trainer was a new concept for me . . . and one about which I was not too certain! Over time, I have realized that this arrangement is ideal because each session is geared to the competency of the client; however, the challenge to do better and become stronger is the focus towards which both the trainer and the client work! My personal goal is to bench press 100 pounds . . . an accomplishment I want to achieve because if an 87-year old woman in CA can do it . . . why not I?
Reactions to my working out have been mixed . . from "you are too old for that kind of activity," to "working out is not lady like," to "you will bulk up lifting weights," as well as other so-called reasons . . . which in reality are just excuses that others use for not accepting their own needs and challenges!
Had I listened to or acted upon the "you're too old" comments, I would not have achieved many goals in my life! For a variety of reasons, I was unable to start college until I was 40 years of age. . . . shortly after I began a new career in museum work. Never, have I had so much fun or worked so hard in my entire life! And what a terrific feeling of accomplishment each diploma and degree brought me! I feel the same way about working out . . . some days are better than others if/when weight amounts can be increased or I can do more reps! And for each session the trainer provides the challenges and the encouragement to work harder! And I cannot stress the professionalism of the trainers at Fitness Together enough . . .they are outstanding individuals!
As for the "bulking up" or "not lady like" comments . . . not true . . and not possible! The result of working out . . . at any age . . is good health, both physical and mental and is a lifetime commitment!
I . . . nor anyone else . . . can "make" an individual begin to work out, for each person must make his or her own decision. Some people my age, and even younger are content to take medicines . . prescribed and otherwise . . and live with poor health. My personal philosophy is to practice "preventive medicine" and by that, I mean to keep my body as strong as possible for as long as possible! And because of my sessions at Fitness Together, I am achieving that goal and am most grateful for the opportunity!”
Peggy McDonald Howells
I’m so proud of the fact that, after almost 2 ½ years, I still have my very first Williamsburg client. She is still one of my hardest-working clients, and continues to improve week to week. Because she has been a client for so long, my wife and I know a lot about her thoughts and how she views not only her life, but how fitness fits into her daily routine. I thought that her “story” might be of interest:
“Almost two and a half years ago, I first signed up with Fitness Together because I knew that I had to do something to improve my health and lifestyle. At age 72, my joints ached, my steps were slower and I was beginning to feel what I thought were the effects of aging . . . this was NOT acceptable!
Fitness Together was just in the process of opening when I first stopped by for some information. One on one workouts with a trainer was a new concept for me . . . and one about which I was not too certain! Over time, I have realized that this arrangement is ideal because each session is geared to the competency of the client; however, the challenge to do better and become stronger is the focus towards which both the trainer and the client work! My personal goal is to bench press 100 pounds . . . an accomplishment I want to achieve because if an 87-year old woman in CA can do it . . . why not I?
Reactions to my working out have been mixed . . from "you are too old for that kind of activity," to "working out is not lady like," to "you will bulk up lifting weights," as well as other so-called reasons . . . which in reality are just excuses that others use for not accepting their own needs and challenges!
Had I listened to or acted upon the "you're too old" comments, I would not have achieved many goals in my life! For a variety of reasons, I was unable to start college until I was 40 years of age. . . . shortly after I began a new career in museum work. Never, have I had so much fun or worked so hard in my entire life! And what a terrific feeling of accomplishment each diploma and degree brought me! I feel the same way about working out . . . some days are better than others if/when weight amounts can be increased or I can do more reps! And for each session the trainer provides the challenges and the encouragement to work harder! And I cannot stress the professionalism of the trainers at Fitness Together enough . . .they are outstanding individuals!
As for the "bulking up" or "not lady like" comments . . . not true . . and not possible! The result of working out . . . at any age . . is good health, both physical and mental and is a lifetime commitment!
I . . . nor anyone else . . . can "make" an individual begin to work out, for each person must make his or her own decision. Some people my age, and even younger are content to take medicines . . prescribed and otherwise . . and live with poor health. My personal philosophy is to practice "preventive medicine" and by that, I mean to keep my body as strong as possible for as long as possible! And because of my sessions at Fitness Together, I am achieving that goal and am most grateful for the opportunity!”
Peggy McDonald Howells
Friday, October 2, 2009
Choice and Responsibility
If you think getting in good shape is only about looking good, think again. Maintaining a fit and healthy body is good for your appearance, true, but is is also good for society. How’s that? Think about it this way: If more people took responsibility for their own health and well-being, insurance and health care costs would plummet. Unfortunately, irresponsibility is off the charts!
Responsibility is a choice, not something that happens to you. You have the choice to be the “victim” or “owner” of the situation. An owner will look for solutions; and a victim will find excuses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical expenses for the overweight and obese may be as high as $147 billion annually. The costs of inactivity bump that up considerably higher – but what if more people got off their butts on a regular basis and stopped stuffing their faces with fast food? Eventually we’d all be paying a lot less for health insurance, the rates of which have skyrocketed because so many people are continually eating too much garbage too often, not exercising and ending up requiring medical attention.
We must be responsible – the “response” being to eat better and exercise so we are “able” to cruise through life happier and healthier without sucking huge chunks of money out of our overtaxed system to treat diseases that are preventable. And I’m not just talking about heart disease. Being overweight and/or not eating right increases the risk of diabetes, arthritis and multiple cancers – not to mention depression.
Matters become even more important as we age and our immune systems become less efficient. The older we get, the more we need to hit the weights and do cardio exercise on a regular basis to remain mobile and stay in the game.
To quote one of my clients, “My advice: Stop the excuses, stop the second guessing. Do it for yourself, do it for your family. I made the choice to change my life – I look better and I feel Great!”
So….Owner or Victim????
Responsibility is a choice, not something that happens to you. You have the choice to be the “victim” or “owner” of the situation. An owner will look for solutions; and a victim will find excuses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical expenses for the overweight and obese may be as high as $147 billion annually. The costs of inactivity bump that up considerably higher – but what if more people got off their butts on a regular basis and stopped stuffing their faces with fast food? Eventually we’d all be paying a lot less for health insurance, the rates of which have skyrocketed because so many people are continually eating too much garbage too often, not exercising and ending up requiring medical attention.
We must be responsible – the “response” being to eat better and exercise so we are “able” to cruise through life happier and healthier without sucking huge chunks of money out of our overtaxed system to treat diseases that are preventable. And I’m not just talking about heart disease. Being overweight and/or not eating right increases the risk of diabetes, arthritis and multiple cancers – not to mention depression.
Matters become even more important as we age and our immune systems become less efficient. The older we get, the more we need to hit the weights and do cardio exercise on a regular basis to remain mobile and stay in the game.
To quote one of my clients, “My advice: Stop the excuses, stop the second guessing. Do it for yourself, do it for your family. I made the choice to change my life – I look better and I feel Great!”
So….Owner or Victim????
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