5 Reasons NOT to Hire a PT or Online Coach
There are hundreds of personal trainers and online coaches ready to work with you, willing to take your money. But is it actually a good investment for you?
Let’s go against the grain and discuss the reasons why you SHOULDN’T hire a personal trainer.
As a personal trainer myself, you may be thinking, “Why is this guy trying to convince me not to hire one?” Simply, lots of people think that personal trainers have magic wands that can make body fat drop off. I want to tell you the reality of working with a personal trainer and what it can mean to your life.
What is a personal trainer?
A personal trainer (PT) is an individual who is qualified to give you a safe and effective training program for all levels of fitness. It’s a PT’s responsibility to help you choose specific goals and create a personalised program, while also guiding you through other lifestyle changes needed to reach your goal.
5 reasons not to use a personal trainer
1. You’ll have to put in the work
Let’s start with the obvious. A personal trainer is going to make sure every gym session you have is hard work.
No more slacking off, no more easy sessions, and no more missing the gym completely.
If you’re not ready to commit to that, a personal trainer isn't the right hire for you. I mean, who really wants an effective workout anyway? We go to the gym to tick off our attendance, right?
To top it all off, hard work will mean you actually get to make progress and lose that weight that “just wouldn't budge” for the past 5 years. Who needs that?
2. Extra socialising
Covid turned a lot of people into introverts. Socialising now can be seen as overwhelming and we try to keep our friendship circles as small as possible. Imagine having to add one more person to the list of people you need to interact with on a daily basis.
Hiring a personal trainer is like hiring a supportive friend. (Let’s face it: all your friends might be more supportive if you were paying them.)
Not only does this mean that you have to interact in person multiple times per week, you will also have to speak to them daily as they support you through your journey.
A supportive friend who will help you on a daily basis–how exhausting is that?
A personal trainer will feel like another friend to you. Your goals are now their goals. You should be part of a team with the same aim. Do this and you will succeed together.
3. Spend your beer money on your health
Times are hard. Let’s be clear on that.
You may assume that this relates to the cost of hiring a personal trainer, but you are mistaken. I’m talking about the extra money you’ll spend on Christmas and birthday presents when your personal trainer has inspired you to put in the work and progress in a way you haven't managed before.
When you have that sort of relationship with your personal trainer, it can cost you an absolute fortune. The cost of hiring the personal trainer will feel minuscule in comparison to all the extra money you feel like they have earned.
When it comes to cost, it is all about priorities and perspective.
Will you invest money into your own health on a monthly basis, or spend the same amount of money on one night out?
A personal trainer might sound expensive, but when you put it into perspective, it’s an investment in which you will get a return on your investment… and then some.
4. Accountability
When you hire a personal trainer, there is no slacking anymore. No missed sessions, no missed targets, no half-arsed goals and no weeks off (unless it is needed).
A personal trainer will be the annoying little voice in your ear telling you to go to the gym, go for the run you planned, or get that extra rep you wouldn't attempt on your own. Imagine how frustrating it will be when you can no longer sack off the gym!
The thought of regular check-ins with your personal trainer could feel uneasy. What if you haven’t hit your targets this week? What if you missed a session because you've been ill. Will they shout at you?
Remember: a personal trainer isn't there to shout at you or make you feel guilty.
They are there to guide you and help you work towards your goals. Not everyday is perfect, but as long as you stick to consistent good habits, you will progress.
5. Jealous friends and attention
Get ready for everyone to say how good you look when you’ve been working with your personal trainer for a couple of months.
Everywhere you go, people you know will be pointing out how trim you look. (Makes you wonder what they thought before, right?)
There will be two kinds of people you deal with in this scenario: those who want to get on board, and those who want to say that “you look too skinny now”.
The second person is jealous. Simple as that. Not necessarily of the way you look–jealous of the fact that you have committed to something and succeeded more than they ever could. If you have supportive friends, like your personal trainer (AKA me!), this won’t be an issue.
Are you convinced not to hire a personal trainer?
If I haven’t managed to convince you, a personal trainer is the right hire for you.
A personal trainer will guide you and give you all the knowledge you need to achieve your goals. They will provide accountability, support, education and an action plan specific to you, so I'll say it again: Hiring a PT is a no brainer, right?
If you’re looking for a personal trainer or online fat loss coach, I’m here to help.
Book a free consultation today and take the first step to reach your fitness goals.