Tips for Getting the Most From Your Personal Training

My trainer told me something funny today. He said that some people just expect to get results from training because they hire a trainer. It's the classic looking outside yourself for answers. They just want to say they have a trainer or they think the accountability of having someone tell them what to do or having a place to go is going to make the difference. The answers are still inside yourself.

After 6 months of training with my trainer, who is arguably (pun intended) the best and most caring trainer around, here are some of the tips I have for making the most of having a trainer. And yes, I do like saying "my trainer", but that's not what gets the results.

Pay attention.

Watch and listen when your trainer is showing you things. Try to remember the names of the machines or exercises for future reference. Don't interrupt to show off what you know. Listen. You can show off what you know by doing the exercises correctly and correcting your form when you catch yourself doing things wrong. You can show off what you know by walking to the right machine when the trainer tells you what you're going to do next. 

Communicate, but don't complain.

Ask questions and let your trainer know if you have problems or pain or truly can't do something, but never complain. Act like everything you have to do is just fine with you. If you have to make faces or breathe hard or struggle, so be it, just don't complain. Let the trainer make the adjustments for you. 

Don't be embarrassed. 

Your trainer should want to help you. Don't be embarrassed to try things. If you fall or do things that are different and outside your comfort zone, try to look at it as part of the fun. I have done some crazy looking stuff. I have fallen. I have hopped. 

Enjoy the attention.

You are the spotlight. It's your time. Enjoy it. Accept it. Receive it. Don't shut out the help that you have decided you need and you have finally asked for and you deserve. 

Stay in the moment. 

Working out with a trainer is an excellent way to work your mind and body in a meditative/yoga-like way if you stay in the moment. Focus on the actual work. Breathe into your muscles. Breathe into the pain. Just breathe. Check your attitude. If you're thinking that you hate being there or it's hard, you're missing the opportunity to learn and grow from the yoga lessons of becoming strong through stress. Be happy you're there. Enjoy every moment and focus on each exercise and remaining calm in the struggle. 

Keep your goals fluid

This one might seem controversial. Most people tell you to make your goals tangible or measurable. I've had more success recently with more fluid and present moment goals. They are bigger than they seem. I have been happy with getting stronger and with losing weight steadily as it comes. It seems like that is wishy washy and would set me up for failure. But I'm attacking it with a different attitude. I'm not wishy washy at all.

I know I am in this for the long haul. I know that I will be losing consistently. I'm not going to give up if I don't hit certain numbers at certain times. I've lost about 60 pounds in 11 months. I have gone through months where I lost no pounds, but I kept eating right and working out. I didn't know 60 pounds ago how many pounds I wanted to lose. I just started losing and didn't worry about it. 

When I started working out in August, I only wanted to lose more weight. I had no idea my pain would go away and I would want to get stronger and shape my body in a different way and feel more confident in ways that have nothing to do with my body. Sometimes your goals can reveal themselves from the training. Keep your eyes open! There should be some surprises! 

Just hiring a trainer will not change you. You have to show up for yourself. If you make the decision to hire a trainer, make the most of it!