A few weeks ago I was back in PA for Thanksgiving. Outside of the bitter cold I really enjoyed the trip. It was really nice to spend some time with family and eat copious amounts of dead animal flesh, stuffing, and various forms of dessert.
Sometime before dinner, my brother in law asked me about my take on Crossfit. This wasn't the first time I had been asked this question, so my response was relatively quick and well-rehearsed. After I shared my thoughts, I started thinking about the frequency that this debate occurs across the interwebz.
First, let me say that I am not a "Crossfitter". I have never stepped foot in a "box" and never participated in a "WOD". I won't get into why. It's just not my bag baby.
So why is the Crossfit discussion so popular? The more I think about it, the more I keep coming back to one response:
WHO CARES??
It is such a tired argument and frankly I'm tired of hearing it.
Sure we can argue the dangers of putting a loaded barbell in the hands of a beginner, the lack of individual assessment, high dropout rate, the rhabdomyolysis scare etc. Next thing you know, Crossfit is going to cause cancer.
I should also mention not all Crossfit facilities are created equal. There are several coaches out there that do a great job assessing and programming for the individual limitations and strengths of their members.
I'm not debating Crossfit's effectiveness. The system has produced some amazing bodies and extremely fit individuals. At the end of the day, the best program is one the individual will stick with long term. You could design the best program in the world, but if the individual doesn't adhere to it, none of that matters.
Crossfit isn't for everyone. The same can be said for powerlifting, bodybuilding, football, and naked twister. But you don't see entire forum threads devoted to arguing the semantics of, "Right hand green." Do some research and determine what training modality will best fit your goals. Then just give it a shot. If it doesn't work or you hate it, move on and try something else.
Look, it doesent matter what you do. There is always going to be an element of risk involved in any activity. Every time you crawl out of bed, you run the risk of getting hurt.
What's that? You forgot to screw in the lid on your coffee mug? BURN!!
I think you see my point here.
As with any endeavor, the most important thing is identifying the risk factors involved and managing that risk. This can be done with education, good systems and quality coaching. If an organization has these things in place, there is very little to worry about.
In the end, we are all fighting the same fight. The fight against an overweight nation and a sedentary lifestyle. We should all be happy people are willing to get off their asses, move, and lift heavy things.
You don't like Crossfit? That's cool. Just shut your pie hole about it, because nobody cares. Who are you to pee in someone else's Kool-Aid anyway?
Now is the season where some of you might be considering finding a personal trainer to jump start your routine after the sinful mastication you will participate in over the holidays. Some of you might need to lose a few pounds and others might be ready to train for a competition or event of some sort. That being said, I thought it would be a good time to highlight some things to keep in mind when deciding whether your investment is worth it.
Considering what I do for a living, one might think my answer to this question is a resounding YES. While I believe my services are worth the money, the value of training with me depends on a lot more than the services I provide.
After several years in the fitness industry, I have discovered the answer to this question is not as black and white as you might think. There are quite a few different factors to consider when determining whether personal training is really worth your hard earned cash.
Environment
What kind of environment is going to be the most conducive to your success? Some people thrive on the presence of others, while others prefer a more intimate setting.
Large group training is all the rage these days. The most popular group training modalities in the fitness world today are Crossfit and Zumba, with bootcamps coming in a close third. When I mention Zumba I tend to throw up in my mouth a little bit (how many fit people do you see doing Zumba?), but I understand the appeal to some degree.
In a group setting you have a sense of camaraderie where like minded individuals are converging to accomplish a singular goal. This inevitably leads to building some great relationships and keeps people coming back for more. It is also MUCH more affordable that traditional personal training. The caveat to group training is it tends to be a little watered down because it fails to take the wants/needs/abilities of the individual into account. If you don't have specific goals or dysfunction and simply want to exercise, this is totally fine.
Small group and 1-on-1 personal training are a little bit different. The atmosphere isn't quite as electric, but it is a better fit for individuals that want or need a little more instruction. Provided the trainer knows their ass from their acetabulum, you should receive a posture and movement screen to determine strengths, weaknesses, and dysfunction and some individual nutrition and goal setting. If you have very specific goals (athletes) or have some major movement dysfunction, small group or 1-on-1 personal training are going to be your huckleberry.
Lastly we have online personal training. Online training is quickly becoming popular. It is more affordable and provides coaching for those who are motivated to do it on their own. Programming and coaching are done from a distance via Skype and email correspondence. Again, for the more motivated individual with some existing fitness knowledge, it can be a great fit.
Environment is the first thing you need to consider because you need to be in a place that motivates you to keep coming back. Choose a place that is conducive to productivity, filled with a good coaching staff, and makes you feel the most welcome.
Coaching
A good coach is worth his/her weight in gold.
Knowledge of functional anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and nutrition are important attributes for any coach. You might have to do a little digging to find these individuals due to the high turnover rate and low barrier of entry in the industry. Many trainers get their entry level cert and do nothing to further themselves as professionals. It is important to find an individual who has a solid knowledge base because they are going to be able to identify movement faults, risks, and limitations to design a program to fit your individual needs. Also, the more advanced your goals (or the more jacked up you are), the more seasoned and educated your coach should be.
Just as, if not more important than the aforementioned attributes is the ability to be a good coach.A coach is a teacher, mentor, and motivator. The individual should relate to you on a personal level and be willing to go the extra mile to help you on your journey. A good coach will deliver you the honest truth when you are falling short, and give you the appropriate praise when warranted.
If your prospective trainer/coach does not fit the above criteria, save your money.
If you live in Charlotte, congratulations! Look no further.
Commitment
Maximize your investment
I say this to my clients all the time. At this point, most of them roll their eyes at me when hearing it, but I never hesitate to throw it out there because it couldn't be more true.
Commitment is the most important element in determining the value of personal training.
Many enlist in training services because they are enamored with the novelty of having a trainer. Others believe that exercise alone is the golden ticket.
"Three hours out of 168 every week is enough to get the body I want right?"
If you truly want to "maximize your investment", you have to commit to living the lifestyle. No, an intense weight training session does not mean you have earned the right to consume an entire Grande Meal from Taco Bell post workout. You have to practice good nutrition, recovery habits (ie sleep), and yes even do a little more exercise on your own for it to be worth your money.
Squeezing the most out of your personal training dollar is 90% dependent on what you decide to do with your time outside the gym.
Your trainer can't go home with you and hold your hand, feed you, tell you to put down that 12th beer, and make you go to bed early every night. Those choices are completely up to you.
On a personal level, I tend to expect a lot from my clients. Almost to a fault. The way I see it, they are investing a lot of money to work with me, so I take it upon myself to deliver the greatest value possible. For me, training is the opportunity to teach someone. The old saying"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime" could not be more true in my case. My most successful client relationships are not trainer/trainee, but rather teacher/student.
In this business, you only get paid for done. I expect to see progress because I am good at what I do and am willing to invest the time and energy into achieving a result.
If you show me the commitment, you will get it back on my end ten fold. Show me no commitment and expect little in return.
Summary
Keep in mind I am NOT trying to discourage anyone from seeking out a trainer. This is my livelihood after all. I am simply attempting to make you aware of the requisite requirements to get the most out of your money.
Seek out the right environment, a good coach, and commit to the process. If you do these things, personal training is worth every penny.
