The Difference a Personal Trainer Can Make

Question by Amy D. (Silverton, OR)
Posted on December 21, 2006

My friend and I have been running together for years at least 2 to 3 times per week. We do the same strength training workouts separately on different days. Recently, she hired a personal trainer to help her with her workouts at the gym. In just a few short weeks, she is seeing great results. Is it true that you will see greater results working with a trainer instead of working on your own?

Kristi's Answer

Kristi Tuck, BS, ACSM is a certified Health/Fitness Instructor through…Read Full Bio

Yes, it is true. In fact, new research supports the benefits of hiring a qualified personal trainer to help you attain your fitness goals. In addition to keeping track of your workouts and charting your progress, trainers provide spotting assistance and advice to participants to make sure training loads are progressively increased.

While you both will reap the benefits of strength training, your friend will likely make significant improvements in body mass, fat mass and fat-free mass. Researchers also suggest that trainers encourage participants to use and tolerate greater training loads, thus eliciting greater gains than those who train on their own.