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Why
is it important that I check with my physician before
I start an exercise program? |
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Depending
on your age and health history, there may be some important
tests the doctor may need to perform before you begin
exercising. Tests such as an EKG, a stress test, blood
tests and more, are especially essential if you are over
40 years old, overweight, or have a history of disease
or illness. The doctor may have recommendations on what
type of exercise you can perform, and this “team”
approach to your health is what Personal Best Personal
Training is all about! Your trainer will stay in contact
with your physician, ensuring that you and your individual
needs are met. |
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How often should
I exercise? |
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In
general, it is recommended that you start with 3 exercise
sessions a week. Over time, you can progress to 5-6 days
a week. If you progress slowly, and vary your exercise
routines, you will avoid any overuse injury or exercise
burnout. This is why it is important to seek advice from
a fitness professional—to discover how to save yourself
from injury and burnout! |
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How
long will it take before I see results? |
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Generally,
it takes 8-12 weeks before you begin to “see”
results. What type of results you “see” is
very individual and depends on your baseline fitness,
how hard and how frequently you exercise, and what your
goals are. More importantly however, you will “feel”
the results of exercise almost immediately. We try to
de-emphasize the obsession with the visual results, and
pay more attention to all of the other wonderful things
exercise can do for you like increase your energy, reduce
stress levels and improve your strength. |
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I’ve
never exercised before, is strength training safe for
me? |
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Strength
Training is safe for most everyone, but we always recommend
that you check with your physician before starting any
exercise program. As long as you start slowly, and do
not try to progress too quickly, you will find
wonderful benefits from weight lifting. For more information
about strength training, see article entitled “Beginning
a Strength Training Program”. |
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Do
I need to diet as well as exercise, or will exercise alone
give me good results? |
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We
try to discourage “diets”, as they are often
only a temporary fix for a long-term problem. We do highly
encourage healthy eating through permanent behavioral
changes that you can live with. A healthy diet, combined
with adequate exercise, will help you achieve your desired
goals much faster than either diet or exercise alone.
And, exercise and healthy eating together will ensure
that you keep off any excess weight for the rest of your
life! |
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Will
you put me on a diet? |
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Personal trainers cannot legally tell their clients
what foods to eat or give meal plans as they are not
degreed nutritionists and, it is against our “scope
of practice” to give advice on specific supplements
that our clients should take. However, what we can and
will do is review the foundation of healthy nutrition,
and assist clients on tracking their nutrition through
food logs to create awareness and accountability.
We can help you make permanent lifestyle changes and
behavior modifications which will allow you to “know
thyself” and thus find success. If a client has
complicated medical problems or health needs, they are
often referred to a nutritionist for more in depth assistance. |
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How
often can I speak with the trainers at Personal Best? |
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You
can contact the trainers at Personal Best by email, and
should expect a reply within 24 hours. If you are a “Long
Distance Training” client, you will have a weekly
phone coaching session at a time of your convenience,
as well as email accessibility. If you enjoy and require
maximal motivation and support, it is best to have weekly
phone coaching sessions PLUS monthly one-on-one sessions
with your trainer. |
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| 8. |
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Do
athletes really need sport specific training, or can they
just work out at a gym like regular fitness enthusiasts? |
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“Sports
Specific Training” is the fastest growing aspect
of personal training because of the decades of research
demonstrating the positive effects of specific exercises
for specific sports. The various physical needs of a tennis
player or golfer are vastly different from those of a
runner, or a soccer player. Injuries are prevented by
incorporating exercise which mimic the activities of each
sport. Most gym based strength training equipment cannot
mimic sports specific movements. |
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| 9. |
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What
is “core” training? |
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The
“core” muscles of the body are generally those
muscles which attach to and stabilize the spine. These
muscles must be trained adequately in athletes and weekend
warriors alike to prevent injuries that can occur when
instability and poor balance and coordination are due
to poor “core strength”. Golfers, for example,
typically injure their arms and shoulders when their abdominal
and back muscles are weak and inflexible. |
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| 10. |
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Do
I need to purchase expensive equipment or have an exercise
room to train at home? |
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No, there
is no need to purchase any equipment until you have
had your initial appointment with your trainer. At that
time, the trainer will advise you as to what types of
equipment to buy. Often, the trainer will lend you equipment
to try out for the first few weeks and then can tell
you how to order the equipment.
Examples of equipment the trainer may ask you to use
are physio balls, medicine balls, free weights, elastic
tubing and jump ropes. Very little space is actually
needed to train at home. A 10 x 10 area free of furniture
and other obstacles is all that is needed. |
