Losing weight involves a careful ratio of calories in to calories out. You need to create a deficit if you want to see the number on the scale going down. That requires a boost to your physical activity and a reduction in the number of calories you eat. This, and only this, is how you can effectively lose weight. However, hiring a personal trainer is something that many people do to help them get on track and stay there. What if I told you that you can get the same results without shelling out for a trainer? Here’s how.
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1. The Gym Isn’t the Only Place to Get a Good Workout
Gone are the days when you have to head to the gym to workout. There are loads of fun things you can do that make exercise enjoyable and keep you from being a slave to the gym. Take up a sport like basketball or soccer and burn hundreds of calories during practice and games. Take a jog around the block, play on the playground with your kids or spend a couple of hours gardening. All of these activities burn calories and help you drop weight. And you don’t need a trainer to do it.
2. You Must Track Your Progress
When you work out with a trainer, it’s easy to let him or her keep a handle on your progress. Stop paying for that and start doing it yourself. Get a basic notebook and record your weight, your workout time, the type of activity you did and what you’ve been eating. This gives you a detailed record of your habits so that you can detect things that are getting in your way and make changes accordingly. And it costs just a few dollars.
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3. You’ve Got to Ramp Things up All the Time
Personal trainers like keeping this little secret to themselves. You can’t always do the same moves and activities and expect to see continued progress. You’ve got to mix things up and make them harder as you go. You might not notice this happening when someone is telling you what to do. However, it’s super easy to do on your own too.
4. Exercise Isn’t a Miracle
Yes, you read that right. Yes, you should be exercising every day and burning calories for weight loss. However, if that’s the only healthy choice you make, you may be getting in your own way. That means you can’t finish a run, then down a huge smoothie or a plate of enchiladas. You’ll undo all your hard work and may even end up taking in more calories than you just expended. Exercise is part of the cure for being overweight, but not the only part.
5. Even 10 Minutes at a Time is Great
Some people fail to exercise because they don’t have a full 30 to 60 minutes to commit. That doesn’t matter. Research says that a few 10 minute sessions is just as beneficial and allows even the busiest person to workout. A trainer won’t tell you this though because they need the business of exercisers who work out for longer.
6. You Don’t Need to Be Yelled at to Find Your Motivation
No, Jillian Michaels, we don’t need you screaming in our faces to succeed. In fact, that’s sort of offensive to me. I can get my motivation to exercise from how great I feel and look when I wear a tank top, thank you very much. No screaming needed. Find what motivates you and think about that when exercising is the last thing you want to do.
7. Exercise Doesn’t Always Have to Be Scheduled
When you work out with a trainer, you must get a place on her calendar. Ditch the trainer and you can exercise when you want to. Pick up game of Frisbee at the park? Running after your toddler in the backyard? They all work and can happen at the spur of the moment, knocking your cardio right off your to-do list.
Do you use a trainer? Why or why not?
Comments
RAAZIANAJAM: Yes what l do for weight loss ?
Sjc: My personal trainer is great he doesn't scream at me and he helps me...
Wendy: Yes good advice Make exercise Your life
CallaLilly: I'm with you on the shouting thing...mostly because I really don't like being shouted at. Makes me feel small. And I've long since given up on the gym because it was dead boring and very expensive, not to mention money I could not afford to keep spending. Going outside in the fresh air while hard to do sometimes does make me feel better.
Samara: Personal trainers are perfect for some people and not for others. Personally, I do not need one as I am an athlete myself and part of my life is keeping fit. I believe personal trainers are great for people who struggle with not knowing how to work out. Personal trainers are great for beginners or people who need external motivation.
Aanchal: I want to lose fat from belly and waist
Nivin: Very helpful :)
Nanda: I like Jillian screaming ,it motivates me always !
Melba: There aré a millón vídeos on Youtube. You can work Cardio for 15 min, and then do for whatever body part you'd like! I Also love body weight training!
Thelma62913: Excellent article, Eliza!! Oh man, no offense to anyone, but I absolutely cannot stand personal trainers. I've never met 1 that was "easy" to work with. My gym days are over (and so is the expense). I bought a great treadmill, got a few weights, and now don't mind working out. I'm in my own home and don't have to wait for a machine or miss out on being with my dog. Oh and not to mention, there's a track minutes from my house.
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