by Dr. Kareem F. Samhouri, CSCS, HFS
Physical Therapist & Kinesiologist
http://www.atozfitness.com/recommends/abstrengthguide.html

Online personal training can be an incredibly rewarding experience or exactly the opposite.  This is dependent on many factors, including personality, technological comfort, fitness level, exercise experience, & goals.  When you begin your online personal training program, there are a few things you’ll need to know.  Follow this 5 step formula when you begin online personal training to ensure you get incredible results. 

Step 1:  Evaluate yourself.

Are you the type of person that benefits from having others around while you work out or are you someone who does better in a quiet atmosphere without distractions?  It’s important that you keep this in check when choosing your workout environment and online personal training program.  For example, when you work out in a gym environment, it is a bit easier to stay motivated while watching others exercise around you.  However, some people find themselves in the middle of social hour if they join a gym, which means that they would be better off choosing an online personal training program that can be done at home. 

It’s important that you honestly evaluate yourself to determine whether or not you’d prefer to work out at home, not based on convenience necessarily, but based on goal achievement.  Either way, there are programs available online, but the first step is recognition of your personal style and potential blockades from your success.  If you choose a gym-based program, I recommend that you find a program that features exercises downloadable to an iPod, in order to be able to watch the exercise demonstrated properly while you are actually in the gym.  If you choose to work out at home, DVD’s or online video may be the better option. 

Step 2:  Evaluate your future personal trainer.

The internet can be a scary place when you first begin your online personal training program.  How do you know that someone is truly qualified to give you advice when you’ve never met them and training certifications seem to be given out like Pez on Halloween? 

Actually, it’s quite easy.  If your trainer says that s/he has graduated from a particular university or academic program, it should be pretty easy to ‘google’ her background and determine whether or not this true.  Also, it’s a good idea to search one or two of the people’s names who are in the testimonials area and confirm/disconfirm that this person indeed lives in the area your trainer is suggesting.  Hopefully, you’ll find out that nothing was contrived and you’ll be ready to get started in minutes. 

Next, take a look at the number of years of experience, both online and offline.  When you train with me online, for example, I realize that there are certain limitations from offline training, and I’ve had to address these over time with question and answer videos that provide a similar level of interaction to speaking in person.  How will you go about asking questions when they come up?  Is there a system in place?

Step 3:  Evaluate your workout environment.

Workout environment can be the key to your success.  What equipment will you need?  Does your gym/home have it?  If not, what can be substituted successfully, and what cannot? 

By answering these questions before you start your online personal training program, you will be much more prepared for success, and you’ll have less barriers preventing you from exercising.  Remember, once you start training, you’re going to want to create as positive of an experience surrounding exercise as is possible.  The more positive your exercise experience, the more likely you are to return for more.   

I recommend you find a program that gives you the option of using a lot of gym equipment for exercise variety, but provides you with exercise alternatives at home for the workouts when you cannot make it to the gym.  With this level of diversity in your program, you are sure to see phenomenal results. 

Step 4:  Evaluate your weaknesses.

Evaluating your weaknesses can be the most important step you’ll ever take.  By honestly charting out what your weaknesses are surrounding diet and exercise, you are much more likely to overcome them.  Additionally, you’ll begin to realize where you are/are not willing to compromise and act accordingly.  The most important thing is knowing…

When you understand your weaknesses, albeit motivation, intensity, frequency/scheduling, etc. you’ll be able to create compromise and improve your results.  For example, if you first recognize that you only can get to the gym two days per week, then it would stand to argue you should create an exercise area at home where you can do body weight training at the very least.  Understanding this before you begin your exercise program will drastically change the program you choose, how you think about your exercise program, and your rate of success. 

Are you someone who benefits from regular interaction with your trainer?  If so, is there a blog or forum where you can participate and hear other opinions?  This is a must for most people, so please be sure you’ve found a program that allows you to participate with your trainer and ask questions from time to time.  Not only will this help you stay motivated, but it will help them stay motivated to help you.

Step 5:  Evaluate your strengths.

Now for the fun part!  When charting out your strengths and weakness, I recommend you place them in separate, opposing columns on a piece of paper.  It’s amazing what this exercise will do for you once you can plainly see your barriers to success and failure all in one place. 

Are you someone who already has strength but is looking to lose weight?  Do you have many years of exercise experience?  Do you work out well, but you’d like to gain an education in fitness so that you’ll prevent plateauing for years to come?

By properly identifying your exercise strengths, you’ll be able to choose a program that can both be challenging and motivating at the same time.  It’s important that you find some common ground to your exercise knowledge and experience, or your mind will constantly be fighting the efficacy of your exercise program.  That said, if you keep doing the exact same thing you’ve done for years, it would be difficult to expect any lasting results. 

Before you join an online personal training program, be sure to take some time and perform this 5 step exercise in order to ensure your future success.  You’re going to want to remember what you’ve written here when enrolling in the online personal training program that provides you with better results than you ever expected possible.  After doing this exercise, please be sure to take a look at Lift Hard Play Hard and take the one month trial offer to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Sarah, CPT
Lewis, Publisher
www.articles.atozfitness.com
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