Benefits of a Training Program
There are many benefits to making movement a part of your daily routine.
This isn’t new news. In the last few decades, our nation’s overweight population has increased dramatically. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. To combat this data, the Mayo Clinic makes two recommendation:
Aerobic Activity - over the course of the week, get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (or a combination of both)
Strength Training - do strength training for all major muscle groups at least two times a week
Many of us have heard this, or similar, information since elementary school PE. The problem is not the lack of knowledge. It is our struggle to make the commitment.
And as someone who has been in the fitness industry for over a decade, I am noticing one trend that I believe is intensifying the apathy. Free workouts.
I know, it sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out.
One.
Anyone can put anything on the Internet and give it away for free. So, people who love working out or those who have a highly desirable physique (note: this actually has nothing to do with one’s overall health) can put something on a social media platform for people to do for free without any formal training.
For me, the issue here is not in the delivery of the content. It is in the receipt of that content and the expectation of what that content will do for the recipient. When the recipient doesn’t get the desired results, the person is discouraged to continue.
Two.
Results are less likely when bouncing around from free workout to free workout. Yes, doing any form of movement is good for our bodies. I am not here to argue that choosing to move based on an Instagram post is bad. I am here to say that, if you’re seeking results of any kind - weight loss, increased endurance, more confidence - results are generally much more visible through ONE designated program.
Because a trainer will work with you to understand your desired goal, and even if you are part of a larger group and even if that group is online, you will be part of a program this is seeking that goal. This cohesion means that you will more than likely see results sooner and more dramatically.
Three.
Free workouts do not typically address the accountability piece. Someone is providing a workout through a digital screen, but that person is then not doing the leg work to follow up on how the trainee felt during the workout. There is little talk of modifications. There is no group cheering each for each other when the urge to quit is high.
Accountability takes time. Explaining modifications takes time. Creating a group of like-minded people who can challenge and cheerlead takes time. And that time has been invested by trainers who are charging for their workouts.
Four.
Treat your trainer like you treat your dentist. Okay, I realize I’m one of the few people in the world who loves the dentist, but the point is valid regardless of your distaste or obsession with your dentist. We go to dentists because they’re knowledgeable. They’ve studied teeth. They’re experts in the field.
And it’s so much easier to stay consistent with the dentist, not just regular appointments but also seeing the same one. Cleanings are a breeze when you keep your regular bi-yearly appointments, and going to a new dentist requires so much work. New x-rays. New conversations. New explanations as to why you have a fake tooth from when your brother knocked it out with a baseball bat.
Moral of the story. Find a program that works for you and commit to that program. Give yourself a year to become a part of the community and see the results. Don’t be a bouncer. Most programs give a discount for six months or a year, and that price is usually less than all the coffees we buy in a single month.
Looking for a program? I know you have a lot of choices. That’s why I do give away a free week of the TL Method for my members to get limitless access to my daily workouts, yoga flows, mobility and agility exercises, educational resources, and Facebook accountability group.
If this program isn’t for you, great. My hope is that you’ll invest in the one that does so you can experience the commitment that breeds the results you seek.