I don't need a trainer.... do I?

"I don't need a trainer. I know what I'm doing."

I hear this ALL the time. Over and over again people seem to redundantly think they don't need assistance in the area of working out or of nutrition. And the fact of the matter is, you do. No matter how intelligent you are, or how advanced you are in your knowledge of exercise and fitness, you need a trainer. In fact, in my opinion, the more advanced you become the more you'll need a trainer. Typically its those of us who are advanced who require a second opinion or another way of doing things to prevent us from becoming stagnant in our own approach.

I'm not just posting this because I'm a trainer. I'm posting this because I'm a trainer who HAS a trainer. I'm a trainer who trains other trainers. Ultimately, I'm a person with a deep belief that everyone and anyone who wants or needs to know about working out and eating right needs to enlist the help of a trainer. Unfortunately being a trainer is a grossly underpaid and under recognized profession in our society. There seems to be this "do it yourself" approach when it comes to exercise and nutrition, which I find odd because in most other areas of health we are the first ones to run screaming for the aid of doctors and specialists. Yet when it comes to working out and eating right- we skimp.

Now we all know the benefits of having a trainer include things like "proper form" and "exercise execution", but I believe the need for a trainer goes much much deeper then that. I know how to lift, I know how to perform a dumbbell curl, and most anyone with reading or pictorial skills can sit down at a gym machine and read the operational instructions. But how do you string together exercises to create a mass building routine? How do you train to get lean? What about weight loss? What if I want to lean out while retaining my lean muscle? How do I sculpt or re-structure the shape of my back or shoulders? How can I downsize my legs? How can I enhance my quad sweep? See where I'm going with this....? Enter a trainer.

What about nutrition? What to eat? How much? When? How often? Post workout? Pre workout? The list can go on and on. Enter a trainer.

But trainers do far more for their clients then simply direct in terms of nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. They motivate, support, and encourage. For me that's the most meaningful aspect of having a trainer- having someone 100% behind you, in your corner pushing you to do better, to be better, and to carry on when it gets hard. It's important when you're trying to be focused on physique goals to surround yourself as best you can with people who will foster a "fitness friendly environment" and be supportive of you. Trainers do just that. They understand, they listen, they re-route, and they motivate. There is no point in embarking on a fitness goal, in investing in a gym membership, or home equipment, or beautiful tupperware containers for food prep, or expensive organics if at the end of the day you go tumbling off the wagon at the sight of pizza. Having someone there to hold you in place and help keep you centered is invaluable, and worth every damn penny I promise you.

Whether you need someone in person, or are looking for a trainer online- my advice to you is this- TRY A TRAINER. Be picky, hunt around, inquire ask questions, but get out there and get information. Hiring a trainer could be just the push you need to take you to the next level with your fitness!