5 Reasons to Use a Personal Trainer this Holiday Season
You're short on time, energy and discipline, and your to-do list is long enough to tie into a rather festive-looking bow. With the parties, decorating, shopping and other demands on your time, you've just about decided you won't see the inside of the gym until 2010.
If that's your game plan, Chase Gary, exercise specialist with Dynamic Dimensions, said you should also consider the consequences. “A weight gain of five to ten pounds during the holidays is typical. If you put exercise on hold for a little while, you'll lose progress and have to gain back the flexibility, strength and stamina you've already built up to this point,” he said. “You'll also lose the added benefit of extra energy that exercise provides; and energy is on everyone's wish list this time of year.”
Gary says now is the time to plan ahead for the holidays. “You know you'll be busy. Get a game plan together right now to carry you through so you won't face the new year with regret.”
At some point, nearly all Americans start an exercise program. In less than three months, 80 percent of them quit, but 85 percent of all those who have a personal trainer stay with their program. To help maximize time and get the most out of a workout, many people find that using a personal trainer is the key. In fact, here are five reasons to give it a try this holiday season:
- Accountability. If you've made the financial commitment to hire a personal trainer, you're more apt to stick with your appointment. Knowing you have someone counting on you to show up can give the extra shove to get you moving.
- Good Form. If you're not doing exercises the right way, it can lead to injury and prevent you from getting results. Having an expert coach you through the movements can make a world of difference.
- The Right Plan. An exercise specialist will meet with you first, before stepping foot on the gym floor. The reason? They need to know your goals, your capabilities, your previous injuries and health concerns. They'll take all these things into account to create a personalized plan. Whether you're trying to improve your tennis game, or want to keep your joints flexible, they'll help you reach your goals.
- Experience. Personal trainers are more than just equipment experts. Gary said at Dynamic Dimensions, the trainers have a strong educational background, with all trainers having either a bachelor's degree in exercise science, health promotion or nutrition, or they are certified through the American College of Sports Medicine or American Council on Exercise. “We're knowledgeable in the areas of fitness, nutrition and kinesiology – the mechanics of motion. Many of us are active in sports. We bring a wide knowledge base to the table and can help anyone improve in the area of fitness.”
- Time Management. Planning time to exercise can get pushed aside in the busy pace of the holidays. Having a plan already in place will give you a much-needed sense of control.
The benefits of taking time for your own health are worth it in the long run. Let's face it: you'll need the stamina and energy to tackle that to-do list!
For details about working with a personal trainer at Dynamic Dimensions, call the Sulphur location at 527-5459 or the Moss Bluff location at 855-7708.
