April 22, 2013 | Filed Under Finding a Trainer | No Comments
Are you straying from your 5k training plan? Not using your fitness grips as often as you should? Confused about the best workout routine for your needs? It sounds like you need a personal trainer. If you can’t drop major money on the real thing at the gym, invest a few bucks in these awesome apps. They will motivate you, give you great workout advice and keep you moving just like a real personal trainer!
THI Personal Trainer
If you are looking for predesigned workouts, this is the best place to start. The hundreds of workouts in the library are proven to work, and every exercise is explained in full detail so you can workout safely and effectively. You can even easily track your progress and create personalized fitness reports.
Fitness Pro
Download this free app to get instant access to over 450 exercises, descriptions and photo references. Custom create your own routine, track your workouts and share your logs with family and friends through the online portal.
Jillian Michaels Slim-Down Solution
You probably can’t afford to hire Jillian as your personal trainer, but you can get the next best thing with this free app. She’ll virtually kick your butt with dozens of exercise routines and circuits. You’ll also get nutritional guidance and daily tips and tricks to help you shed pounds quickly.
JEFIT
If just getting to the gym is the hardest part of your workout, you need this app. It makes it easy to create a workout schedule and stick to it. You can also search for new exercises and track your progress.
Fitness Builder
Other than your gym grips and fitness grips, this app is one of the most important things you can bring to any workout. Use it to find instructional videos, connect with live personal trainers, create detailed progress reports and learn exactly what you need to do to reach your fitness goals.
What fitness apps can you not live without? Share your favorites with our readers in the comments section below!
Image By: mariachily
November 28, 2011 | Filed Under Finding a Trainer, Workout Tips | No Comments
If you’re a workout beginner and you’re just getting started with your cardio or weight training regimen, there are few things you should know. First, congratulations! A healthy lifestyle is its own reward. You’re on your way to better muscle tone, a tighter, leaner body, better sleep, a sharper focus and a positive mental outlook that can help you tackle the challenges of your day.
Second, you may be wondering how much help you need. Some workout beginners aren’t sure how much they should take on by themselves, and they aren’t quite sure how to set realistic goals. You may be wondering how to get from where you are to where you want to be, and you may want to avoid setting goals that are too easy, which can prevent you from getting the most out of your workout, or too unreasonable, which can set you up for discouragement. You may also be looking over a room full of machines at the gym with no idea exactly where to start.
A professional trainer can definitely step in and act as your guide and motivator. He or she can assess your starting point and help you push yourself right up to and just past the limits of your comfort zone, so you can get the most out of your routine and take the most efficient path to the successful accomplishment of your goals. But if you can’t afford a trainer, don’t let that stop you from taking control over your health and your destiny. Use the internet and consult with others if you can about their own progress and experiences. And work out with a friend or social group. A close, supportive community can help you track your progress and provide the encouragement you need to stay motivated.
October 26, 2011 | Filed Under Finding a Trainer, Workout Goals | No Comments
Working out feels great, as experienced athletes know. But sometimes, even when we know we’ll feel fantastic at the end of a session, it can still be difficult to get off the couch or out of bed when it’s time to put on our gear and begin exercising. Working out with a friend can help, but sometimes the buddy system isn’t quite enough. When your willpower flags and your workout partner cancels, it can be helpful to have a commitment or appointment already in place. Especially if the appointment is with a professional trainer or the commitment is to a class that only happens once or twice a week.
Most professional trainers are not just fit and knowledgeable about exercise science—They also know how to tailor a workout routine to meet the individual needs of every client. An excellent trainer can shout at someone who needs to be pushed and find other strategies for those who respond to gentler tactics. Make sure you find someone who listens to you and clearly understands your fitness goals. And remember that a positive relationship with a trainer is built on trust. She’ll tailor a plan for you, but you need to be willing to rise to the challenge, show up on time, and follow her directions.
If you’re investigating a class, watch a session for a few minutes to see if the pace and the environment are right for you. If you need competition to succeed, find a class where you can show off your skills. If you’re turned off by competition, find a class where you can move at your own pace. Within limits, accommodate your weaknesses. If you have a bad ankle, don’t take a high impact class with lots of jumping. And use the phone. If you need to target or favor a certain body area, make some calls and ask questions about zumba, cycling, yoga, martial arts or any other classes that are available in your local area. Once you sign up, follow through. Even if the class doesn’t seem right for you at first, attend at least a few sessions before you make up your mind.
