Weight Loss: Support

Starting or maintaining a workout regime isn’t always easy when you’re on your own. Although it’s great to be able to motivate yourself on a consistent basis, it can also aid you to share this motivation with someone else who strives for similar goals to you.

Everyone will have down days where efforts and motivation are low and this is where a training partner and having a support network can help lift your energy and push you further.

Personal Trainer

A personal trainer is potentially the best point of call when getting support with your training programme. If you’re a beginner, having a reputable personal trainer can be a great aid to building your confidence in the gym and educating on how to use the equipment correctly, in turn this will enable you to progress more effectively at earlier stages.

For those that may be more experienced, a personal trainer can still offer benefits to your progress as they may help motivate you if you feel you have hit a plateau with your progress.

Almost all personal trainers will have general knowledge on health and fitness, but each may excel in different areas such as fitness training, strength training or weight loss. It is important to ensure you find the right trainer to suit your goals and needs.

A huge benefit to a personal trainer is the fact they are likely to keep a record of your progress for you and monitor different factors within your plan. This will help reflect how effective their plan is for you and ensure you’re getting your monies worth. In addition, this will save you a lot of time and effort from doing this yourself.

Training partner

Having a friend who shares the same goal as you can be a great way to collaborate and work together towards this. Not only do you already have a relationship with that person but it would also be free.

As it is more cost effective and prevents having to build new relationships which may make you feel uncomfortable it can be a great way to find support with your training.

Taking this approach can also introduce a form positive competition, enabling you to motivate and drive each other past your limits.

Online Coach

An online coach is a similar concept to a personal trainer, however a coach is able to offer a lot more freedom. The reason for this, is their plan will work around your lifestyle and all done online saving you having to book slots for a training session with a PT etc.

There is a magnitude of online coaches out there so it is important to find someone who is reputable ensuring you get your monies worth. They will often tailor a whole diet and training plan to you and do regular check ins to monitor how things are going.

An online coach will usually charge on a monthly basis to whereas a PT will charge by the session, so financially it may not be as flexible.

Classes

If you're embarking on your journey but not looking to have the financial burden of a Pt or coach, then perhaps take up a class or two at your gym.

Classes will be full of like-minded people making you feel more comfortable and more often than not you will see the same people each class, allowing you to socialise and develop relationships.

Not only can classes be enjoyable and motivating, but they can also often offer great workouts and be completely free through your gym membership.

Classes could be a great way for you to get started, so if you're wondering how, speak to your gym manager or instructors and see what they have to offer.