Types of Personal Training

Types of Personal Training
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Everyone can benefit from some type of personal training. Personal training is not a one-size-fits-all discipline. The services offered by personal trainers run the gamut from designing programs for couch potatoes to elite athletes. Young, old, beginner, advanced, fat or lean, your age, fitness level, body shape and goals are all taken into consideration in deciding the type of personal training that is suited to your needs.

Weight Loss

Personal training for weight loss is a popular type of training. If you need to lose weight, consider hiring a personal trainer who specializes in weight loss. They can advise you on how many calories you should be eating as well as grams and percentages of protein, fat and carbs. They will set you up on a balanced exercise program that includes strength training and cardiovascular conditioning all designed with weight loss in mind. They will coach you on making healthy food choices, inspire you to challenge your body and motivate you to keep going when it gets tough.

Weight Gain

Sometimes weight gain is the goal for people seeking a personal trainer. Usually it's a guy who wants to get bigger and stronger or someone who is recovering from illness or rehabbing from injury and needs to put on some healthy pounds. Personal trainers who are experienced at helping clients with weight gain will make sure you are getting enough of the right kind of calories. They will set up a strength training, muscle building program to help you put on the pounds.

Sport Specific

Some personal trainers focus on helping you get better at a particular sport or prepare you to compete in an event. Golf and tennis, triathlons and marathons, fitness and bodybuilding competitions or any kind of team sport or race preparation will all require different types of personal training. Hiring a sport specific personal trainer can take your sport to a whole new level.

Older Adult

Personal trainers also specialize in older adults, senior citizens and baby-boomers. Older adults need a trainer who is familiar with their unique concerns and is experienced in training folks their age. Trying to train a 60-year-old like a 20-year-old can result in discouragement and injury. Fitness goals change as people age. The goals of senior citizens include being functionally strong and remaining independent. Many times older adults have some health issues to work around. Healing takes longer with age and programs must be designed with safety first and foremost.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: Dec 22, 2010

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