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Join the Discussion
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"Have
you ever tried online personal training?"
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When it
comes to losing weight and getting healthy, we could all use a little
help. Personal training is a great option for some, but for those of you
who want guidance without the hefty price tag and time commitment, online
personal training may be the answer for you. What
You Get
Online training is
just like regular personal training except for a few key things (such as the
whole face-to-face thing). Depending on the website you choose, you
typically get:
- Individualized workouts
based on goals, schedule and available equipment
- Guidance on nutrition and
diet
- Database of exercises
that include video and picture demonstrations
- Fitness tools such as
heart rate, calorie and other calculators
- Calendars that plan out
your weekly workouts
- Forms for accountability
and tracking progress
- Email access to
experts/trainer
- Workout reminders
The difference, obviously,
is that everything is online and, therefore, cheaper to some degree. Before
you make your decision about online training, though, here's what you need to
know about the pros and cons of virtual training.
The Pros
- Flexibility. You
don't have an appointment you must keep--when you workout is up to you.
- Time factor. If
you're busy and don't have an hour to spend with a trainer, a virtual
trainer is someone you can communicate with on your schedule.
- It's cheaper.
Personal trainers cost anywhere from $35 to $200 an hour, depending
on where you live, plus there may be a gym membership involved. Online training almost always costs less.
- Accessibility. Your
workouts are kept online so you can access them wherever you are (as long as
you have a computer). This is great if you travel regularly.
- Fear factor. Plenty
of folks have no desire to go through the trauma of working out in a gym
with a trainer. If that frightens you, but you still want some kind of
guidance, virtual training may be the answer.
The Cons
- Requires plenty of
self-discipline. There's no one to push you into just one more
rep...you gotta do it all on your own.
- No face-to-face
contact. You can't get the usual fitness assessments such as body fat
tests or posture evaluations. You have to be able to make your own
fitness assessments to find out where you're starting so you can track
progress.
- No feedback. If
you've never lifted weights, you may not know whether you're doing it right,
even with video demos. If you're not
comfortable lifting, hire a live
trainer first and then move on to the virtual trainer when you've got your
moves down.
- Accountability.
With online training, you usually have to fill in a form to tell your
trainer how often you worked out that week. Obviously, there's no way
for your trainer to know what you really did for the week--or even if you're
working out at all. If you need that added element of a live person,
online training may not be enough for you.
- Motivation. A
weekly appointment with a gym trainer adds motivation you may not get from
virtual training. Will you really do your workouts just because
you get an email reminding you to? Will weekly check-ins be
enough?
How to choose the Right
Online Training Website
- Make sure the personal
trainers are certified through recognized
fitness organizations.
- If there's an option,
take a 'virtual tour' or take advantage of a free trial to see if it fits
your needs
- What do you want from a trainer? Do you need
regular communication? If so, choose a site that matches
you with your own trainer individually rather than one that simply provides
workouts.
- How much do you have to
spend? Some sites charge $20 a month and some up to $35. The
more expensive ones offer more stuff, so keep in mind that you get what you
pay for.
- Make sure they have
fitness and health assessment forms (or PAR-Q) for you to fill out. If
you don't have to give them info about your health and fitness background,
move on to somewhere else.
Next page > Best
Online Training Websites >
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