Personal Training Blog with Douglasville Personal Trainer David Hansey

Changing your body is like looking for buried treasure. It is much easier but it still requires a few things. Personal training is the map, your personal trainer is the compass. And you are the captain of the ship who must take your body on the course to improvement.

As I have mentioned before, you need to really evaluate a personal trainer’s credentials. Make sure they are BOARD CERTIFIED, see the link above if you need more details on that. And make sure that they are professional. Watch them train someone. Do they keep track of your workout and your weight, yes, write it down. Watch their style. Make sure they have what you want.

Then do the things they say. I require a medical form before you start. I don’t just want it. It is not just a formality. I NEED IT. So if a personal trainer asks you to do something (like fill out a medical form prior to your first visit) then do it.

Then follow their advice. If they say you should show up early to do your cardio or warm up. Then show up. I find clients who show up 30-45 minutes early to do their cardio are never late for their session and get the most bang for their personal training buck. While 45 minutes of cardio is ideal for most people, it you have to cut it to 30 because you were stuck in traffic, then so be it. Better than missing the sessions that you are paying for, isn’t it.

Then if the trainer asks you to do something besides your sessions, be honest. If I ask someone to do cardio 3 times a week for 45 minutes, it is because it is what they need to meet the goals they have told me. It is not for me! It is for you!! As your personal trainer, I want you to meet your goals (and regardless of your personal trainer, they should be focused on your goals!) If something is impossible for you, be honest, the trainer can explain to you how this will affect your training. I really don’t see (sorry, but I don’t) how you cannot squeeze an hour for yourself into a day. I work from about 5 in the morning until around 8 most nights and I always find time for family and fitness. Not a lot of time for TV watching, video games and sleeping on the couch, but make YOU a priority in your life.

Watch your food intake. Just because you are working out more does not mean you have a free pass when it comes to food and drink. Your body is a complex machine and natural whole foods are best for it. Lean proteins, beans, vegetables, fruit. Restaurant meals, frying, processed foods and simple sugars are rare treats, not a part of your daily nutrition. You will find your body works best when you fuel it properly. Need to know what to make for dinner. I have made a free recipe and food site just for that. Douglasville Weight Loss is my site to help you get healthy and figure out what to cook when you can’t think of a healthy thing to cook. There are lots of cool new things coming to that site every day so I hope it helps everyone develop a great way to eat and enjoy food in a more healthy natural way.