Do You Need a Physical Fitness Trainer?
Fitness Programs
"exercise buddy" or an "exercise mentor" can help you out in many of the same ways that a physical fitness trainer can. In this article, I'll explain how you can get similar help from a good exercise course or program.
The Difference between an Exercise "Course" and an Exercise "Program"
First of all, it's important to be clear on the difference between an exercise "course" and an exercise "program." Some people might define these terms in other ways. Whatever the case, it's essential to recognize that they are two different animals. Here's the way I define them:
- An exercise course is a list of exercises that a person should perform in order to achieve a certain objective (like increased strength or improved overall fitness). The course would explain how to do each exercise on the list and indicate the number of times you should do it.
- An exercise program is more than this and explains the concepts behind a well-balanced exercise course. Such a program will often give examples of specific exercise courses based on these concepts. It would be possible for the person who masters the program to design additional well-balanced exercise courses.
To summarize, according to my definitions, you might say that an exercise program is a "textbook" that teaches you how to write exercise courses.
As you gain experience with a number of courses and, perhaps, do some studying on your own, you will come to realize that good well-balanced exercise courses must follow a "template" in order to cover all the bases. Such a template would include all the major movements that the human body is capable of making. Examples might be a pushing exercise (like a bench press) or a pulling exercise (like pull-ups). Templates like this are found in exercise programs. When you understand the concepts upon which the templates are based, you will be able to come up with your own exercise courses.
What Your Physical Fitness Trainer Will Do for You
In Part 2 of this article series I explained that a physical fitness trainer (or personal trainer) will design an exercise course for you to help you achieve your fitness goals and will modify the course as you make progress and/or your goals change. In addition, he or she will personally show you how to perform the exercises in the course. These are very valuable services and, along with personal supervision and encouragement, are the meat of what a fitness trainer or personal trainer will do for you.
It's important for you to notice that a trainer has had the experience and/or training that a good exercise program provides. That's what enables him or her to design the different exercise courses that are required to suit the needs of different people.
Can You Do This by Yourself?
If you purchase a new barbell set, the package will probably include a number of different exercise courses. They might be labeled as being for new, intermediate, or advanced bodybuilders --- or something like that. Most courses of this type are pretty good. They are well-balanced --- meaning they hit all major muscle groups --- and can be done in a reasonable amount of time per exercise session. So, if you use such courses, you can make excellent progress. If, in addition, you work out with an exercise buddy who provides companionship and support, you might do just as well as you would under the guidance of a trainer. In a nutshell, it is definitely possible to exercise without a personal trainer by your side.
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