Personal trainers are generally a controversial topic amongst gym goers. There are some who swear by them and others who do not want anything to do with them. Do personal trainers make a difference? Let me tell you my thoughts on the topic.

The Right Way to Train

I have been training on my own for about 5 years. I have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) when it comes to things I am interested in. I own 2 shelves of books on training and nutrition. I've spent alot of time learning the right way to train. I thought that I was doing things the right way until I met Chris Albert from Metroflex Gym Long Beach. It was then that I learned more than I had in the entire previous 5 years combined.

Through working with Chris I have learned the importance of the synergy between diet and training. He has taught me how to train for specific goals. He has shown me how important it is to activate all the muscle groups. It isn't about just blasting the muscles with alot of weight, it is about hitting the muscles the right way each and every time. It is about not losing your form even as you get tired from your training. These are things that a good trainer will teach you.

Dig Deeper

I am a strong believer in leaving everything on the gym floor. I always give it everything I have. At times, however, I knew (in my heart) that I could have given just a little bit more and it would bother me. Sometimes I would be so bothered that I would wind up having a series of very bad workouts as a result. I would be obsessed with getting that last ounce of effort, so much so that I would not do well during my workout.

Once again, Chris has solved that problem for me. For some reason I don't want to fail in front of Chris. Just yesterday he was training me and said those fateful words “take this set to complete failure”. I immediately thought “crap, I don't like failing in front of him.” The first time I went as far as I could and had to drop the weight. I started to feel like a failure until Chris immediately said “that's how to work” and I realized something very important. Going to failure has always been part of my training regimen. Failing in front of Chris on a set that is supposed to go to failure is not a bad thing. I am doing exactly what he instructed me to do.

At the same time, he got me to dig deep and pull out some repetitions I would not have gotten on my own. I tend to just push that much harder when Chris is training me. I am also learning the right and wrong things to do. Thus, when I have a session on my own, I am going to be just fine.

Expert Advice

Chris has given me advice on how to merge my training and diet into one program that accomplishes my goals. He has shown me the importance of timing my before and after workout meals so that I maximize the benefits of my training. He has shown me how important the synergy between my training and diet is. I have had results in just 2 weeks with Chris that I've never seen before. I have concluded that personal trainers make a difference.

Related Posts:

• What Makes You Tick?
• Working with a Coach
• How to Maximize Your Workouts
• 5 Reasons to Use a Personal Trainer
• Mission Grand Prix: 108 Days to Go – Why I Am Doing This

One of the essential elements of training is progression. The principle of progression states that there is an optimum level of overload that must be accomplished in an optimum period of time. This principle is also known as progressive overload.

The idea is simple. As you train you should be able to slowly, but surely increase the load you are pushing. If you are bench pressing 155 lbs. for 10 reps today, the next time you bench press you should do 160 lbs. for 10 reps. It can also mean that you do the same weight, but more reps. Either way there is progress being made.

Progression is the principle that brings to light the need for rest and recovery. Constantly pushing the body harder and harder takes its toll. This can result in exhaustion and potential injury. With proper recovery and the right level of rest you reduce the potential for problems. At the same time, you avoid plateaus by allowing your lifts to continually progress.

I find that if you go too slow with progression you risk not making any gains and if you go too fast with progression you risk injury. Neither way is optimal. For me, small, 5 lbs. increases tend to work the best. I find that I am able to push the weight, avoid plateaus and avoid injuries. Those are key things if you are going to be consistent with your training.

One important factor in progression is that you must keep a training log. How can you possibly progress if you have no record of the weight you lifted in your previous session? Be sure to write down each set separately. Make sure that you log down your weight and the number of repetitions on each set. I also put an arrow next to the exercise to indicate that I need to raise the weights on my next workout.

Utilizing the principle of progression along with the other principles we've discussed will push your results to the extreme.

Related Posts:

• Progressive Overload Principle to the Max
• Elements of Training: Introduction
• Elements of Training: Volume
• Elements of Training: Intensity
• How to Use Active Stretching

Today is another update regarding my progress. As my readers are aware, I have been changing up my training and nutrition and have some goals (not yet made public) that I am working on. So far, things have been going very well.

After 3 weeks of changing things up completely, I am down 17 lbs. on the scale and close to 6% body fat. Things are going in the right direction and I am very pleased. The hard work has been paying off in so many ways. I have alot of energy and I feel alot better about myself. In addition, I am the lightest I've been in about 6 years.

The training has been very different, but just as focused as always. I enjoy the varied nature of the workouts. The intensity is definitely there. I have a “never quit” mentality that just goes well with this type of training. What is interesting is that the more weight I lose the more motivated I become to get in better shape. It is just amazing!

I am busily writing articles for this site and http://fitnessinventor.com (please check it out as it is an amazing fitness site). I am trying to write different types of articles in both places. It really stretches my brain a bit and that's a good thing.

I am still working on membership content for this site. When I feel I have enough I will open up the membership area. I don't want to charge for a special area if I don't have good content to support it. That would just be wrong.

Finally, I'd love it if you guys would let me know what you'd like to see on this site. I am working hard to come up with great content to share with you. I apologize for missing last week. I was not very organized and things got a bit out of control. This week I am back on track!

Related Posts:

• My Focus Journal Entry #10
• Y3T Principles Reviewed
• Y3T Review Revisited
• Monday Madness: Get Your Calves to Grow
• Hamstring Curls for Stronger Legs

Sometimes I wonder what's the deal with people I see at the gym. They show up on a regular basis, but they really don't give much effort during their training. At times they are even there at 4 a.m. It really makes very little sense.

I see strange things all the time. They guy who comes into the gym at 4 a.m., heads straight to the bench press area and adds 10 lb. plates on either side of the bar. He then does a strange ritual where he lifts the bar, but slaps it against the guards on the bench. He sets the weight down and then reads his newspaper. Every so often he completes another set.

There is also the guy who comes to the gym every Saturday morning. He enters the power rack and loads the bar with a ton of weight. He unracks it, wobbles around because it is far too heavy for him, and then proceeds to do a 1/4 squat, grunting the entire way. What's that all about?

There are the people who come to the gym and then do nothing but body weight exercises. Why come all the way to the gym early in the morning to do what you could do at home?

It never ceases to amaze me the things you see when you go to the gym. If you take the time to look around the hilarity will ensue. It is a source for never ending comedy. I just don't get what that is all about. Do people think that the gym is just a great place to pass the time? Can't people think of better things to do with their time than waste it pretending to workout? Yes, I am glad people come to the gym, but come on…do something while you are there!

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts