Sometimes changing your PT can be the best thing for your fitness.
Did you used to think your trainer was the best thing since low carb bread – but the spark has gone? Or, you still rate your trainer as the best of the best – it’s just your needs have changed.
Sometimes it’s time to break up with your trainer and that’s ok, just be sure of why you are moving on and where to, so there is no interruption to your fitness focus.
Here are a few reasons that make sense to make that change:
Your home or work location change – If you have moved house or job and your current training location will be inconvenient, you need a new plan. Could a change of time mean you can work it in on route to or from home or work? Can your trainer travel to meet you at a more suitable location? Talk to your trainer and find out. If not, they may be able to recommend a great trainer in your new area and introduce you.
You are feeling financially challenged – Everyone experiences downturns and changing financial priorities, from redundancy to saving for a first home. Your trainer lives in that same world. Talk to them about your options. Can you reduce the frequency of your sessions or share with another client? Do they have a group session you can join that will be more economical? If not, you could ask them to write you a home program and then have a ‘check in’ appointment with them every couple of months.
You just want to do something new – Much as you love your training you feel the need to mix things up. You have always wanted to try salsa dancing or rock climbing or kickboxing, or some friends are training for a cycle race and you want to join them. There is only so much time in a day and money in your hip pocket. Be honest with your trainer, so the door is open for if you ever want to return.
The magic has gone – Sometimes trainers and clients get too familiar. There’s too much chat and not enough sweat. The fitness goals are forgotten and replaced by social invitations. Perhaps you don’t find your trainer a great role model, or you feel like just a number wondering where is the ‘personal’ in my personal training? If it’s not too late, you can have an honest heart to heart and rekindle the right relationship, but if it’s past saving, move on, there are plenty more fish in this sea.
By Rachel Livingstone Personal Trainer & Owner of The Health Hub