Should You Hire a Personal Trainer? 5 Proven Benefits You Need to Know

Do you need a personal trainer? Or a lifting coach?

These are one of the first questions new lifters have when they start training. In most situations, you probably should. The gym and lifting weights should be a long-term part of your life, and getting a trainer is investing in yourself.

This is why it's surprising that so many people forgo a quality training coach to save a few bucks, only to become frustrated because they're not progressing. We're going to tell you why you should get a quality personal trainer when you start lifting.

Why Every New Lifter Needs A Qualified Personal Trainer & Coach

The theory behind building strength and muscle mass is actually quite simple; you just lift weights and you get bigger and stronger muscles, right?

Kind of, but there's a lot of nuance that makes all the difference. On top of that, the rise in social media has created an influx of information that makes it all the more confusing than it needs to be.

And this is where a trainer comes in, especially when you begin training. They can help build your foundation and keep you focused on what matters.

Here are 5 reasons you should get a coach.

1. Teach the Basics and Fundamentals of Lifting.

One of our biggest pet peeves is when we see a trainee who has had a trainer "for years" yet is still unaware of basic concepts such as progressive overload or the difference between strength and hypertrophy.

A good coach doesn't just show you what to do or watch you do reps; they teach. They teach why you're doing what you're doing, which instills knowledge that lasts forever.

Knowing why you're doing what you're doing can greatly increase your motivation to train as you understand the process. Plus, it gives you the information you need to train for a lifetime.

2. Correct and Improve Form

This is huge. Taking time to hire a coach to help you with form will last a lifetime. 

Once you learn the movement patterns, muscle memory lasts a very long time.

We see too many lifters think they don't need a coach and continue lifting with their friends using awful technique. This not only increases your risk of injury, but it also prevents you from optimally training your muscles.

Do you think those lifters who take a trip to cat-back city during deadlift are really hitting their hamstrings and glutes?

3. Ensure Proper Intensity and Progression

Another significant issue we've observed throughout our careers with new trainees is that people often underestimate their own strengths.

As a result, they are unsure of how much weight they can lift or how many repetitions they can perform.

Reasons for this usually fall under two camps;

1. Those who truly underestimate their ability and have never been pushed.
2. Those who are physically present in the gym but not mentally engaged. They're not focused and are going through the motions.

Both lead to a stall in progression and frustration.

Numerous studies have found that when comparing supervised and unsupervised lifters, those who are supervised generally lift harder (Glass & Stanton, 2004, and Gentil & Bottaro, 2010)

4. Provide Personalized Plans

A key benefit of working with a personal trainer is receiving a customized program designed for you.

While general plans can work, a personal trainer can tweak it to accommodate your specific situation, such as;

• Any injuries or mobility issues
• Consider any health issues
• Adjust for your level of training 
• Can alter and make appropriate exercise swaps

Trainers also adjust your plan as you progress, ensuring steady improvement while minimizing injury risk. This approach makes each workout more effective, efficient, and sustainable for long-term results.

Plus, if you pay attention, you can learn how to write your own program after!

5. Accountability And Adherence 

It's no secret that adherence to the gym is abysmal. Hiring a private coach or personal trainer can help fix that.

• It's harder to bail when someone is waiting for you
• They can provide motivation when needed
• A quality coach will explain the overall process of building muscle and strength, making it easier to understand
• Help point out areas where you are improving that you may not notice
• You've paid them money that you don't want to go to waste

You never want to rely on the coach for your adherence; that falls on you. However, a qualified coach can make the process easier and give you the kick in the @ss we all need sometimes.

How Long Do You Need A Personal Trainer?

This is a highly nuanced question. However, we can assure you it's not a lifetime need for the majority of people, specifically a hands-on coach.

In our opinion, if you have a qualified coach who teaches you AND you pay attention, there's no reason you need one for more than 6 months, probably less.

Now, this is a little different if you're just getting a program. Some of the best lifters in the world still have a coach write their program.

Other specific situations are if you're learning a skilled sport like Olympic weightlifting, which is much more demanding technically and so needs more time.

How Much Is A Personal Trainer?

The price can vary greatly. However, for an advanced, qualified trainer with experience, you can expect to pay $100-$150/hour, depending on where you live.

However, you can usually buy a package for less. For example, you might be able to get a 12-session package (1 month at 3 sessions a week) for $800.

Keep in mind, you don't need to do this every month. After your first month, if you feel pretty confident, you can get the trainer for one session a week. This can be used for more technical lifts, such as back squat or deadlift.

Online Trainer Vs. In-Person Trainer

The biggest difference is obviously going to be the hands-on aspect as well as motivation. Online, while the trainer can send encouraging messages, they're not with you.

Now, with the rise in technology, this is changing a bit as you can now do things such as form critiques through video.

With that in mind, an online trainer is going to be cheaper as there's not as high a time demand.

If you're brand new, you should get an in-person trainer to help with form and teach you the basics. After that, it's up to the person on what level of supervision they need. Just keep in mind that supervised sessions generally result in greater results with novice lifters (Coleman et. al, 2023)

Get A Qualified Trainer!

If you're thinking about getting a trainer, you should probably bite the bullet; just make sure you get a qualified coach. This might take some time. Check for;

• Proper qualifications
• Any extracurricular activity in the industry (this shows they're invested)
• Look for those with experience
• Read reviews
• Pay attention to their personality. Marketing is naturally a part of the industry, but they should speak to you like a real person
• Stay away from big box gyms. These do have some quality trainers, but it's heavily hit or miss, and the trainers are usually less invested.

If you're serious about training, invest in yourself and send us a message!

References

1. Coleman, M., Burke, R., Benavente, C., Piñero, A., Augustin, F., Maldonado, J., … Schoenfeld, B. J. (2023). Supervision during resistance training positively influences muscular adaptations in resistance-trained individuals. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41(12), 1207–1217. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2023.2261090 
2. Fisher, J. P., Androulakis-Korakakis, P., Giessing, J., Helms, E., Schoenfeld, B. J., Smith, D., & Winett, R. (2023). Supervision during resistance training: A comparison of trainer and trainee perceptions. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 3(1), Article 256. https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v3i1.256
3. Gentil, P., & Bottaro, M. (2010). Influence of supervision ratio on muscle adaptations to resistance training in non-trained subjects. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(3), 639–643. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181ad3373 
4. Glass, S. C., & Stanton, D. R. (2004). Self-selected resistance training intensity in novice weightlifters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18(2), 324–327. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15142014/ 
5. Steele, J., Malleron, T., Har-Nir, I., Androulakis-Korakakis, P., Wolf, M., Fisher, J. P., & Halperin, I. (2022). Are Trainees Lifting Heavy Enough? Self-Selected Loads in Resistance Exercise: A Scoping Review and Exploratory Meta-analysis. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 52(12), 2909–2923. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01717-9