I have a bad back, bad knees, and a bad shoulder, is Personal Training safe for me?
Absolutely. It’s the very reason why resistance training is essential for you. I’ve found many people are in pain because they’re weak. If your joints don’t have the adequate strength around them, they’re subject to being unstable. The key is to build strength following a structured, individual and appropriate plan. This means “progressive overload” to improve joint stability, or in other words, we make it a bit more of a challenge week to week to build strength around your joints so you’re more capable. No burpees for you!
I have injuries. Can I still train?
Some of the most inspiring people I’ve trained have had injuries. They have every excuse not to exercise, yet they realise that they are in control and they can make their bodies better. In fact, it’s very important that if you do have pain, you should use exercise to improve your symptoms, and it may even tackle the cause. Speak to your Doctor and Physiotherapist first, and once they’ve given you the go ahead, then you should get exercising immediately. I’ve trained clients with back pain from being office bound and they’ve seen massive improvements (please read my reviews) from chronic back pain for years, to no pain. I’m not claiming in any way to fix pain, that is not within my scope of practice, but be open to the idea that if you suffer pain, it may be possible to improve things.
I find commercial gyms in Peterborough intimidating. Where do your sessions take place?
I work with my clients in an independent gym, free of mirrors and new clients often tell me how comfortable they feel there once they’ve had a couple of sessions with me. It’s got a positive vibe and people just get on with their workouts and won’t even notice you, even if you accidently put your trousers on backwards and inside out. This is not a commercial chain or a high-intensity bootcamp.
I’ve noticed I’m losing muscle and feeling weaker as I get older. Can 1 hour a week really help?
It’s actually quite surprising how just 1 hour a week can have a profound effect on sarcopenia (age related muscle loss). Lots of people don’t even start because they think that they need to train multiple times per week to get any benefit and they can’t sacrifice that amount of time, but it’s simply not true. Once a week is enough to create a stimulus for growth and also build some healthy habits along the way. How do I know? Lots of my clients train once a week and have seen incredible results.
What actually happens during the complimentary video consultation?
We use Google Meet (or Zoom) and have a relaxed conversation about you. It’ll be up to 30 minutes where I can learn more about you, how you want your day to day to change and whether working together is the right choice (sometimes it isn’t and I’ll be honest with you about that). I only work with people who I think I can help, and if we’re not a good match, I’ll end the call and pretend I lost my internet connection (or recommend someone else to work with). There’s no pressure, it’s free of charge and you can do it sat in your living room wearing your favourite Pokémon pyjamas.
How do I justify the cost of a Personal Trainer when I’m already so busy with family and work?
No doubt it’s a challenge. I work with many busy people who have decided that being healthy and physically fit isn’t optional anymore. When we invest our time and finances into the things that matter, we reap the benefits every day. At £40 per hour with no hidden gym membership fees, my clients tell me it’s worth every penny.
I’ve never done Personal Training before, does that matter?
I like working with beginners. I get to teach them everything they need to know about their body, exercise and nutrition. So it’s actually a bonus if you’ve not done Personal Training or any exercise at all because it means I don’t have to get you to unlearn all the bad habits you may have picked up. Rest assured, everything we do is based on your current ability and skill level so you’ll feel positively challenged and not frightened.
What does my first session look like?
It is not a workout. It’s a basic movement assessment where I ask you to do a movement like a squat. If you don’t know what a squat is, that’s absolutely fine, I will show you. In this first session I’m trying to learn what I need to teach you. Lots of people think they should already know what to do, but exercising is a skill and my job is to teach you how to do it properly and at your own level. It’s safe, and it’s a great way to ease in gently.
What does a PT session look like?
That of course depends on what your needs are but I can give you some examples:
1 hour of exercise – We will get you stronger, build resilience and capability so you can do all the things you care about (and do the things you thought you could never do). It can involve lifting weights, or your own bodyweight.
30 minutes’ medium intensity exercise, 30 minutes’ low intensity exercise/stretching
1-hour nutrition education/planning
How long do I need to commit to training? Is there a minimum period?
I want my clients to be committed, because without commitment, you won’t improve. There’s no minimum period, but you need to be realistic. Do not expect life changing results in one month. If you’re taken in by those “get lean in 20 days” packages you can find everywhere on-line then you will have to learn the hard way. It’s OK, I’ll wait until you’re ready to see me. Anything worth doing takes time and commitment.
Do you train couples?
I work with clients exclusively on a one-to-one basis. Because I am highly focused on individual goals, I find this approach allows me to support my clients much more effectively. Since you and your partner may have different objectives, body types and capabilities, training together would function more like a fitness class rather than personalised coaching.
Do I need to be fit to do PT?
I’ve heard people say “I’m not fit enough to do Personal Training”. It’s a common misconception which really surprised me. The reality is I’m not going to shout “drop down and give me 20” like a Military Officer. You can find another PT if that’s what you’re after. Instead my philosophy is to train smarter, not harder. What does that look like you ask? Learn how you move, teach you how to move even better, add resistance, check your form, add OR subtract resistance depending on technique. I make it fit to you, rather than you fit to it.
Am I too old to do Personal Training?
It’s a shame when people pigeon-hole themselves and think that they’re now destined to sit in a chair eating custard creams in their slippers. While that does sound nice, it gets boring after a while. I’ve trained clients in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s who can do amazing things like pulling their own body weight up to a bar, doing press ups and heavy squats. I’ve admired people at the gym in their 80’s still exercising with weights. If you want to be healthy, mobile, social and fit then you should give it some thought. Speak to your family (the healthier ones) and see what they think. On a more serious note (I can be serious sometimes) there is a worrying statistic that elderly people who break or fracture their hip are 3x more likely to die the year following their accident. Can you drastically reduce your chances of this happening? Osteoporosis, otherwise known as brittle bones, is a condition which can occur as we age. We can improve our chances of keeping our bones strong by doing load bearing exercises e.g resistance training. That will force the bone to maintain or grow in density, plus building up the muscles around the joints provides greater support as well as improved coordination.
What kind of clothing do I need to wear?
Keep it simple. Wear something that you feel comfortable in, that allows freedom of movement and your skin to breathe. If you fancy getting yourself something as a well done for your hard work, look for active wear that has “moisture wicking” technology to keep you dry while you exercise. Flat shoes with minimal cushioning work best.