 Dr. Jose Almeida works out with Yanexi Oriquen, one of his two personal trainers. |
Personal trainers used to be thought of as a luxury for people who had more money than stamina. Today, executives are turning to them not only to slim down and tone up, but also to help them improve in their athletic endeavors, such as running marathons and playing tennis.
In a North American survey earlier this year, fitness professionals named personal training as the most frequently offered program at their facilities, according to San Diego-based IDEA Health & Fitness Association. The survey also found it's becoming more common to hire personal trainers with a buddy or a handful of friends.
One of the beauties of personal training is that it's tailored to the client's goals, says Dr. Jose Almeida, a south Florida vascular surgeon and founder of the Miami Vein Center.
Almeida should know. He works out with two personal trainers: One helped him earn a second-degree black belt in karate; another has assisted him in body conditioning.
"I've been athletic and playing sports my whole life," he says. "I had been training with weights for 25 years on my own. I wanted a higher level of training."
Finding the right person
Expect to pay a personal trainer $50 to $100 an hour, depending on his or her experience and the kind of workout you want to do. Most trainers are certified by one of a couple dozen organizations, and some are more highly regarded than others, so it's important to do your homework. Ask your friends and colleagues for references. Interview the trainer. Work out with that person a few times to see how you get along.
"You have to like your trainers," Almeida says. "If you don't like them, you're not going to go to them."
Location is also important. Almeida, who had a black belt in tae kwon do, started over as a white belt in karate because he couldn't find a place convenient to his home or office for taking lessons.
"I was not going to drive across town in traffic to go to tae kwon do at night. I knew I wouldn't stick with it," he says.
Starting a new routine
Almeida works with his karate trainer for an hour first thing in the morning three days a week. The other four mornings, he jogs. Six nights a week -- every day but Sunday -- he works out with weights for an hour with his personal trainer. He eats six meals a day, at 5 a.m., 8 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., keeping his blood sugar levels steady.
"It's a complete lifestyle, seven days a week. It's part of me," he says. "It's not something I force myself to do."
Most people won't incorporate as much personal training as he does. Only you can decide what frequency is right for you. Almeida's advice:
"Start slow. Take two days a week and add onto it. Don't try to start seven days a week, or you'll never do it. After six months, add another day. Build into it. But you've got to start somewhere."
FAST FACTSTrends in Training
Facilities
› 84% offer one-on-one personal training
› 68% offer sessions with two clients
› 44% offer sessions with three to five clients
› 84% offer fitness assessments
Programs
› Most popular exercise: Pilates (64%) and yoga (58%)
› Losing popularity: Aerobics (50%) and kickboxing (39%)
Equipment
› Most popular: Barbells, tubing/bands and stability balls
› Losing popularity: Stair climbers and upright cycles Source: IDEA Health & Fitness Association