the Cost of Multiple Personal Training Sessions

The service paid for use of the fitness center while the weight loss program was ongoing, in addition to a fitness studio (containing various mats, fitness balls, a multitude of dumbbells, a speed bag, and a heavy bag). The fitness center itself was well-stocked with the latest circuit of Cybex VR3 equipment, in addition to a variety of free weights, weight benches, and places to perform bodyweight exercises. For cardiovascular work, there were a total of four treadmills, three bicycles, two ellipticals, and three arc trainers. It was located in a basement, and while quite small (the quoted square footage was just shy of 1500 sq. ft), there was an excellent array of things that helped me in my quest for a trimmer physique.

The real gem of the service, of course, was the on-site professional. I was allowed to choose my own from four trainers. This trainer guided me through a total of ten sessions of one-on-one training. However, when we were not scheduled, I was still allowed to utilize the facilities, and there were always other professionals there to help with any questions I may have had for zero cost. After my sessions ended, the trainer assured me he was not "going away" and that he would always be willing to answer any questions I had in the future, which I felt was a nice touch and let me know he really did care.

The service I received was excellent. I found it to be an incredible value, so much so that I ended up purchasing an actual membership at the fitness center. That was perhaps the best value for the money I have ever found - for very little money ($450!) I was granted about six weeks worth of membership at the gym, which seems rather pricey until you consider the fact that I had my trainer constantly monitoring my progress.

My trainer was very dedicated, and throughout the course of these six weeks I managed to lose a total of 16lbs. In addition to being slimmer than I was back in high school, I am now much more muscular than I have ever been, and I owe it all to him. My confidence is greatly improved, and I feel better than I have ever felt. Both my lower back and my knees, which had become a constant pain for myself for the past several years (likely due to a combination of aging and being overweight, I was told) feel wonderful now. I don't wake up with a reminder that I am getting old anymore.

If I could, I would recommend this service to anyone who has experienced the unfortunate truth about getting older. I've lost the extra few pounds I had put on, and that alone is worth the mere $450 I paid. If you can afford it, go for it!

The best thing to do is shop around. Don't just look at national chains, local businesses can really offer a much better bang for the buck. They have to compete with these larger chains, and most should be willing to compromise if they aren't already lower-cost. That being said, do not be afraid to be extremely critical when making a choice of which program to go with. I chose the route of one-on-one coaching. I still feel supremely confident that choice was the best. With mail-order programs, or those "diet-in-a-box" types of programs, you don't get the face-to-face contact that I really feel was crucial to keeping my motivation high.

Try not to get discouraged either if the pounds don't start to instantly melt away. These programs exist for a reason, and if you've done your shopping correctly, the people behind them know what they are doing. I personally hit a huge snag in the beginning, but my trainer continued to tweak my diet and exercise regimen until, at around week two, the pounds started to come off. Once we had found the "sweet spot" it was relatively easy from there on out.

To summarize, shop around, be critical, find a one-on-one coach, stay motivated, and trust your trainer!