FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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A: What a trainer does for you can be summarized as follows: provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to achieve your fitness goals; teach safe workout techniques; give individualized instruction; provide sport-specific training; assist with post-workout stretching; provide motivation and bolster confidence.
A: It is not a problem at all. A personal trainer works with clients of all fitness levels. It is a misconception that only the super-fit work with a trainer. In fact, if you have never or rarely worked out before, you should have a personal trainer to help you begin. Unlike those people who exercise regularly, you do not have the knowledge and tools needed for successful fitness training. It is ineffective and sometimes even harmful to copy what others in the gym do without knowing if it is suitable for your body. This is so because some workouts require such exactness and precision that a slight error might result in wrong muscles being used. To avoid muscle injury, it is highly recommended that you use a personal trainer.
A: Most of the fundamentals you need to know concern physiological science and nutrition. In terms of training, three principles are of paramount importance. A. The principle of overload. Your body gets strengthened as it adapts itself to stimuli. Without effective stimuli (weight, strength, speed, etc.), adaptation will not occur. However if stimuli are excessive, for example when too much weight is imposed upon the body, or workouts are too frequently scheduled, the body will not get enough rest and recovery. As a result, it is likely to respond poorly to the training and worse, to become prone to injuries. B. The principle of recovery. Generally speaking, muscles will need 24 to 48 hours to recover after exertion. With properly controlled overload, nutrition, and active resting, the body will perform at an optimal level. This principle is particularly relevant to athletes. C. Specificity. Can you use someone else’s workout plan? You could, but it might not be the most suitable for you. At the outset of a training program, your PT will give you a series of fitness assessments in order to understand your physical condition. Based on his knowledge and experience, he will work with you to develop your fitness goal and design an effective workout plan designed specifically for you.
A: I am a full-time personal trainer at Goodlife Fitness located near the intersection of Finch and 404. Click here for a detailed map. Most of my clients do their training sessions in that facility because it is equipped with everything you need. However, if you choose to work with me in your home or condo gym for the sake of privacy or convenience, I will be happy to and do my best to accommodate your request.
A: It depends on your specific needs, goals, how motivated you are, and how well your body adapts to training. Training two to three times a week is highly recommended for most people. If your goal is to lose weight or grow muscles fast, you will need to train slightly more frequently, say, every other day. But I do not recommend training on consecutive days, because your body needs to get properly rested before the next training session.
A: A typical training session lasts 60 minutes. I encourage you to arrive earlier for a brief warm-up, so you will be able to make the best and most efficient use of your 1-hour training session.
A: It varies depending on your goals, your fitness level, how well your body adapts to training, what training phase you are in, and what we are focusing on. Having said that, a typical training session for most people includes a light warm-up and stretching, 40-50 minutes of resistance training, a cardio regimen, or a combination of the two, followed by a cool down and stretching period.
A: A key part of my job is to design an individualized program for you, so as to ensure that your workouts will always be at the appropriate intensity for your fitness level. You will be challenged but it will never be more than what you can handle. Some people have the misconception that the more intense the workouts, the better result that will be achieved. In fact, if your workout is way past what your body can sustain, it will actually do harm to your body. What I do is to give your body the right amount of challenge. With my expertise and experience, you can expect to get stronger, lost fat, and improve cardio at a steady rate, and in the meantime, enjoy being pushed to the maximum!
A: Yes, absolutely. But you and your friends need to be at roughly the same fitness levels and have similar exercise goals. This way, I will be able to design a training program with similar exercises so that you and your friend(s) can train together effectively. An advantage of small-group training is that it adds an element of fun to training via peer encouragement, competition, and interactive exercises. Additionally, small group training is cost effective, saving 20-30% for each individual. Having said this, if you and your friends differ greatly in terms of fitness level and training goal, I do not recommend small-group training for you. Because you need very different exercises, training together would be ineffective.
A: Sport specific training is fitness and performance training designed specifically for athletic performance enhancement. I can design for you a sport-specific training program according to your specific sport, to help you enhance your performance in such areas as strength, speed, power, endurance, flexibility, mobility, agility, mental preparedness (including goal setting), sleep, recovery/regeneration techniques and strategies, nutrition, rehabilitation, pre-habilitation, and injury risk reduction.
A: It depends on what your goals are, your fitness level, health condition, and motivation. Training not only enhances your fitness level, but also helps you cultivate a healthy lifestyle. Generally speaking, I work with you until you reach your goals, then I help you develop a maintenance program. It must be noted that reaching your ideal health and body is a process that takes time. That’s why many of my clients commit to six or twelve month programs. Of course, it is ultimately up to you.
A: Yes. Proper nutrition and diet is a key factor in achieving your fitness goals. I am an AANC Certified Nutritional Consultant. I will be very happy to provide consultation in this regard. Of course, if you require an elaborate, specific nutritional plan, an appointment with a Registered Dietician can be easily arranged.
A: Rates vary from $52 to $100, based on the number of sessions purchased. As the number of sessions increases, the price per session drops. Please see Promotions. If the promotions do not fit your needs, please contact me.
A: Generally speaking, people who work out are at one of three stages: initial, medium, and advanced. Each stage lasts about six to ten months, based on three workouts a week. Those at the initial stage are encouraged to work with a personal trainer or an experienced fitness aficionado. People at the second and third stages may exercise on their own assuming. Those who aspire to achieve more in fitness should find a trainer at the appropriate level. Athletes who compete in sports are strongly advised to seek help from specialized personal trainer.
A: It is most likely because of a lack of overload. Suppose you want to strengthen your cardio capacity. You work out three times a week, each workout consists of ten exercises, and each exercise is repeated twenty times, with a five-minute interval between exercises. In the long term, such training will not help you achieve the desired goal, because there is no specific overload.
A: It should be noted at the outset that once you start losing fat, it occurs to the entire body, and that it is almost impossible to lose fat in one specific area of the body. Due to differential distribution of fat and the different sizes of fat cells in different parts of the body, a body might take the shape of a pear, an apple, an hourglass, or a tube, but of course, the most determinative factors are your skeletal structure and muscles. If fat concentrates in the lower part of the body, that part will be the last to really slim down. Suppose that you have a large amount of belly fat, the only way is to do cardio and endurance exercises, which will cause you to lose fat all over the body and eventually lead to a reduction of belly fat. In other words, a slim waistline will show only at a later stage of your weight loss schedule.
A: Not really. Fats cannot be turned into muscles. Fats and muscles are made up of very different types of tissues that have completely different components and functions. When you do cardio exercises, fat cells are used to provide energy for the body, so cardio exercises can help you lose fat. But this is an entirely different thing from growing muscles. It is therefore impossible to turn unwanted fat directly into muscles.
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