[Brian A.]

Originally Posted by brwnsgr

I went this route for a three month period, and I don't think it's right for me.

On my own, I could start up workout programs, but I couldn't quite commit to sticking to the routine of it all. Which for me was always the biggest challenge. Something would come up and throw off my schedule (I am VERY schedule oriented), and too many of those days would stop the workouts for months. I have a treadmill, stationary bike, free weights and a Weider Home Gym, so I had everything at home to do almost anything. I just COULDN't stick to it.

Enter the online trainer. Not as expensive as a live trainer and I didn't need to go to the gym. I just needed the accountability factor. I'm thinking, if I have to log into my "trainer" every day and explain why I ate three doughnuts and skipped out on my 30 min cardio, I would start sticking to my workout plan.
The 1st mth started out pretty decent. Based on info that I provided (stats, desired results); I was given an upper/lower body workout plan. In addition, I needed to submit a 3 day look at what I eat every day. This was probably the best thing that I got out of this. I used to eat a lot of microwaveable lunches, 100 snack cakes, Crystal Lite...processed foods. I don't remember what she said, but b/c of her direction, I've pretty much eliminated these types of foods from my diet (100 cal snacks are now usually reserved for trips).
After the 1st few weeks, her feedback began to falter off and I wasn't getting the earful that I expected on the days/weeks that I didn't complete my program. That pretty much took me back to how it was when I was on my own.

Based on this experience, I came to the conclusion that for me, I would need to have a physical accountability to someone and an actual person pushing me to do what I am capable of doing. On my own...I wouldn't necessarily choose some of the weights that my current trainer gives me. And...I would do my requisite 10-12 reps and stop. My current trainer tells me to "give him one more."

But this all could have been about an online trainer that may just have needed more experience. Plus, I know now that I need someone in my face making me do that extra rep or set.

Thanks for sharing this story with us, I think it brings up another whole discussion of intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation. The people who achieve the most success in fitness are those who tap into their intrinsic motivators. Many people, including many trainers, view trainers as people whose job it is to stand over someone and demand more effort. This is a form of extrinsic motivation that works for some, however as you've pointed out, it only works as long as that person is there to hold you to task. I would suggest looking a little deeper into why it is that you want to make the changes in your life. Going beyond your goals to the reasons that you want to achieve them. How will your life be different once you have reached your goals? If you can find those answers then you will have all the motivation you'll need and you will become more self empowered. Your trainer then becomes an educator instead of a disciplinarian. Their job becomes pointing you in the right direction and jogging along behind to make sure your on the right path instead of dragging you along it.