Ready to match your dietary discipline with the work in the gym needed to accelerate, maximize, and keep your results and success? Then kudos to you! The gym can be an overwhelming and intimidating environment. Exercise in general has becoming very confusing as there is also no shortage of advice from “fitness experts” and genetically-gifted Instagram “models”. But you have to push all that noise aside…without consistent exercise, there can be no long-term success with weight management, even after a successful surgery. Hiring a personal trainer to help guide you through the fitness jungle is never a bad option. If you are ready to commit yourself, you will want to know how to maximize your time and effort and get help sifting through all the erroneous exercise advice and tips people are constantly bombarded with.
A quick word of caution – just like with any other profession, there are some incredible, inspirational, and qualified trainers, and there are some who…are not. You likely researched and interviewed a couple surgeons before surgery. Treat hiring a trainer with the same level of scrutiny. Some training certifications, quite honestly, are about as useful as a bottle of sand on the beach. The fitness certification industry has become big business, and many want to cash in on it; some even allow you to become a certified personal trainer over the weekend! Honestly, what level of standards can be upheld with that kind of training? Other certifications only require you to pass an online test. That's like going to a surgeon who got their medical degree from the back of a cereal box. For a young adult with no co-morbidities, orthopedic issues, or surgeries, that level of accreditation may be passable. The dietary restrictions alone following weight loss surgery pose a unique set of challenges that require a very experienced and educated trainer to navigate. Look for a trainer who has at least a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Science and/or any certification from the American Counsel of Sports Medicine (ASCM) or National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Those organizations have the gold standard in Clinical Exercise Science and sports application; you can trust that they have a solid understanding of the human body and its relationship with movement and exercise.
The second consideration is cost. Having worked in many commercial gyms, athletic performance facilities, and rehab centers, the average cost of personal training is around $70/hour. That’s the average, and many big-name gyms make you pay an additional premium for their “top tier” (more experienced) trainers. That adds up… fast, especially when you consider how many times a week you should be in the gym. Lastly, I would encourage you to fully read anything you sign. The contracts usually have a lot of teeth in them that you will want to know about.
Or…shameless plug to follow… skip the cost, the crowds, and most importantly, the confusion of what to actually do! Workout in the comfort of your home with a training system designed specifically for the bariatric patient. Check out the Therapeutic Movement and Exercise System. Whatever you route you go, be consistent; the results will follow! In the meantime, follow us on social media to stay connected. Live your success story!