One of the most common questions I get with a potential new client is, “How much does personal training cost?”
The answer is: “It depends.”
The hourly rate you pay when you work with a professional Personal Trainer does not really correlate with what your actual cost will be.
That’s not a typo. Hourly rate is not the same thing as total cost, yet most people shopping for a trainer are only concerned about the hourly rate. And many trainers don’t bill by the hour, they bill by the month or quote a rate for the comprehensive program they think you’ll need to get the results that you want.
Furthermore, most people only consider the cost in dollar amount to be spent on working out with a trainer while ignoring the cost of health care or medical bills. If you don’t do what’s necessary to lose the fat, improve your eating habits, or strengthen your muscles and bones to keep yourself functioning pain free and independently as you age, you’ll be spending your hard earned cash on drugs, therapy, caregivers, or assisted living instead.
So let’s look at a few factors that can influence the actual cost of personal training.
Expertise
If you knew exactly what you needed to do in order to achieve the results that you want, you wouldn’t be reading this page. You’re here because you’re not an expert in the fitness profession and need the guidance of someone who is. That means you need to either educate yourself so that you know exactly what to do (my Master of Science degree in Kinesiology cost about $20,000 and took a couple of years to get – and that was awhile ago)…. or… hire a professional, which should cost considerably less and take less time.
A skilled professional will perform an assessment to see what you need and will get you on a path to where you want to go by knowing what exercises to include in your program and how to progress you along the way. Yes, it will require an investment on your part. But just like anything else, hiring a professional is usually cheaper in the long run.
Motivation
This is a biggie! How motivated are you to make permanent lifestyle changes and do what you need to do on a regular basis?
Consistency is the key to getting stronger or leaner – so you’ll need to do some work on your own even if you see your trainer a few times a week. The more support you need from your trainer, the higher the cost.
If you need to be accountable to someone to keep on task and don’t have unwavering support of friends or family, then expect to see your trainer more frequently. One of the things that I do with my coaching clients is ask they “Why?” they want a personal trainer. If you know your “Why” you’ll have an easier time motivating yourself.
If you’re intrinsically motivated and have the discipline to do your workouts regularly, then you may be able to go several weeks between sessions. Advanced clients may check in with a trainer once a month to get an updated workout to keep progressing.
If you aren’t motivated enough to workout regularly and try to skimp on paying for training sessions, you’ll probably give up before achieving your goal and it will feel like a waste of money. Or it will take much, much longer and end up costing more.
Experience
If you are a beginner and just learning new skills, you’ll need to see your trainer more frequently – at least in the beginning – to make sure you’re doing things correctly so you don’t get injured.
If you already have experience with exercise and your technique is sound, you won’t need to see your trainer as often.
How Far Until You Reach Your Goal
The further you are away from your goal, the longer your fitness program will be. Longer programs tend to cost more than shorter programs.
In closing, investing in your health is one of the smartest things you can do and will save you money in the long run.
I have clients that have gotten off of some of their medications once they reached their fitness goals. Their health improved to the point that they no longer needed to be on statins, blood pressure meds, oral meds for blood sugar control, or meds for bone density. The money they spent on personal training payed dividends by decreasing some of their medical bills while improving their quality of life. How much is better mobility, improved strength and balance, and independence in your later years worth to you?
So, to answer the common question: how much it’s actually going to cost is largely up to you. But I’m happy to discuss your fitness goals with you to let you know what I can offer to help you get the results that you want.
If you live anywhere in the United States and would like to discuss your situation in more detail, call me today for a free consultation and learn more about how I can help!
