The spread of technology and internet access has brought many tools and services to the tips of a users’ fingers. From doctor’s appointments to check deposits, various online personal training services are available from the convenience of a Google search and account creation.
Recently, online personal training has joined this growing trend of online services. This is an easy one to be skeptical of – there are plenty of pros and cons. However, online personal training has grown so much that it raises the question: Is online training a way to help overcome the growing levels of obesity in America?
Tell Me More
Before diving into that complex question, consider the pros and cons of online personal training. Many people report online training as a way to utilize a personal trainer in an affordable manner and accurately record and track results. It is an alternative for those with a schedule too busy for in-person meetings or for those who don’t like to frequent the gym.
One-on-one gym sessions can rack up pretty quickly – and not just at the weights. Training more than once a week brings in an even higher price tag. Not everyone has the financial means to handle this. In contrast, online trainers typically charge a lot less for online training. The investment can stretch further.
Platforms like Xerofit are also giving personal trainers more ways to become accessible to their clients. A digital platform allows you to easily message or access your trainer. Communication is key in any training situation, and more so if the training is taking place through the web. Those communication lines make it easier to access the experts willing to work on your fitness.
Training via the inter-web does require a lot of self-motivation. This is both a pro and a con. Trainers are mere clicks away, but if you don’t click and ignore messages, these cancel each other out. Completing a workout is your responsibility – just as it would be in a gym setting. Any excuses made really would be on you.
How Does Online Training Help with Obesity?
For some people, going to the gym or running down a lakefront path brings on feelings of anxiety and shame. If you are struggling with obesity, like millions of Americans, a one-on-one training in any location outside of your home isn’t the dream. Millions of Americans are also overworked and find squeezing one more commitment into the weekly schedule to be near impossible to manage.
Online training combats feelings of shame and busy schedules in a few ways. Online personal training brings workouts directly to the home, or another preferred location. There is no group fitness class to compare to or a neighbor at the gym jogging at lightning speed on the treadmill. The comparisons start and end with the individual and their personal fitness journey.
At the same time, the trainer is still there. They are virtual, yes, but available and able to bring their expert knowledge to the individual at a lower rate. Through online sites, mobile apps, video channels, and more, users are able to delve into their fitness experience.
Personal Touch
The other extremely important aspect of online training is the ability to create a customized workout and track it in an easy to follow manner. Just like a one-on-one session, online trainers build the workout meant for you.
Some online training sites also present the ability to drag and drop workout options to build that custom workout. Results are recorded in real-time and follow users across different mediums. Instead of tediously tracking through paper or Excel, mobile apps bring up workout records with just a few buttons.
Changing with the Times
So, to return to the original question, is online personal training a solution to obesity? In many ways, yes. When it comes to fitting into a hectic schedule, providing consistent motivation, and being financially feasible, online training is a wonderful option. Millions of Americans are obese – which results millions of additional healthcare costs with higher rates of health issues. Online personal training is blazing a trail as a new solution for exercise and fitness, and its power for results is not to be underestimated.
