Fitness on My Time and in My Way

Sometimes I feel like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz when she gets caught up in that tornado. My life is like that a lot. My works consumes well over eight hours a day; I am running to the grocery store, to the cleaners, and to a million other places, as I can fit all of these errands in. On the weekends, I volunteer at a local community center, tutoring kids who need help with their reading and math.

The big issue I faced was finding the time to get into the car and get to the gym at least three days a week, sometimes after work in horrible rush hour traffic. Fitness is definitely on my agenda, because I spend far too much time sitting and eating on the run. And I want to keep growing in my fitness program, so I really need a personal trainer. I had to figure something else out.

My Solution? Online Training

One of the hottest new trends (which I just discovered a few months ago) is online fitness training. It's like having a trainer in your home, only trainer is actually on Skype with you. I love it. It doesn't mean I never go to the gym – it just means that I can schedule training on a regular basis and always get it. Perfect for me, especially when I am traveling for my job.

Here is How it Works

There are world-class trainers that are now online, offering individualized fitness programs just as they do in their gyms when they serve their regular clients. You can find them on all sorts of clearinghouse networks with just a simple Google search. You can read about their history, client reviews, the clubs and organizations they belong to, their certifications and training – everything. Then you can pick one that you believe will work for you.

I found my trainer at Right Path Fitness in London. This is a large organization that specializes in personal fitness training in its locations all over London, but it has an online program as well.

It was easy to set up a schedule that would fit with the few hours a day that I knew I would be home and ready to workout. Then my trainer and I just videoconference our way through the workout. We discuss what I do in between sessions, my diet (color me a bit guilty here), and what the next steps will be. I always leave a session pretty well motivated to keep going. And just about the time I am getting a bit unmotivated, the next session happens, and I am back on track. I love it.

Is it For Everyone?

The obvious answer is "no." It's important to have a long conversation with a trainer or an online fitness program director about the pros and cons. When I called my trainer Keith McNiven, my first contact, was very realistic. "Online training is perfect for you because of your crazy schedule. But we can't make you follow through with the program we develop for you. People who are really motivated do well – those who aren't don't. You have to decide on your level of motivation." He is right.

Pros and Cons

There are big benefits of online training:

• Flexibility of scheduling is really a big plus. My trainer has blocked out time periods for online training, and I can pick my times on a weekly basis, based on my schedule.
• Lower Cost: Physical, in presence training is expensive. You can lower those costs by opting for an online program.
• Support through email: Most all online trainers are available to answer questions and provide motivational support when needed.
• Access from anywhere: In your home, in your hotel room, or at a friend's. This is a big draw for the millions who are now using it successfully, including me.

There are also some cons that have to be considered.

• No one is "spotting" you as you go through your reps and rotations, so it is difficult to know it you are doing everything correctly. You may want to video your workouts and send them over to your trainer for feedback.
• Progress is evaluated differently. Your trainer is not physically to evaluate how you are really doing. The client has to be totally honest with the trainer, or the program will not work. It is easy to "fudge" when the person is not standing right in front of you.
• Motivation: this is the biggie. Some people need to be around others to stay motivated. That's why they join group workout programs and use their fellow attendees for support in between sessions. If a person is not self-motivated, an online fitness program will not work.

In the end, a successful online fitness program is a matter of commitment, just like any other goal we set for ourselves.