Oftentimes, when wanting to start a new exercise or nutrition routine, a lot of people don't know where to start. They have the good intentions of going to the gym and eating better, but after a week or two, they fall off their program back into old habits. It takes time to establish habits, and in those first couple weeks, having someone that supports you is extremely important.
One thing that I see repetitively are friends who go to the gym together (starting their healthy habits as a team) with one friend 'coaching' the other. She had probably done some research, found a Women's Health workout, and is taking over the role of personal trainer by instructing her friend through the exercises. It's great that they are wanting to do this together, but leave the role of personal trainer to the personal trainer. It takes time to get certified, and in that time, we learn a lot more than programming workouts for the individual. This friend who is 'coaching' often has poor form, isn't watching and correcting her friend's form, and together, they are on the fast track to injury, or no results.
If you are serious about tranforming your life, whether that be as a newbie who doesn't know the gym, or someone familiar with working out but needing a change, consider hiring a personal trainer. The great thing is, there are more options available to you besides the trainers at the club you attend. More often than not, when you go through a club, your trainer will have to prescribe you workouts based on the club's rules rather than their own personal observations and opinions, and the price will be inflated compared to working with an independent trainer.
Don't be afraid to shop around and ask questions. Any trainer that's worth their salt would be happy to talk to you, free of charge. Granted, you're not going to get a full consultation, but you can learn a little about the trainer's methods and the services they offer.
Take the time to learn how to workout and eat right properly. Your friend, no matter how good their intentions are, just can't take on the role of your trainer unless they are certified.
