• Why personal training?

Personal training was once considered the domain of Hollywood stars, not regular people. But now many people who work out like having a personal program developed for them.

"We do a lot of personal fitness training and guidance in how to work out properly" said Andy

Do You Need a Personal Fitness Trainer?

10 Reasons a trainer may be right for you.

By Elizabeth Quinn

Personal trainers aren't for everyone, but a trainer provides certain benefits that you can't find when working out on your own. Here are ten reasons a personal trainer may be right for you.

1. Motivation
   One of the main reasons people benefit from a personal trainer is that they loss motivation to stick with a consistent exercise program. Certified personal trainers can provide structure and accountability, and help you develop a lifestyle that encourages health.

2. Individualized program
   If you have any chronic health conditions, injuries or training goals (running a marathon, for example) a trainer will work with you and your health care provider to plan a safe, efficient program that considers these needs and enable you to reach your health goals.

3. Efficiency
   Personal Trainers help you focus on results and stop wasting your time doing inefficient workouts. A personal trainer has a plan and will help you get maximum results in minimum time.

4. Workout Safely
   A personal trainer watches your form, monitors your vitals and can provide objective feedback about your limits and strengths. Most of us tend to ignore some of the subtle signals our body provides. We either push through pain or give up too soon. Because a personal trainer can watch what you are doing while you are doing it, they can help push you or slow you down as necessary

5. Lose Weight
   There is a good reason that the number one reason people hire personal trainers is to lose weight and get into shape -- it works. If you made a resolution to lose the fat and build the muscle, a trainer can keep you on track and help you realize that goal.

6. Improve technical skills
   If you play a particular sport, the right personal trainer will help you improve your skill by showing you new training techniques specific to your sport. The Trainer will incorporate skills training into your program so you improve not only your strength and endurance, but your agility and mental focus as well.

7. You are new to exercise
   If you are an absolute beginner, a personal trainer is the ultimate fitness coach. A good trainer will introduce you to a very simple, effective routine and build efficiently so before you know it, you have the confidence and knowledge to decide what is right for you.

8. Break through plateaus
   Ok, you are already in pretty decent shape, but you've been there for years. If you are stuck in the same routine and want to break out of a rut, a personal trainer is the perfect solution. A trainer will jump start, not only your motivation, but your routine as well.

9. Workout at home
   Many personal trainers make house calls. If you don't have the type or interest in going to a gym, but have a hard time knowing what to do on your own at home, a personal trainer can bring fitness into your living room.

10. Learn how to go it alone
    If you ultimately want to learn all the facets of designing your own routines so you don't need to use a personal trainer, going for a few months may be all you need. All good personal trainers will teach you the basics of building and modifying a fitness program to achieve maximum results.

• Fitness trend By Gillette, Becky

What's hot in the fitness world? The fitness industry tends to go through trends regarding what types of programs and equipment that are the most popular. Kickboxing, for example, was extremely popular for a couple of years and now seems to be on its way out.

Today the major trends in fitness in Mississippi are more interest in weight training by both men and women, elliptical trainers that provide cardiovascular training with less joint stress than caused by treadmills and stair steppers, stretching and toning programs like Pilates, yoga and especially, personal training. Collins worth, owner of Gold's Gym in Starkville. "Once they get started it helps them stay involved, and keeps their goal in front of them so they don't get discouraged.

Every time they need more of a challenge, we'll step it up and change it."

Today people are also looking to their local gym for more than a sweaty workout. People are interested in advice on supplements and diet. Instead of just exercise, people are looking for lifestyle guidance, Collins worth said.

"We have to constantly encourage people," she said. "You never feel like working out. It is just like anything else. You have to make yourself come up here. It is a quality decision. You make a decision to take care of yourself, you're paying a fee to the gym and you're going to take care of yourself. It is a lifestyle decision