What To Do When You Can’t Afford A Trainer

I’ll start this off by saying that as a trainer, it might seem weird that I’m writing this. I mean, it does seem a little backward to be sharing alternatives to hiring a trainer, but my goal is to help others improve their health and wellness – and not just collect money. So I decided to share a few alternatives to explore for those that want to workout, but don’t have the coins to invest in a trainer just yet.

Now before I hop into those alternatives, I want to take a moment to address a few of the objections that I hear on the regular:

“Trainers are too expensive.”

“I can’t afford a trainer”

” Do you think a trainer is worth the money?”

These are just a few of the objections I hear way too often from people. Most times these questions and statements come as an excuse as to why people think they “can’t” get or have a trainer. And if you know me you know that I HATE the “C” word. The fact of the matter is that many of us find comfort and security in these types of statements because it provides and false validation to what is really just an excuse. So the first thing I’d say is to look at your priorities then if you determine that personal training isn’t in your budget, continue on to the following alternatives.

Where Are Your Priorities?

Too often when people say that they can’t afford personal training it’s because they don’t prioritize it. Somehow we seem to find the money for trips, entertainment subscriptions, drinking and partying, clothing, hair, nails, brows, lashes, etc., however, that well seems to run dry when it comes to investing in a personal trainer. If you were to analyze your spending and cut out some of those non-essentials, many of us would find the money that could be invested in personal training. So often, the investment in personal training starts with a little personal accounting and reprioritizing.

Now, that being said, life and living are expensive these days, and for many families, there’s not often anything extra after housing, utilities, food, insurance, and other essential bills. So if a lack of funds is truly the issue then read on to see 5 easy alternatives you can do to help you get and stay in shape when you can’t afford personal training.

Get Active

Start by just being active. That means to find simple ways to move more. This could be going for a walk, jog or hike outdoors. There are plenty of trails and nature preserves that you can visit. You can also replace passive tasks for active ones. For example, the simple practice of taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking further away in parking lots instead of always going for that close-to-the entry spot.

Look For Free Resources Online

In this era of everyone trying to make a name for themselves and become “Instafamous” it has created an opportunity for consumers to get access to endless resources for free. Now, not everything is of the best or safest quality so pursue with caution. But there are a lot of hidden gems and helpful people out there. There are so many free workouts available for download, on YouTube, on Instagram, Facebook groups, etc. Take advantage of theses. The motivation, accountability and consistency will be up to you, but you’ll have the tools you need to stay active.

Get A Gym Membership

Gym memberships are more affordable these days, especially with places like Plant Fitness that have low monthly dues. You can get in the gym and workout on your own or check out some of the free group classes that are offered. While you’re there, you may also see about a consult/assessment to help point you in the right direction and keep you on track – many times you can get the first one free.

There’s An App For That!

There are lots of free and paid apps in the App store that you can get workouts from. Fitbit and the Nike Training App are great examples! They have lots of free workouts and paid subscription options that you can follow along with and don’t require any equipment and can usually be done in 30 minutes or less.

In The Kitchen

If you’re still insistent that working out or working with a trainer aren’t possible, you still have another option. You control what goes in your mouth! Working out is only part of getting in shape and being healthy. Your diet is an even bigger part of that healthy equation. There’s plenty of things you can do to consume healther options:

• Make it a goal to consume more produce and fresh goods instead of processed foods.
• Cook at home instead of fast food and drive-throughs.
• Drink more water and cut out sodas and juices.
• Limit your alcohol intake (it’s just empty calories).

So there you have it! Five easy things you can start today to help you stay on track with your fitness goals, when personal training isn’t an option. Of course, with Covid still an issue make sure that you’re being safe in anything you decide to do.