Is Personal Training Once a Week Enough?

If you’ve ever considered using a personal trainer, you might have wondered how many sessions a week is enough to get the most out of it. But, perhaps, you’re also worried about the cost. In this article we determine if personal training once a week is enough, and how much exercise you should be doing each week.

So, is personal training once a week enough? You should aim to have 1-3 personal training sessions per week, for 6 consecutive weeks to begin with. This helps to establish a fitness routine and ensures that you perform exercises with good form to avoid injury.

Read on to learn more about personal training and how often you should have it.

Jump To:

• Is Personal Training Once a Week Enough?

• How Long Should Personal Training Sessions Be?

• Is Having a Personal Trainer Worth it?

• How Many Days a Week Should You Work Out?

• Personal Training in Leeds

Is Personal Training Once a Week Enough?

Depending on your goals, starting point, and physical ability, one personal training session can be enough, although 1-3 personal training sessions per week is recommended.

For those new to exercise, 2-3 personal training sessions per week is recommended to ensure that you develop proper form and a sustainable routine. It’s also a good way for beginners to avoid skipping workouts as there is an element of accountability.

For those more advanced, or for athletes, one session of personal training per week can help to develop a suitable program to help them meet their goals and improve performance.

How Long Should Personal Training Sessions Be?

It is recommended that personal training sessions last between 45-60 minutes, although some PTs will offer different availability based on their schedule; they may offer 30, 45, 60, or 90 minute sessions.

During your first session, regardless of how long it lasts, you will likely undergo a fitness test and various other tests and measurements to create a baseline so that your trainer can track progress.

You’ll likely also discuss your goals so that your trainer can create a plan to suit you. In the remainder of your first PT session, your trainer may choose to teach you some basic exercises that you will use regularly going forward.

During your next personal training sessions, your trainer will likely begin actioning the plan that they created for you, keeping you on track, and ensuring that you perform the exercises with proper form to avoid injuries occurring.

Is Having a Personal Trainer Worth it?

Hiring a personal trainer might, to some, seem like a bit of a luxury or an unnecessary expense. However, there are a number of benefits of personal training for people from all walks of life, making the expense, in our opinion, worth it.

Benefits of Personal Training

A PT Ensures Proper Form

One of the most important benefits of seeing a personal trainer is that your trainer will ensure that you perform exercises correctly with proper form. This ensures that you get the most out of the exercise, and minimises the risk of injury.

This is particularly beneficial to those new to exercise, and particularly those new to strength training. It’s also beneficial to more intermediate exercisers that may have developed incorrect form or bad habits.

Accountability and Motivation

If you’re new to exercise, it can be easy to give up when you’re tired, or aching from the previous day's workout. However, a personal trainer provides a level of accountability that will encourage you to keep going. Not only will you have paid extra for a PT, but you’ll have more motivation knowing that you’re on track to achieve your goals.

Establish a Routine

A personal trainer will help you to establish and set goals that work towards your initial aims, and will help you to set and maintain a suitable routine that helps you get there.

What’s more, the routine that your PT helps you to build will create healthy habits that will last far beyond your sessions with them. You’ll also be equipped with everything you need to keep going - proper form, a set of exercises, and achievable goals to work towards.

A PT Will Push You Harder Than You Push Yourself

It can sometimes be easy to let yourself off, and not push yourself too hard, especially after a long day, when you’re tired, or are just unmotivated. A personal trainer will disregard all of this (unless you are genuinely unwell or are in a position where you may harm yourself from poor form), and will make you push yourself as hard as you can to help you see results.

A PT Can Help You See Results Faster

You’re likely to see results faster with a personal trainer as they will set a routine that is tailored towards you and your goals. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience which they will use to push you in the right direction.

On your own, you may make mistakes that set you back, injure yourself from poor form, which can put you out for weeks, work too quickly, too slowly, perform the wrong exercises, eat the wrong foods, and more.

How Many Days a Week Should You Work Out?

Regardless of whether or not you use a personal trainer, you should still aim to workout regularly. Even if you’re not working towards specific goals, a regular workout routine will help you stay fit and healthy, with a good range of motion and agility that will let you live your life to the full.

The NHS recommends 4-5 days of activity per week, with 2-3 days of strength training and 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. However, other studies simply recommend 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Personal Training in Leeds

3R Physiotherapy offers personal training in Leeds and Garforth to help you with weight loss, preparation for an event or competition, build muscle, improve cardio, or nutrition advice to help you reach your goals.

Whatever your current level of fitness, goals, or sporting performance, a bespoke personal training package could help you get to where you want to be faster, safer, and more efficiently.

Learn More