Want to Get Stronger with a Personal Trainer?
Aiming to get stronger is a fantastic goal, one that encompasses numerous other training benefits. When we focus exclusively on a specific aspect, like fat loss, it's easy to get bogged down in the details and overlook the broader principles that deliver significant results.
Strength training naturally involves building muscle tissue, strengthening joints and connective tissues, improving carbohydrate tolerance, and enhancing overall body condition and resilience. For a single focus, that's an impressive return!
In this article, I'll explain who should consider getting stronger, how personal training can help you achieve this, and what you should focus on in program design and exercise selection to maximize your efforts.
Who Should Consider Getting Stronger?
Most new personal training clients want to improve their appearance and how they feel. While they may have specific goals like recovering from an injury or running pain-free, they often mention a desire to "look and feel better."
As a trainer, it's my responsibility to choose the method that offers the best overall return on investment. For instance, if you have knee pain preventing you from running, you might have tried resting, hoping it would improve. While rest can help, exercise, particularly strength training, is often the best medicine to get you back to running fit.
For those aiming for accelerated fat loss, the common approach is cardio and calorie reduction. While this can yield results, focusing on getting stronger offers broader benefits. You'll achieve your body composition goals, increase strength, build muscle, strengthen bones, and improve gym performance. I know which route I'd prefer!
How Can Personal Training Help You Get Strong?
You might be ready to hit the weights on your own, but hold on. Strength training, while simple in practice, requires thoughtful, long-term planning to unlock its full potential.
Many clients claim to be "experienced lifters" and believe they've reached their strength potential. More often than not, they've exhausted their knowledge and hit a plateau. An experienced coach can help you overcome obstacles, ensure your training remains consistent, and keep the results coming.
A personal trainer can offer alternatives to exercises that cause problems, allowing continuous progress. They can also adapt your program to accommodate life stresses, preventing overtraining and ensuring consistent gains.
One key benefit of training with a personal trainer is having someone to push you when necessary. Strength training is meant to be challenging, and an experienced coach can guide you safely through perceived barriers.
Exercises for Building Strength
If you're stuck on bicep curls and ab crunches without seeing significant progress, it's time to switch to exercises better suited for strength goals. Functional or compound movements, which target large muscle groups and require more effort, are ideal. These include:
Squat
Hinge
Push
Pull
Carry
What Does a Strength Building Program Look Like?
A typical strength session might include:
A1. Barbell Box Squat
A2. Banded Chin-Up
B1. 45-Degree Hyperextension
B2. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press
C1. Dumbbell Reverse Lunge
C2. Upper Back Pulldown
D1. Dumbbell Deadbug
D2. Farmer’s Carry
D3. Cable Bicep Curl
This structure covers all key pillars of a strength workout, allowing room to progress on key movements and get really strong. For intermediate or advanced levels, you can adjust tempo, increase loads, or add advanced exercise variations. However, remember that "fancier" doesn't mean more effective.
Maximizing Your Potential
To maximize progress, lifestyle factors like sleep, nutrition, and stress management are as important as the workout itself. It's not enough to work hard for a few hours a week; your body needs support to recover.
If you're new to this, approach lifestyle changes gradually. Aim for better sleep, balanced nutrition, and manageable stress levels. Strength training is a long-term commitment, building layers of progress over time.
Interested in Training with a Personal Trainer?
If you want to learn more about training with a personal trainer, feel free to get in touch!
