6 Common Excuses That Stop You from Hiring a Personal Trainer

A female with red boxing gloves jabbing her male partner in the gym

Can you work out at home without a personal trainer? Absolutely. 

But if you were doing that already, you wouldn’t be here. 

We all know the importance of eating right and exercising regularly, and we’re bombarded with the latest fad diets and workout trends each time we open a social media app. 

But what happens after a few months at your new gym or a few days of following a free workout on YouTube? 

Other tasks in your day suddenly seem more important than training for that 5K or going to the gym. Or, if you don’t have a daily plan, you find yourself spending more time scrolling for workout ideas or staring at your dumbbell set than you do working out. 

Either way, you quickly lose interest and motivation and are back into the same habits as before. 

This is why working with a personal trainer is ESSENTIAL to reaching your health and fitness goals. Yes, you get a weekly accountability partner, but you also get so much more. 

The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Trainer

Our goal at Train is to pair you with the best possible trainer for your unique circumstances so you can see real results. 

When you work with a personal trainer, you can expect: 

  • To work with one of the top trainers in McLean, Tysons, Arlington, and the DMV
  • A customized approach to your unique goals, body, and past injuries 
  • Workouts designed to build off each other to help you reach your strength and weight goals
  • A personal cheerleader to encourage you to keep going even on the toughest days
  • Nutritional guidance to energize your workout and to help your body recover post-training. 

Hiring a personal trainer is shown to help individuals reach their fitness goals much faster than those who train with a group or train on their own. 

One study found that compared to group training and self-training, those who worked with a personal trainer showed significant fat reduction and improvement in squats and nutritional habits. Those using a personal trainer also had less chance of injuries than the other two groups. [1]

And yet, so many people are hesitant to hire a personal trainer. 

6 Reasons You Haven’t Hired A Personal Trainer Yet

Now that we’ve reviewed some of the data behind needing a personal trainer, you can probably see its importance but are still hesitant. Let’s look at some common excuses for NOT hiring a personal trainer. 

Excuse 1: “I Can’t Afford It”

Working with a personal trainer isn’t free, and it shouldn’t be! Consider all the benefits mentioned above about your personal trainer’s many roles. 

The truth is that the return on this investment (a strong, fit body that will help you live an active lifestyle well into the future) far outweighs the monetary cost. 

Not to mention the money you save on doctor’s visits and surgeries due to falls or twists that can be prevented simply by strengthening your body. 

You’re not just paying for an accountability partner. You’re paying for the ability to play with your kids and grandkids for years to come. 

And we get it! $120 to $160 per hour with a personal trainer seems like a lot upfront. But you easily spend that much on dinner at your favorite restaurant or taking the kids to the movies. 

We’re not saying you need to cut those things out of your life, but we’re emphasizing the VALUE of hiring a personal trainer. Skipping one dining-out experience a week and swapping it for an hour with your trainer is going to make a huge impact on your life, health, and happiness. 

But if you’re not ready to work directly with a personal trainer before getting to know Train a little better, we have other, more affordable options so you can still experience the benefits. 

Some alternatives include semi-private sessions and group training. Our group program, Happy Hour Athletics, offers a free first hour when you book using the code “HAPPY.” 

Excuse 2: “I Don’t Have Time”

The staff at Train consists of independent trainers who can accommodate any schedule, whether it’s early morning before your kids get up or in the evening after work. Your trainer will help you create an efficient workout routine so you can make the most of your time together. 

We understand that life feels hectic sometimes. But we also encourage you to take a look at how much time you spend doing things that are only draining your energy and not improving your life.

For example, how much time can you spend watching your favorite TV show? How many hours a day do you spend doom scrolling on TikTok? Yes, you heard that right! HOURS!

Let’s replace just one hour a day of those time sucks with something that enhances your life, like exercise. 

If you have a genuinely busy lifestyle, treat your appointment with your trainer like any other. 

Do you find time to get your hair done? Go to the doctor? Attend work meetings? Of course, you do! Because you’ve scheduled time to get those important things done during the week. 

Scheduling just a few hours a week with your personal trainer will massively impact the progress you see toward your fitness goals. 

Excuse 3: “I’m Too Embarrassed”

A photo of Train's training lanes in Mclean, VA featuring a Rogue Fitness squat rack

The anxiety of going to the gym and working out in front of other people is real. 

Thankfully, at Train, we’ve designed our facilities so that you don’t have to worry about sharing equipment with strangers, having people wait in line to use the treadmill you’re on, or comparing yourself to the “fitness influencers” 

At Train, everyone “stays in their lane.” We’ve created an innovative “training lane” concept where all the Rogue Fitness equipment you need to complete a full-body workout is set up in your assigned space. That means you don’t have to share your squat rack or your dumbbells, or even be in the same area as our other clients. It also means that no one is around to judge. Our trainers will meet you where you’re at. So there is no shame in being out of shape, a little rusty, or not yet in your dream body.

Instead, our trainers treat you with respect and make sure that your workouts are designed for your specific fitness level. 

Excuse 4: “I Can Do It on My Own”

In theory…sure. You should be able to do it on your own. But we’ll refer you back to the statistics at the beginning of this post. 

If you can do it without the help of a personal trainer, you already would have. 

A trainer offers you that accountability, but they also make sure that your form is correct to help prevent injuries.

You’ll receive crucial instructions on when to switch up weights, what exercises to focus on for your goals, and how to strengthen your muscles from every angle. 

For example, you might be doing an exercise now that looks right, but you’re not activating your muscles correctly. Best case, you’re not going to see progress. Worst case, you’ll get hurt. (Those RDLs? Yeah, you shouldn’t feel those pulling on your lower back!)

Excuse 5: “I Don’t Know What to Expect”

Fear of the unknown can result in anxiety and worries about things that never end up being a problem. 

So we want to ease those worries before you even step foot in our private personal training studio – here’s what to expect.

No, we won’t yell at you to “drop and give us 20!”

Before your first session, we’ll expertly assign you your perfect personal trainer. From there, your trainer will conduct a full review of your health history – including injuries, health problems, past surgeries, etc. Next, you’ll get a free body fat test on our InBody 570b machine to help you visualize your starting point and accurately track performance. Finally, we’ll set your goals. Do you want to run a marathon? Play golf with your friends? Compete in your first bodybuilding competition? 

Whatever it is, our certified personal trainers will help you achieve it. 

Excuse 6: I’ve Tried Personal Training Before and Didn’t See Results

Two females high-fiving a male in a gym.

Working with a trainer who isn’t helping you get the results you want is frustrating and a waste of time and money. We understand that. That’s why at Train, you’ll only find the best personal trainers in all of Fairfax County. The ones who are committed to helping clients achieve measurable results, no matter what it takes. 

But remember, any major transformation is going to require patience, consistency, and adjustments. 

And that’s why our trainers are so great! They’re willing to stick it out with you,  offering you individualized attention, helping you track progress, and ensuring success by making those crucial adjustments along the way. 

How to Find the Best Personal Trainer for You: 

Here are some things you should ask yourself when searching for your coach: 

  • What are my goals? Clearly define what you want to achieve with coaching.
  • What is your coaching style preference? Do you prefer a more directive or non-directive approach? Someone who is more gentle or someone who isn’t afraid to give you tough love?
  • What is your budget? Determine how much you’re willing to invest in coaching.
  • What is your availability? Consider your schedule and how often you can meet.
  • Do you want a coach who is similar to you or different from you? Consider whether you prefer a coach who shares your background or one who brings a unique perspective.

No More Excuses! Experience Luxury Personal Training In McLean, VA

Working with a personal trainer will be a game changer for you on your fitness journey. There are a million and one ways to say “no” to luxury personal training, but if you’re serious about your health and fitness goals, then give Train a try. 

Train is unlike any other gym. It offers a private, customized, luxury approach to working out. 

Book your free consultation and test training session today to take the first step towards living your best life. 

[1] Lu Y, Leng X, Yuan H, Jin C, Wang Q, Song Z. Comparing the impact of personal trainer guidance to exercising with others: Determining the optimal approach. Heliyon. 2024 Jan 12;10(2):e24625. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24625. PMID: 38298722; PMCID: PMC10828695.