A program designed for you.
Personal training is the best option to help you reach your goals.
P90X. Orangetheory. Peloton. Jogging. Bowflex. Thighmaster. Influencer workout programs.
Heck, even power walking.
How many fitness programs have you tried, each promising to be the solution you’ve been looking for all this time? And how many have you abandoned after a month or two, only to undo all the progress you’ve made?
We’re not here to vilify any of those programs. Any one of them might give you a great sweat. But that’s not enough to keep you motivated—and bring you results—for the long haul.
Cookie-cutter programs are designed to appeal to the masses, but your goals are personal. That’s why the Arsenal Personal Training program is customized to you.
Who Is Personal Training For?
“Personal training is anybody who wants to look good and feel great,” said Brooks DiFiore, owner of Arsenal Strength in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
While group training can accomplish those goals as well, personal training is the most effective way to transform your body in the least amount of time.
Why?
Because everything from the exercises you do to when and how often you meet is completely tailored to your needs.
Are you a busy working parent who can’t commit to a regular class time? With personal training, you’ll schedule your sessions with your trainer according to your schedule.
Have past injuries or health conditions that prevent you from doing certain exercises and getting a good workout in a group setting? With personal training, your trainer will design a program to your capabilities and coach you through every movement.
Or maybe you just want someone to guide you; to take the guesswork out of what to do and how. Your trainer is committed to helping you accomplish your goals and will be a constant support in and outside of the gym.
“In group training, the coach has to interact with 12 other people in a class. You’re going to get cues; you’re going to get personal attention, but it’s not going to be a full hour centered around you,” Brooks said. “When you’re doing personal training, now that attention is completely on you. We’re going to get much more specific with you. We have the ability to really dial you in, make sure that you’re pushing yourself or telling you to back off, checking your form and really getting live feedback for how you are feeling during a session.”
How It Works: Personal Training at Arsenal
Everyone starts personal training with a consultation; a 30-minute, one-on-one conversation with a coach.
“And really that conversation is focused entirely on (the client) and us getting to know them and understand exactly what they’re trying to accomplish,” Brooks said.
You’ll discuss your physical goals—perhaps to lose weight, get stronger or improve your mobility. You’ll also talk about the “why” behind those goals. Maybe it’s to get off your blood-pressure medication or have more energy to play with your kids.
“We try to dig as deep as we can so that we really understand what is going to motivate them,” Brooks said, “and then it’s also going to influence the program that we design for them.”
Once your goals have been established, it’s time for a couple of baseline assessments.
The InBody machine will measure your body composition—your body-fat percentage, lean muscle mass and skeletal muscle mass. Then, you’ll complete a baseline fitness test. Both tests will be quick and easy, and serve as a way to direct what your training program will look like and a tool for measuring progress toward your goals.
“Then we’re going to basically put a roadmap in place to get them there,” Brooks said.
What Happens in a Personal-Training Session at Arsenal?
Well, it looks different for everyone, because everyone’s goals are different. But, at a minimum, you’ll work out once per week for 60 minutes with your coach. The most successful clients complete three sessions a week, but if your schedule prevents that, your coach will write you accessible workouts you can do from home with minimal equipment.
How are clients paired with coaches?
“Clients and master trainers are paired based on the information that we gather in that initial consult,” Brooks said. “Our job is to pair you with a trainer who you are going to click with because that’s the way you’re going to get the most success. We want all these sessions to be fun. We want you to have a relationship with a trainer who really cares about you and who you really enjoy being around so that you can make that hour or two that you spend in the gym with us as enjoyable as possible.”
The training sessions themselves begin with a warm-up customized to the workout that day and your body’s needs at large. From there, your trainer will coach you through functional strength and conditioning exercises designed to get you to your goals.
Want to put on muscle or tone up? Your program might take on some functional bodybuilding concepts, like slow and controlled dumbbell or barbell exercises. A weight-loss program might include more cardiovascular training.
The session will end with a cooldown, which doubles as a time to check in with your coach and talk about the week.
“If it’s your first session of the week, we’re going to plan out the rest of your week for you,” Brooks said. “If you have any events coming up, we want to know about it so we can help you navigate through the very simple solutions that we can help with to take the anxiety away from those and make sure that you are having a great time and living your life while prioritizing your health and your fitness.”
Accountability: Personal Training’s Secret Weapon
Health and fitness is hard. Period.
While it’s easy to be motivated and committed at the beginning of any fitness program, the real challenge begins once the luster wears off.
Those days where you just don’t feel like working out. When work runs late. When you didn’t have time to pack a healthy lunch. When you’d rather click “next episode” than work out and tell yourself you’ll make up for it tomorrow.
But with the Personal Training program, you don’t have to go it alone.
The program is set up for accountability. Aside from your weekly workouts, you’ll meet with your trainer every 30 days to measure your body composition. Every 90 days, you’ll retest the baseline fitness assessment and discuss your goals: Did we reach them? Are we on our way? What comes next?
But your trainer will be there for you on an everyday basis, too. You’ll track your daily workouts on an app that also has a messaging function.
“So you will be in constant communication with your coach,” Brooks said. “So if you have questions about your at-home workout, or if you need a stretch or something or you have a question, it’s very easy to reach out and get in contact with your coach.”
Plus, it’s easy to skip a group class where no one’s expecting you. An appointment with a coach who’s waiting for you at a specific time on a specific day? Not so easy.
Break the Mold
You are unique: your body, your goals, your schedule. So why force yourself into a cookie-cutter program?
The Arsenal Personal Training program is designed for you. Schedule your free intro session here—we can’t wait to help you reach your goals.