So, a few weeks back, an old journalism-school friend and award-winning writer reached out looking to speak to me about training and some of the success stories I've had with my clients.
Well, I passed her onto my client Gary Callaghan, who, well, I'll let Jenn tell the story.
The bold is from The Suburban, dated Valentine's Day.
According to Statistics Canada, only 18 per cent of Canadian adults are getting the recommended amount of physical activity (150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week). That means 82 per cent, or eight out of 10, of the adult population is not active enough. While joining the gym or enrolling in a fitness class can help get you moving more, a personal trainer can add another layer of accountability to your workout. And those who use personal trainers said that they are the reason they stay on track and attain positive results.
Marc Lalonde is a personal trainer who works out of Monster Gym in Dorval. In addition to customizing a workout plan for each of his clients, he’s also able to advise on nutrition and help create a routine that works for each person and their lifestyle. “By having a personal trainer, they can measure your progress and see the gains you’re making even if you don’t see it,” he said. “They can really help you with those quantifiable goals.”
Gary Callaghan of Pointe-Claire is 65 years old and started working out with Lalonde two years ago after battling esophageal cancer. He had lost a substantial amount of weight as well as muscle, and he struggled just to sit and stand. Once a very active person who was in great shape, Callaghan worked diligently with Lalonde and today is back to his former strong self. “When I was getting better, he was my lifeline,” he said. “He comes to my place on Mondays and my wife and I go to his gym Wednesdays and Fridays. I feel like, if you do it on your own, it’s easy to talk yourself out it. Having a trainer gives you an edge, which I think can really help.”
For Stuart Becker, a father from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, working out not only helps him physically, but emotionally as well. He, too, prefers exercising with a trainer because it pushes him to keep at it. “I had been going to the gym alone and I was not doing anything correctly,” he said. “I was very unmotivated because I didn’t know what I was doing, and then I was hurting afterwards not knowing why. It also keeps me accountable — if I don’t show up one day, I pay big money for that session I’m missing, and having that trainer booked makes me go. In the end, I get physical benefits but mental benefits too. For me, it’s truly a mental health game.”
We all need to get moving more – after all, exercise is a key component to living a longer, happier life. And a personal trainer can encourage us to do just that. With their guidance, you can create a workout plan together that is personalized just to you. And that is how you’ll ultimately succeed in your fitness goals.
-- As always, top-notch work from Cox, who does phenomenal work over at thesuburban.com, as she has done for many years.
She's right, you know. The numbers don't lie. Only 18 percent of Canadian adults get enough exercise and that has added up to massive societal costs.
Of course, those don't much matter because all fitness is personal and it's just so easy to find if you look for it.
Want to get started like my clients already have?
Message me today at marclalondefitness@gmail.com or call me at 514-742-5465.