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Frequently Asked Questions.
(About stuff like RATES,
LOCATION and much more!)
1. Why do I
need a Personal trainer and more specifically ... why should I train
with The Fitness Workshop P.T.S.?
2. Is The
Fitness Workshop P.T.S. a gym?
3. Do you
offer any classes?
4. Do you
offer Pilates?
5. Do you
offer Martial Arts style training?
6. Why get
Personal Training as opposed to just joining a gym?
7. Do you do
"in home" training as well? If not, why should I train in a studio as
opposed to having a trainer come to my home?
8. What equipment do you have?
9. Why not
just hire a Personal Trainer at my gym?
10. When is the
best time to workout?
11. How long do
I have to work with you?
12. What
qualifications should I look for in my personal trainer?
13. How do I
know what program will be best for me?
14. What is
"resistance training" and why should I do it?
15. I'm only
35, why is increasing bone density a benefit to me?
16. Is it true
that lifting weights will make you "muscle-bound?"
17. I've heard
that if you lift weights for awhile and then quit, your muscle will
turn into fat and then you'll really look bad. Is this true?
18. I see that
you are (or were) a bodybuilder, are you going to train me to get big
muscles? I’m a woman and I've always been afraid that if I lift
weights I'll look like one of those women body builders. I don't want
to look like that.
19. Do I HAVE
to lift weights to participate in your programs?
20. Is
tracking bodyweight the best method of measuring progress?
21. How do I know what body fat percentage is
good and what is bad?
22. What are
your rates?
23. Why are
your rates so much cheaper than anyone else? After all, isn't price
relative to quality?
24. How much
weight can I realistically expect to lose if I participate in your
sessions?
25. Where are
you located?
Why
do I need a Personal trainer and more specifically ... why should I
train with The Fitness Workshop P.T.S.? (Personal Training Studio)
A competent Personal Trainer should
provide the following.
1. Instruction
... teaches you how to exercise in general ... and specifically how to
do the exercises you'll need to do to reach your goals.
2. Motivation
... encourages you and motivates you to do what is needed to accomplish
your goals.
3. Support ...
someone who you can lean on for support and reassurance while on your
way to your goals.
4. A training partner! Working out is always better and more fun when you
have company. Especially one that is a great "instructor".
"motivator" and "supporter"!
You will learn the biomechanics of
exercise so that you'll actually be able to look at a piece of
equipment and know exactly what muscles it will target just by "how the
machine moves".
A great side benefit of this knowledge
is you'll be able to cut through the hype of those TV infomercials to
see which of those "fantastic new exercise inventions" actually work
and which are just gimmicks! (Hint? MOST are worthless!)
Secondly, one of the main reasons why
people fail to accomplish their fitness or weight loss goals is due to
lack of motivation and support. I provide this and more. With over 25
years experience, I also provide the shortcuts to help you to get to
your goals as fast as possible.
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Is
The Fitness Workshop P.T.S. a gym?
No. We are a private Personal
Training Studio where you get personalized one on one training.
"Private"
meaning this is NOT a "walk in" facility. Consultations are by
appointment only and subsequent access is for clients only.
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Do
you offer any "classes"?
No. This is personalized one on one
training therefore we do not do any "group" activities.
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Do
you offer Pilates?
No.
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Do
you offer "Martial Arts" style training?
No. We do incorporate Kick
boxing as part of our unique weight loss program which adds a huge
element of fun and excitement to the workout but we do
not offer standalone "martial arts" training.
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Why
get "Personal Training" as opposed to just joining a gym?
Comparing a gym to us is like comparing
apples to oranges. Each has its own purpose. Personal training is not meant to
take the place of a gym. The gym is perfect for self motivated people
who know exactly what to do and how to do it … enabling them to
achieve their goals. This comes from time, knowledge and
experience.
However the majority of
“average” people who do not fall into this category can
find the gym to be a bewildering and even an intimidating environment.
Too often I see people just wandering around the gym ... obviously with
no clue as to what to do.
On the other hand, we provide a
comfortable, private environment to give you the best chance of getting
you to your goals in the fastest possible time. As a matter of
fact, I
guarantee it. You'll have expert instruction, plus you will
be working out in a pleasant, private environment without any
distractions.
After being with us you will be able to
go to join gym (if you so desire) and feel perfectly competent and
confident in what you're doing. This will enable you to take full
advantage of all the facilities that your gym will have to offer.
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Do
you do "in home" training as well? If not, why should I train in a
studio as opposed to having a trainer come to my home?
We do not offer "in home" training. The
problem with having a trainer come to your home is simple. You
don't have access to the equipment that will get you the fastest and
best results. Yes, a trainer can bring some equipment to your home and
some folks do get results from this type of training. However,
you need a variety of equipment to get the BEST and FASTEST results.
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Ok,
what equipment do you have?
We have less than the "big gyms" but a
lot more than a trainer would be able to lug over to your house!
Seriously though, we have free weights, resistance bands, stability
balls etc, and yes even some of the “big machines”.
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Why
not just hire a Personal Trainer at my gym?
Five main reasons why Personal Training
at The Fitness
Workshop P.T.S. is
better than personal training at the gym:
1. Experience. Many, many personal trainers that I
have met over my 20 plus years (at most of the major gyms in Toronto)
have been fresh out of school and have no practical experience. Cora
and I are often horrified by some of the "advice" and "instruction"
that we overhear these folks giving their clients.
Having said that there are some really
good ones out there as well, but generally speaking you are assigned
a personal trainer ... you don't get to pick one. Besides the general
trend is that the better a trainer gets, the more likely that he/she
will leave the gym environment and strike out on his/her own.
2. "Personal"
training. If you are lucky
to get a "good" personal trainer at the gym, these very trainers have
to work under the same constraints as a regular gym client does!
More often than not they have to wait for machines and equipment to
become available so that you (the client) can use them. How
"personal" is that training?
3. Distraction free
environment. Lets
face it ... personal trainers are humans too! (even the good ones! :)
They get distracted. With a couple of hundred people in the same
space at the gym there're bound to be distractions. Plus ... you
the client can get distracted for the same reasons.
4. Price for what you get. At the more
popular gyms you can pay an arm and a leg for Personal Training ... in
relation to what you're getting.
5. PRIVACY! This is s biggee. A lot of people would prefer to
workout in a private environment. This is why "in home" personal
training is so popular. There are many reasons for this but for the
most part many people are just not comfortable working out in front of
a whole bunch of other people. We offer the privacy and one on one
attention of "in home" training but with all the other advantages of
"the gym".
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When
is the best time to workout?
The “best” time is whenever
is best for you! I am flexible with my availability so we can set
up different times to see what works best for your lifestyle and
personality.
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How
long do I have to work with you?
It all depends on your goals. I have trained folks from
beginners to pros. People who just want to get fitter and
healthier, sleek and lean, people who want to lose a little or a lot of
weight.
I’ve trained
“hardcore” people like bodybuilders and powerlifters and
even people who just want to get better at their sport. Each
person’s needs are different and as such you will need a
“personalized” program which will work best for you.
Generally speaking however, if I had
to give a timeframe, you will feel better after our very first session
and should start to see physical changes in as quickly as 4 to 6 weeks,
irrespective of your goals!
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What
qualifications should I look for in my personal trainer?
A personal trainer
should be certified through a recognized association. More importantly
in my opinion a trainer should have EXPERIENCE. So many times I see trainers fresh out of
qualifying who are full of "theory" but don't know squat (no pun
intended) about the practical aspects of certain exercises and programs.
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How
do I know what program will be best for me?
That’s my job! :) First we will
look at your goals. Then based on those, I will be able
to tailor a program specifically geared towards getting you the results
you want ... in as short a time frame as possible.
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What
is "resistance training" and why should I do it?
 Resistance training (also known as
weight training, weight lifting or strength training) is for everyone.
It is an important tool for achieving a complete healthy life.
Resistance training is not just for people who are athletes, want to
build or tone muscle, or are using resistance training to achieve a
better looking body.
Resistance training is the term used to
describe using weights, machines, but even your own body weight can be
used to effectively work your muscles. It is the umbrella term used to
accurately describe all forms of resistance training, whether working
with weights or not.
Although strength training accurately
describes what resistance training does, many people do not use the
term because they think it only applies to those trying to become
bigger and stronger when, in fact, all resistance training which is
correctly done indeed increases strength, but does not necessary
visibly increase size.
Resistance training does improve the
look and tone of the body but it is now known to be more than just a
specialized exercise activity.
Medical research has shown that
resistance training does the following:
-
Strengthens the muscular system
-
Strengthens the skeletal system
-
Improves bone density (decreases the chance
of osteoporosis)
-
Increases metabolism
-
Improves posture
-
Limits atrophy of the muscles
-
Aids in hypertension control
-
Aids in cholesterol control
-
Aids in body fat control
-
Increases circulation
-
Aids in prevention of adult-onset diabetes
-
Improves mood and self-esteem
-
Improves quality of life
-
Aids in the prevention of heart disease and
certain cancers
These are just a few of the many
benefits of resistance training documented by medical professionals. A
well-planned resistance training program should be a part of everyone's
health and fitness lifestyle regardless of age, gender, or goals.
The most important aspect of
resistance training is correct performance of the exercise. Too many
people become concerned with how fast an exercise is performed
or how heavy a weight is being used.
This means that the exercise is done
incorrectly. This can cause injury and most often results in endless
resistance training without benefit or results.
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I'm
only 35, why is increasing bone density a benefit to me?
While it's true that younger active
people produce more new bone tissue than they lose, therefore
increasing their bone density, we generally achieve maximum bone
density and strength (peak bone mass) at about age 30.
Since bones are living, growing tissue,
they respond to resistance exercise (or weight bearing exercise) by
growing more dense and strong. It's pretty much similar to the
way your muscles would respond to exercising.
However bone mass and density gradually
begins to decline as we get older and thus less active. Within the
first few years after a woman goes through menopause, her bone loss is
usually the most rapid. It has been well documented that
exercise, (especially resistant weight exercises) can slow & even
reverse the bone loss that usually occurs after age thirty, whether
you're a man or a woman. I call it "bone loading". :)
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Is
it true that lifting weights will make you "muscle-bound?"
This is another myth that is pretty
common out there. Really being "muscle-bound" can be used to
describe a body that lacks flexibility, irrespective of that person
trained with weights or not.
Many, many years ago people believed
that weight training or any type of resistance training would make
people "muscle-bound" or inflexible. That myth has long since been
debunked by researchers but many people still believe it. Resistance
training will not make you inflexible or "muscle-bound."
It is important to remember that
resistance training, cardiovascular training, and flexibility are all
important components of your fitness program. Everyone does need
flexibility training even though resistance training does NOT make you
"muscle-bound."
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I've
heard that if you lift weights for a long time and then quit, your
muscle will turn into fat and then you'll really look bad. Is this true?
Another common myth. It is as
physiologically impossible for muscle to turn into fat any more than
bone can turn into skin. You can gain or lose fat and gain or lose
muscle, but the muscle you gain will never turn into excess fat, just
like the fat you have can never be converted to muscle. (wouldn’t
that be great though? lol!)
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I
see that you are (or were) a bodybuilder, are you going to train me to
get big muscles? I’m a woman and I've always been afraid that if
I lift weights I'll look like one of those women body builders. I don't
want to look like that.
This is the biggest myth out there as
far as women lifting weights are concerned. The answer is absolutely
not. Please keep in mind, women will have a much tougher time acquiring
“Big muscles“ even if they want to!
The look you are talking about that
you've seen on women body builders is not achieved by accident in a
general fitness program, but with very specific programs that take many
hours a day and years of very specific training. (Not to mention the
“supplements” that they might be taking. Testosterone
anyone? :)
You need not worry about becoming an
"accidental body builder." It simply will not happen.
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Do
I have to lift weights to participate in your programs?
Lifting weights is not necessarily a
part of every program. Again, it will depend on your particular
goals. However I do like to incorporate some weight
training in my programs because in combination with other forms of
training, it has been proven to get my clients to their goals the
fastest.
Don’t worry, even lifting a five
pound dumbbell is considered “lifting
weights”!
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FAQ list
Is
tracking bodyweight the best method of measuring progress?
Not by a long shot! It just
happens to be the simplest way for the average person to do so.
However just going by "bodyweight" can be somewhat misleading. I
can show you a person who looks a certain way at a certain weight but
who looks like a completely different person at another time ... at the
same bodyweight!
How is that possible? It's called "body composition
redistribution". Big
term which for our intents and purposes can simply be illustrated like
this. Suppose a person loses 10 pounds of fat but gains 15 pounds
of muscle ... that a net gain of five pounds of bodyweight,
right? However do you think that person will look better, feel better
and be healthier now? Absolutely. So it all depends on your
body composition and your goals.
We use a more overall approach to
tracking progress, we go by how the client looks, feels and
weighs ... but in addition to this we also keep track of their actual
body composition throughout their progression. In my opinion and
experience this is more effectively achieved by simply keeping track of
your body fat percentage.
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So
how do I know what body fat percentage is good and what is bad?
Well, the following chart represents a
general but meaningful rating system. The numbers represent Bodyfat
percentages.
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What
are your rates?
You can see our rates here.
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Ok,
it's obvious that you know your stuff, so why are your rates so much
cheaper than anyone else? After
all, isn't price relative to quality?
I agree that the general perception is
that "you get what you pay for" ... that's why our regular
rates range right up to $83.25 per session!
However, your timing is great
in that you've found us
during a promotion where we’re
offering our "friends
and family" rates to the general public. :)
Since these discounts are so steep, we
can only offer them to the next few new clients. Therefore
if you want quality and
affordability I'd
respectfully suggest that you call us immediately and book your free,
no obligation visit. :) You may actually be able to lock in these
ridiculously "affordable" rates for yourself before these last few
slots are gone!
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How
much weight can I realistically expect to lose if I participate in your
sessions?
Again,
just going by "bodyweight" can be somewhat misleading. However,
historically my clients have lost an average of two to three PLUS
pounds per week ... consistently. More
importantly they have learned certain strategies to keep it off
once they've lost it! Keep
in mind that a very good rate of healthy
weight loss is about 1.5 to 3 pounds per week.
Anyone
who promises you weight loss of more than that per week is feeding you a line (pardon the
pun) ... unless you want to starve yourself on one of those radical
"diets" out there. We all know how that turns out in the long
term ... the weight comes back and then some!
My
method of sensible eating (NOT dieting) and effective workouts
gets you the best results for your health and long term
maintenance! Clients who've lost the weight my way
comment on how EASY it is to keep it off. (and that's
important for your health as opposed to yo-yo dieting)
Having said all that so far one of my
current clients has lost 115 pounds!
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Where
are you located?
See our location here.
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So whether you want to ...
- Tone, sculpt and shape your body ...
- Just lose that
last few pounds ...
- Lose a lot of
weight ...
- Increase
strength and flexibility ...
- Build "muscle"
...
- Reduce your
STRESS ... (and even clinical depression!)
- Increase your
conditioning & strength for your particular sport ...
- Increase
mobility.
- Increase bone
density
- Prevent or ease
osteoarthritis
- Reduce and
sometimes even reverse the effects of osteoporosis
The Fitness Workshop P.T.S.
has got you covered!
Call us today at 416-726-4482 for an
absolutely FREE no obligation
consultation.
You may be one of the lucky
clients still able to take advantage of our
"Get Ready For Spring/Summer"
promotion!
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