Maybe you Don’t Need a Personal Trainer. Maybe you Just Need Discipline.

I’m not a miracle worker

I coach people for a living, and it’s been 18 years.

I see everything from athletes, to weekend warriors, to complete beginners. And I can tell you this: Most people don’t need a trainer.

That’s not to say what I provide doesn’t present value. It absolutely does – or I’d be broke on the street. But it’s important to make no mistake, which is why I started this article off hot: Hitting me up to pay for my services won’t magically fix your lack of consistency, your unwillingness to push yourself, or your addiction to program-hopping.

Too many people use a trainer as a personal crutch instead of an actual tool for progress. Many also use a trainer to have something other than themselves to blame if they’re not holding up their end of the bargain and ultimately seeing no results.

Truth be told, to see those results, what most clients I meet need is discipline.

What We’re Actually Here For

This is a luxury, and it ain’t cheap. It’s worth not wasting your money (or time) investing in something without taking on the right attitude or hitting the right prerequisites. And in actuality, there are times when having a coach makes perfect sense.

1. You’re an Absolute Beginner

These have proven to be some of my favourite clients of all time. Knowing this should also serve as encouragement for people who think they need to “get in shape before working with a trainer”. That’s a ludicrous statement that needs to die. If you’ve never stepped foot in a gym and have no idea what a deadlift is, a personal trainer can help get you started safely. Good coaching will teach you how to move properly, structure your workouts, and build confidence. In this case, a trainer is a great investment—especially for the first few months.

2. You Have a Specific Goal That Requires Coaching

If you’re training for a competition, or a marathon, or recovering from an injury, a coach can make a huge difference. It may be news to some: Anything goal-oriented requires structure. Structured coaching that’s customized to you matters, because even the smallest adjustments for your lifestyle, personal goals and even your body type can have a huge impact.

3. You Need Accountability, And You Actually Take It Seriously

Some people just won’t show up unless they’re on the hook for the bill. If hiring a coach is the only thing that keeps you in the gym, it might be worth it.

But if you don’t build discipline or learn a thing or two in the process, you’re just renting motivation.

It’s inefficient to have someone to hold your hand for every single workout forever.  One thing I try to emphasize is the perspective of a good clinician. Rather than use tactics that keep you in the clinic as a patient on their table for years, a good clinician will be happy to eventually see you as infrequently as possible.  In a similar vein, I want my clients to get to the point where they know exactly what to do without me. That makes working with me more of a choice than a necessity. If you don’t ever learn the baseline skills to train on your own, you’ve missed the entire point.

We Can’t do the Work for you

Here’s three things that are “trainer deterrent” to most coaches worth their salt:

• Hiring a trainer and thinking that just showing up is enough.
• Expecting results without putting in work outside the gym.
• Listening to your trainer only during sessions but completely ignore their advice the rest of the time.

A coach can only do so much. We can guide, program, and cue you until we’re blue in the face—but if you don’t push yourself, eat right, and stay consistent, you won’t get anywhere.

In truth, the above examples are actually just three variations of the same thing. But you knew that already.  Hiring a trainer does not replace discipline. If you’re not willing to commit to the process, no amount of coaching will fix that.

What Most People Actually Need Instead of a Trainer

Your consistently plateaued results or 30 previous trainers who “didn’t work out for you” aren’t the problem, and chances are hiring a new trainer isn’t the solution.

What you truly need is a reality check.

1. Follow a Program—And Stick to It

Most people don’t need a fancy, customized workout plan. They need to pick literally any solid strength program and follow it. And I mean actually follow it.

The boring way.

If you’re fickly switching routines every two weeks due to shiny object syndrome, you’re the problem.

Want to get stronger? Train the main lifts, track your progress, and repeat. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Want to burn body fat and see abs? Do the same, and monitor your calories, rep ranges, and rest intervals.

2. Show Up—Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Don’t get this twisted.

I’m not telling you to disregard your physical or mental health in order to drag yourself to the gym and place yourself at risk.

I’m asking you to just be consistent.

There will certainly be days where you feel like doing anything BUT working out. Those are the ones that put this discipline to the test.

Consistency is what separates the people who get results from the ones who spin their wheels for years. The best lifters in the world don’t hit PRs every session—they just keep showing up. Whenever a client asks me how long it would take for them to get my lifts or my development, I tell them it’s a product of training most days per week over the course of the last 2 decades. Sounds ridiculous, but it’s literally the truth.

You don’t need motivation. You need a routine.

3. Train Like You Mean It

This one’s huge. Lots of people “go to the gym,” but they don’t really train. They half-ass their reps, check their phone or socialize too much between sets, and avoid pushing their limits.

Then they wonder why they never see progress.

Effort matters. If you want to get stronger, leaner, or more athletic, you need to train with intent. That means:

• Lifting heavy (with good form) according to your own capabilities and thresholds.
• Pushing your reps close to failure. It doesn’t matter the rep range.
• Being present and focused instead of just going through the motions.

4. Stop Blaming a Lack of Results on “Not Knowing What to Do”

The internet is full of free, high-quality workout programs. Beyond a little quality control searching, you don’t need to spend hours researching the “optimal” workout—you just need to pick one and do it.

As mentioned, most people aren’t failing because of bad programming. They’re failing because they don’t stick to anything long enough to see results.

Why No One Wants to Hear This

Taking personal accountability and realizing we ourselves are the common denominator in repeat situations is not something that comes naturally to most people. It’s also to blame a lack of progress on external factors, and it’s harder to admit that the reason you’re not seeing results is because you’re not putting in the work.

A trainer can only help so much. If you don’t take responsibility for your own consistency, training intensity, and lifestyle outside of the gym, no coach on earth will get you the results you want.

The good news? If you’re reading this and it stings, you can fix it. Build discipline, take your training seriously, and stop expecting someone else to do the hard work for you.

Now, if you’re already training with effort and consistency, but need expert guidance to get to the next level—then a good coach is worth every penny. If you’re just starting out, setting the tone with that same effort and commitment to consistency and results is just as valuable.

Wherever you are in your fitness journey, and whether or not you take the plunge into personal training: I probably just saved you a little money, or at the very least, a lot of frustration.