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The last few years have seen a huge shift in the way we work out - technology has given us new freedoms and many of us have broken up with the traditional gym in the same way we’ve broken up with the office. But what are the other options available? And are they a worthy and safe investment for our hard earned cash?
Finding the type of exercise that’s right for you, your lifestyle, your goals and importantly, your budget, is essential, and with more options available than ever before, complete with a huge range of offers/prices, completely overwhelming.
So, to keep things simple, we’ve broken the options down into their pros and cons.
When looking at the options, it is important to always have your ultimate goal in mind. This could be a simple, lasting lifestyle change or something more intense like increasing your fitness temporarily for a challenge such as a triathlon or half marathon.
Ok, here are the options:
Pros:
There’s a reason people keep coming back to personal training, especially when you have a specific challenge in mind. Having a PT gives you the human connection that’s lost in some online platforms, as well as someone to tailor work outs to your needs, check your form, work around specific injuries or worries, advise on nutrition, and keep you accountable for your training.
Cons:
Personal Trainers are great, but they’re expensive. If you’re looking for a long term solution to your fitness then a PT can end up taking up a big chunk of your wages. Which is fine, but not something that’s available to everyone (and even fewer of us now thanks to the cost of living crisis).
Personal Trainers also offer little flexibility. You have to work within their hours, and it can be tricky to rearrange booked-in sessions at short notice. Plus, you have to travel to their gym for every session.
Pros:
Remote Personal Training offers almost all of the benefits of traditional PT: fully personalised workouts, accountability and encouragement, injury and rehabilitation support, and nutrition advice, etc.. with the added advantage of being a lot cheaper. There is also much more flexibility on offer, as you can access your personal training wherever you are, not vice versa. If you want to work out at home or in your local gym, you can - your program will be tailored to your environment and available equipment.
Online Personal training also offers optional guidance on nutrition, which can will help you get the most out of your training and hit your goals.
Cons:
Whilst your remote PT will help you discover, set and stick to your fitness goals, you won’t get the face to face contact you get with a traditional PT. (Which, let’s face it, can be a good thing - I’m not always game for an hour of small talk after a long day at work!)
Pros:
These workouts are free, which is a huge benefit to people just starting out on their fitness journey, or who need a bit of an easy, quick fix to get their motivation going.
Cons:
The workouts tend to be a bit random, with no inbuilt way of recording progress, which means you can quickly outgrow, get bored and lose motivation. Your trainer may be unqualified too, which can leave you more open to injury as they can offer no personalisation that considers your individual body and health.
Pros:
These apps are slick-looking, affordable, and do offer modifications and a degree of progression as your fitness increases. There’s also the added benefit of being able to work out at home, or wherever you have your phone/tablet with you.
Cons:
Some classes require equipment, which can be an expensive extra investment, and the programming isn't personalised so won’t take into account any injuries you have, or specific areas of focus. There is also a lack of nutritional support, and accountability isn’t built into the platform, which is a key part of sticking at it in the long term.
Pros:
Fitness classes are great motivators. You’re in it together, and the social benefits of working out in a group are huge. They tend to be fun too, which is a massive factor in keeping you on track to meeting your goals.
Cons:
It is impossible to tailor a fitness class to everyone’s needs, and there is a lack of attention to form, meaning you can increase your risk of injury. Most of the time, you’ll also have to book in advance, which can be tricky if you need more flexibility around a demanding lifestyle. They can also become quite expensive if you’re paying for several classes a week.
Pros:
Peloton is the breakout fitness brand of lockdown and, despite taking a major hit in 2022, it rebounded with full force this year. Their platform (and those that are similar) has grown from spinning-style workouts, to including exercise of all types. Basically, they have online fitness classes covered. There are literally thousands of options available, with a wide range of exercise type and ability level.
Cons:
This is an expensive online option. The bike is a massive outlay, especially if you don’t end up sticking to it, and then there is an additional monthly charge. There is also the issue of where to put the bike if you’re tight on space in a flat or a busy house. The programmes can also become a little repetitive, and can’t account for any injuries or specific requirements.
Pros:
There has been a huge improvement in the amount of options offered by gyms in the last few years - from low cost, 24hr brands like Anytime Fitness to higher end offerings like David Lloyd that offer less of a gym and more of a country club vibe. Gyms offer a wide range of equipment and classes, and usually have lots of professionals on hand to offer any advice when you need it.
Cons:
There is a reason that so many gym memberships go to waste - people just don’t know how to use them. If you go into a gym without a plan, or any idea of how to use the sea of expensive equipment, they can leave you feeling disheartened and intimidated and just wanting to go home and never come back. A gym membership alone will not get you fit.
But…
One way to make the gym work for you is to pair it with a more affordable, online personal trainer. This will give you the best of both: use of the wide range of equipment a gym can provide, with the added knowledge on how to use it correctly, with confidence, and in line with your goals.
Any of the other options may work for you, but really, if you want to get fit and stay fit, then personalised fitness is the perfect match for you: keeping you motivated, accountable, and sticking to your own goals, whatever they are.
Where traditional personal training is a luxury fewer of us than ever can afford, remote personal training can offer everyone a way to work out that works for them, no matter what their background, ability or location - with the added benefit of increased flexibility in our ever more flexible world.
The Another Round App offers remote personal training for just £2.17 per day - delivered by a team of level 3 qualified personal trainers, with over 40 years of combined experience, and powered by industry leading AI technology.
See how Another Round can be your perfect fitness match.
Get a remote PT for just £65 per month. Cancel anytime.
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