I've been offering Personal Training options and Outdoor Boot Camps in the Victoria area for over 8 years and with the great weather and outdoor locations many more fitness companies have joined the ranks offering all kinds of ways to get fit.  When I started Alter Ego Fitness Experience, there were maybe 10 similar (outdoor boot camp style) companies in the Greater Victoria area.  Now, 8 years later, a quick Google search will reveal that there are probably closer to 40 or 50 companies competing for the same clients.  This is nothing but a win-win for you, the client, or is it?

As well, with the massive proliferation of information on the internet and all the free apps you can get for your phone or tablet, it seems that almost everyone can present themselves as some form of expert.  If you read an article from someone who presents themselves as an "Online Coach, Trainer, or Fitness Competitor" does that mean anything?  Not really. Without backing up their claim, with documented certifications from a reputable fitness organization, they may have even less knowledge than you already have and what they say should be seen as only their opinion.

A recent article in the Times Colonist newspaper also detailed a varied collection of apps that, if you're self-motivated enough, can be used to ensure that you get in your fitness workout.  Some are free, some can be quite costly.  Some are prepared and presented by well known Trainers (Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels from "The Biggest Loser" TV show each have one), while others are from Instagram or internet "stars" who are popular (they have thousands of followers) but who have no real credentials to back up their information.

But, none of them are as motivating and knowledgeable as an actual person that is a certified Personal Trainer or Fitness Instructor.  None of them are capable of monitoring your technique to ensure that you're doing the exercise properly and don't injure yourself.  None of them can provide a modification to the exercise that addresses your specific concerns or limitations.  For those benefits, you have to make the time to attend an actual small group class with a certified Trainer.

A recent article on LinkedIn talked about how "Instagram Is Ruining Fitness".  A gist of the article was that although it can be a great place to "find information, learn new moves, and plain old get inspired", there are also numerous instances where it isn't beneficial to anyone.  This can be applied to pretty much all the information on the internet, take it with a healthy dose of skepticism.  Again, as with the apps, titles can mean nothing.  The internet is also a veritable cesspool of bad habits.  It's full of diet tips, exercises that are dangerous and workout routines that are absurd.  In those instances, the internet is definitely NOT your friend.

If the ONLY way you can fit some form of fitness into your lifestyle is to use an app, please ensure that it's from a reputable Trainer and that it's complete enough to give you detailed information on form and technique.  Hopefully, it will also have a nutrition component.  But please, before you resign yourself to that, I'd strongly encourage you to reassess your priorities a bit and get out to an actual class or hire a Personal Trainer to make sure you're doing things right.

Of course, even with the certifications, you may not always get the Personal Trainer or Group Fitness Instructor who is passionate enough to educate themselves above and beyond their certification requirements and that means you need to do your homework and research individuals.  Ask to meet with the Personal Trainer or Bootcamp Instructor to get a better feel for their capabilities and compatibility with you.  The last thing you need, after you've decided to get yourself fit and healthy, is to start a program and then either get injured or over train to the point of illness or exhaustion.  I offer a 1 hour complimentary session during which you can tell me what you need and, as well, for you to get a feel for how I can help you reach your goals.

Take the time now to sit down and write out all that you need/want in an exercise program and then do your research and meet with either a Certified Personal Trainer or Fitness Instructor who you believe will support and motivate you to get where to want to be on your journey to overall health and fitness.  Alter Ego Fitness Experience offers a holistic, realistic approach to a healthy, active lifestyle and we'd love the opportunity to work with you to achieve your goals!

Loreli's company, Alter Ego Fitness Experience, offers Personal Training, Group Fitness (boot camp) and YogaFit training options.  Her passion for overall health and wellness, and her innate ability to sense a client’s personal struggles, enables her to assist them to get to their next level and to, ultimately, find their “alter ego”!

"Overall health and fitness is a journey, not a destination!"