By: Jerry Trubman, Owner & Founder
So, you’ve decided to get in better shape? There are certainly a lot of options out there. The intention of this post is to help you sort through some of it, and hopefully give you some tools to help narrow down what you’re looking for… even if it isn’t me or my facility (I’ll hold back my tears). The way I see it, the options break down into 3 basic categories…
Join a crowded gym and/or go at it alone
This is definitely the least expensive option. Gym memberships can be cheap, as little as $10 bucks a month, and working out at home is free. If you consider yourself to be a good self-starter and have some sort of foundation of good training principles and a basic template to follow, this option could work well for you. These days, good training programs are also fairly easy to find online. I work with a number of online students, and this option works well for them. For a fairly low cost, they get customized programming so they feel like they know what they’re doing.
The trouble with big gyms, however, is the failure rate is extraordinarily high (up to 97% if you believe the stats). That’s how they can charge so little for the membership. If everyone who had a membership started showing up to exercise regularly, there would be a Disneyland-in-the-summer sized line wrapped around the building to get in. Their business model is essentially based on hoping you never show up, but continue to have those monthly dues taken out of your bank account.
Hire a personal trainer
This option has a variety of perks: Motivation, accountability, guidance, program design, etc. The main drawback? Price. You can spend anywhere from $50 to over $100 per session. If you see your trainer regularly, like at least a couple times per week (recommended), this can get expensive if you decide to do it long-term.
If you’re working around serious injuries and/or health conditions (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obese, etc.), having this undivided attention is pretty important when you’re just starting out. Also, if you are a very high-level athlete that needs sport-specific programming, seeking out a professional that is capable of designing and implementing a good program is totally worth it (choose your coach wisely). We have two licensed Physical Therapists that see patients in our facility who are in genuine need of this level of attention. If you're brand new to fitness and/or haven't been active in a very long time, please do not underestimate the value hiring a skilled individual to help you start your journey.
Click here for more info on getting started...
Taking fitness classes
So let’s say you’re fairly healthy and like the accountability aspect of having a coach, but don’t like the personal training cost. A fitness class could be right up your alley.
The main trouble I see here is that once a class starts getting too big, you just become a number and the accountability aspect goes away.
The Protocol Advantage
Seven years ago, when I started The Protocol Strength & Conditioning, my main goal was to fix to what was wrong with the conventional fitness establishment. Our main offering is what we call ‘small group’: 3-6 people per coach and a program that covers conditioning, mobility, AND strength training.
This is what has made us famous: A personal training experience without the personal training price!
If this sounds like something you’d like to learn more about, please drop me a line using ‘request more information’ on this page, or click here.
You can also click here to see what others have to say about us on Google.
Look forward to meeting you soon!
Jerry Trubman is a coach, clinician, author, blogger, and powerlifting state champion. With over two decades of lifting experience, he has devoted himself to seeking out better answers, and distilling them into practical programs that produce great results. Jerry has coached "Team Protocol" to 4 National Powerlifting Championships in the 100% Raw federation. He writes the internationally-read blog, “The Healthy Addiction” and lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife Marie and dog Sadie. To subscribe to his blog, click here.
