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Saturday, March 25th
Chris Powell is the force behind Transform. You might be familiar with him from the worldwide hit TV show "Extreme Weight Loss" . Accordingly, when you look at the Coaching part of the Transform site, you'll find a heavy weight loss emphasis.
Focus on weight loss
A focus on weight loss isn't good or bad. But many people looking to access personal training aren't just wanting to be told how to lose weight. You can still sign up for Coaching here - just understand that it's going to be assumed that you want to shed some pounds.
3 Transformation packages
You'll see the focus on weight loss reflected in the three Transformation packages:
More do-it-yourself than most personal training options
Although Transform says that you'll get "customized" workouts and meal plans, it really seems to be more of a DIY service: you'll get workouts and meals to choose from within the app database, but you're creating your goals on your own. You can "choose your transformation" - Lose Weight, Maintain & Sculpt, Gain Weight & Muscle - but you don't exactly have someone overseeing that process as you go.
Super affordable
The good news? Transform is shockingly cheap, compared with the other personal trainer options in our review. You'll just pay $14.99/month or $38.99/quarter, easy peasy. And, your first seven days are free; you won't be charged for your first month or quarter until that trial period ends. No contracts, no commitments are required here.
Schedule a consult - if you can
We would recommend taking advantage of Transform's free 15-minute consultation call, to get a better idea of what to expect and receive some recommendations for how to get started with the app. Unfortunately, the calendar link on the site first took us to a message that said the specific calendar wasn't available; the next time we clicked on it, we were told that there were no dates and times open in the next three months. Okay, then!
Not exactly personal training
While you definitely can't beat the price of using Transform compared with other personal training choices in our review, this site isn't quite what we imagine most people are looking for when they Google "personal training online" . If all you need is a database of workouts and meal suggestions, you could give Transform a go - it should be pretty easy to tell within that first free week if it's going to work for what you're looking for. However, most people wanting active, specific input from a personal trainer will wind up using a different service.
All of us have reached some point in our lives where we thought "Something needs to change and I need to get healthier." Right? For many of us, our next thought leads us to ask about personal training: we need specific advice for how, exactly, to get healthier - because, let's face it, winging it hasn't really been working so far.
Whether you're looking for someone who can meet with you in person and get you stretching and sweating, or you need the convenience of virtual sessions that you can do at home or at your local gym, you'll have no problem finding personal training online. Especially after the pandemic, today's top fitness professionals are marketing their services on the internet - which is a huge win for you.
When you're looking for a personal trainer, you're not relying on word-of-mouth referrals from your neighborhood walking club or the fitness fanatics you see on Instagram. Instead, you can browse at your own time and pace from a wide range of coaches and trainers until you find a great match.
So, should you choose a local personal trainer or a virtual one? The real question is, what's going to work for your schedule and keep you motivated? Not everyone wants to be face-to-face with their fitness coach, but it can help with accountability if you know you're going to have to see him or her on the regular. Some virtual options offer that same benefit via live coaching calls, without the inconvenience of having to drive somewhere to meet up.
Another dimension to consider is how comprehensive you want your personal training to be. Are you looking strictly for workout help - like knowing how much to lift and how often, mixing cardio with strength training, increasing your mobility - or do you want a nutrition component added too?
Finally, how much of a commitment are you willing to make? Some personal training systems have a minimum requirement of four or six sessions, which could cost you $125 or much more. Other platforms give you a refund after 30 days if you're not satisfied, a free one-month trial, or simply let you pay as you go with no contracts. You decide if having a requirement will keep you motivated or if you prefer greater flexibility.
What else should you keep in mind as you look at personal training options? Here are a few factors that could influence your decision:
To help you make progress on your health and wellness journey, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the most popular online resources for connecting with a personal trainer. Here's to a stronger, healthier you!
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