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Thursday, May 22nd
Transform is an app-based personal training program focused primarily on weight loss. The program offers over 1,000 guided workouts as well as nutrition and wellness plans to help you meet your goals. The app is run by Chris, the owner, and you'll be working with his expertise as you track your food, complete personalized workouts, choose from over 800,000 healthy food recipes, and get weekly "life lessons”.
Main focus is weight loss
The primary focus for Transform is weight loss, with calorie tracking, meal planning, and nutrients being a large portion of the app's features. However, according to our research, there isn't much in the way of actual personal training. While you get meetings with Chris, these are listed as "life lessons” rather than workout guidance. The app offers workouts and workout videos, but your meetings with the owner of Transform aren't geared toward fitness the way that you'd find with a traditional personal trainer.
Costs $14.99 per month
There aren't different package options at Transform. This personal trainer app is just $14.99 per month for full app access. However, since you're not getting actual in-depth personal training, this price is just for a weight management and nutrition app. While that's not a bad deal, if you're looking for more than weight loss, you may be disappointed by Transform. On the bright side, there is a 7-day free trial, so you can see if the app is the right fit for your goals.
Almost completely DIY
Transform is almost all DIY when it comes to the fitness side of things. Some of the workouts you can find include bodyweight training, dance party, cross training, and yoga. However, the overall vibe is that you will pick your own workouts, manage your own time, and just use the Transform app as your guidepost for keeping your weight loss journey on track rather than the app acting as a true personal trainer.
Concerns about app functionality
One thing to keep in mind about Transform is if you do want to download the app, you'll need to search for "Transformation with Chris” to get what you're looking for. Looking up Transform will send you to the wrong mobile app. There are a decent number of reviews for this personal training app on various app stores, but the ratings are middle-tier. At the Apple App Store, the rating is slightly higher with a 4.4-star average out of 5. However, on Google Play, Transform only has a 3-star average rating. Some of this is due to issues with functionality on the Google version of the app, but some people feel like the app's features are lacking for the price, especially in the grocery list area. A few reviews noted that they felt there was "too much going on” on the app with "little instruction.”
Only worth checking out for its weight-tracking features
Since downloading the app is the only way to use the Transform personal training services, the fact that there are complaints about the app functionality raises some red flags. Further, if you're looking for serious personal training, this isn't the app for you. The focus is primarily on weight loss, and while exercise plays a role in that, there isn't a lot of one-on-one personal training workout assistance with this platform. For this reason, Transform earns a lower score in our review, though it's worth checking out if you want a weight loss tracker instead.
Getting fit is one of the most significant steps toward caring for yourself. Many people find that going to the gym by themselves, though, can be overwhelming - especially if they're not sure what to do with all the machines and weights. Often even long-time gym members need help leveling up their workout and creating a targeted fitness plan for building muscle, or need support for an injury they want to strengthen.
Either way, a personal trainer is a great option to up your gym game. A talented personal trainer will whip you into shape, but on your terms and with a plan that fits your body, workout style, and goals.
A lot of folks think that personal trainers are for top athletes. And, while a personal trainer can be essential for those who need to complete specific goals for a sport or competition, a workout beginner can get just as much out of a personal trainer as a gym pro. Grabbing a personal trainer as a newbie can help you through the weeds of discovering what movements are safe for your body, how to use equipment properly, and how to see the results you want as quickly as possible.
There are innumerable benefits to getting a personal trainer (at any level). For one, you can be sure you'll have more effective workouts (workouts that serve a purpose for your body and your goals, and increased difficulty where needed to keep your body challenged). The process also includes a personalized experience where your trainer analyzes your current fitness level, health concerns, and previous injuries, and creates a tailored workout plan for your needs. Plus, your customized plan can offer you support in and out of the gym - including nutrition and recovery practices that will help you when you're not working out.
Finding a good personal trainer can be tricky, though. You'll want to make sure and check on potential candidates' education, areas of expertise, experience, and any certifications. The best certification agencies include the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NSAM), the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American Council of Exercise (ACE), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Checking to see if your preferred personal trainer has a background in sports medicine (or a degree) is a good rule of thumb to know you're getting the proper advice from a medically-sound background.
While, at the end of the day, selecting a personal trainer is a super individualized process (you will need to like the trainer and spend a decent amount of time with him or her), we can help you get started on your search. To make sure you find the best personal trainer for your fitness goals, we've put together some factors to help you narrow the options:
To help you find the right place to kickstart your fitness journey, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked today's most popular platforms for hiring personal trainers online. This way you can focus on getting your gains and trusting that your trainer is there to help keep you on track!
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