Why Hiring an Online Trainer is Better than In-Person (and soooo much cheaper!)

I’ve been a trainer and a coach running my own business for five years now and one of the roadblocks I run into during consultations with prospective clients is them saying: “well that’s all well and good, but I need to see someone in person.”

Now, I have trained clients in-person and online and what I am about to say may shock you, but in my experience, my online clients get faster results, are more motivated to do the work and - on the whole - lose more weight in a shorter amount of time than my in-person clients roughly ninety per cent of the time.

Obviously, there are some people who simply prefer to do this work in-person and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that and I highly encourage it. If you’re training for a competition or a marathon for example, it may benefit you to work out with a trainer in person. However, if you’re someone who just wants to get in better shape or lose weight it may behoove you (and your wallet) to hire an online trainer or coach. Here’s why:

1. We’re cheaper.

Online trainers and coaching are exponentially cheaper than training with someone in person. Our overhead is much lower - many of us can train you from our own home or gyms we have in our homes. In-person trainers either have to pay a fee to use a facility (a cost than then goes back to you) or are hired through the gym they work at (which takes a cut, so naturally is more expensive to the consumer.) You will get the exact same workout you’d get from an in-person trainer online (we all have the same certifications) at a fraction of the cost because an online trainer’s overhead is much lower. Comparatively speaking, what I charge an online client for a years worth of services is $13,000 to $25,000 LESS year than what you’d get in person depending on where you live and I offer much more. Remember, whether you train with someone in-person or remotely, YOU are the one who has to do the workout.

2. More Accountability.

I wish I knew the actual psychology of this but in my experience, my online clients are far more accountable than my in-person clients. I  believe this is because my online clients are given different workouts every single day, meal plans to follow, etc. whereas my in-person clients see me once or twice a week and that’s pretty much it. Because my online clients are doing the work all the time and my in-person clients are doing the work for 2-3 hours a week, they tend to get far better results much faster.

3. Getting Into Shape Takes More Than a Few Training Sessions.

If you want to get in shape (and stay in shape) it is a long process that takes weeks, months or even years. Remember, you didn’t gain the weight overnight and you won’t take it off overnight. Doing a few training sessions here and there is great for movement and getting back to the gym, however, consistency is key and there are other aspects to weight loss and muscle growth than seeing a trainer once or twice a week.

4. More Bang For Your Buck.

Most online coaches (myself included) give you far more than an in-person trainer has the ability to give you for much less money. For example, I give all of my clients weekly meal plans, workouts that change daily with instructions (written and visual) 24/7 support and weekly coaching sessions or workouts. If you hire an in-person trainer (for most likely double, triple or even quadruple the cost) they train you once or twice a week and that’s it. Many of them do not have the ability or time to provide the services myself and other online coaches do. You are forced to pay them by the hour which limits their abilities to help you in other areas (mainly nutrition - which if you’re trying to build muscle or lose weight is an essential part of your journey.) When you’re training in-person with a trainer, all you’re getting is training and unfortunately, that’s only a portion of weight loss or muscle growth.

5. Knowing Your Taken Care Of.

I  allow my clients access to me whenever they need. Obviously, I do sleep, but for the most part, clients can get a hold of me whenever they need something. This allows them to know that not only will their questions be answered, but they have the accountability of someone when they need it. Unfortunately, most in-person trainers will only catch up with you when they see you in person and don’t provide some of the knowledge they have to you when you are not physically together. It’s not that they don’t know it - it’s that you’re paying them per session so it doesn’t benefit them to help you when they’re off the clock (unless of course you find a great, big-hearted in-person trainer and they are definitely out there.)

6.  You Won’t Skip Sessions.

Again, I do not know why exactly this happens but my in-person clients skip sessions 50% more than my online clients. I have no idea why this happens, but I believe it’s because since they are paying me by the hour and my online clients are not - their results are slower and they become more frustrated with their progress. I can only see a particular client so many times a week before the expense becomes overwhelming for them.

7. You Can Do It From Anywhere!

For some people who haven’t been to a gym in a long time, it can be a very scary place. When you’re working with an online coach, you have the ability to workout wherever you’d like. If you don’t want to pay an expensive gym membership or simply prefer to workout out at home, your trainer can meet you where you are because you’re doing everything online. This is also great for clients who are traveling for work or pleasure and don’t want to miss a session. A good online trainer can design a workout for you on-the-fly, even if all you have is your own body weight!

Remember: whether you hire an in-person trainer or an online coach, YOU are responsible for not only the effort you put into it, but the results. We cannot workout for you. We cannot monitor every single piece of food you put into your mouth. That’s up to you. What we can do is motivate, keep you accountable and give you all the tools you need to succeed. So next time you say: “I need to see someone in person,” ask yourself: do you need you really need that or are you talking yourself out of actually doing the work? It’s 2024, you barely need to see your general practitioner or therapist in person. Stop giving yourself excuse after excuse and get to work.