.png)
So, you've reached that point. You're determined to achieve your fitness goals. It could be shedding fat, building muscle, gaining strength, or boosting confidence in the gym. But the lingering question you have is...
"Do I opt for an in-person trainer or hire an online coach?"
You might find yourself wondering, "What exactly do online coaches do?"
Online coaching has gained a lot of popularity since COVID. But let's be honest, it's still fairly new in the fitness industry.
Having transitioned from being an in person personal trainer and CrossFit coach to now exclusively coaching online, I understand the pros and cons of both approaches.
My goal in this post is to be completely honest with you and guide you towards the option that aligns best with what YOU are looking to achieve.
SO, let's dive into a (unbiased) breakdown of the pros and cons of in-person vs. online coaching across various categories.
Convenience and Flexibility
Online Coaching
Hands down the beauty of having an online coach is that you can access them wherever you are. It doesn't matter if you're in another state or country. Or, if you're traveling for work. Your workouts, nutrition plan, and coach are right there, in your pocket.
That also means you don’t have to drive to a specific location to meet with a trainer, at a time that doesn't always work best with your busy schedule. This is typically a huge appeal for individuals that have busy or odd schedules or those that enjoy working out at home.
In Person Trainer
With personal training, you must show up at a specific time and place. This time and place will be based on your trainer's availability. This may not always work well if you have a busy schedule. The flexibility will depend on your trainer. Also, most trainers do not give you access to them outside of your session. So, consider this if you want accountability and support beyond your hour in the gym.
Cost-Effectiveness
Online Coaching
Unlike in person, with most online coaching there is typically a 3-12 month commitment required. This is due to the fact that there is a lot of upfront work that your coach does to get you onboarded in the program.
You can find a wide range of online coaching costs but it will typically cost you $200-$500+ a month. Our program in particular typically ranges from $289-$449. The price depends on whether you want nutrition and workouts, just nutrition, or just workouts. It also depends on the time commitment you sign up for. The nice thing about online coaching is the price does not change based on how many workouts you want to do per week as it would with in person.
In Person Trainer
Personal training costs are unlike online coaching costs. They are typically based on how many sessions you plan to do per month. So you essentially pay per in person session. If you’re looking to workout 3-4x a week for an hour a session, these prices can quickly add up. The average rate of an in person session is $65 per hour. So even working out with a trainer once per week, can easily be $260/mo.
((And as you know, it takes a lot more than one hour with a personal trainer to really lose body fat and build muscle)).
The upside here is that unlike online coaching, most personal trainers do offer month to month coaching. Which means you don’t have to commit to a certain time frame and can always opt out at any time.
Customization and Personalization
Online Coaching
This category is really where you want to do your homework in the online space. I'll be honest. I've been in the online industry for 4 years now and I've seen tons of cookie cutter workout and nutrition programs with little customization. (I’ve heard some unfortunate stories of people not getting what they signed up for or coaching not being personalizing to their needs).
So be aware of who you are signing up with, what they offer, and ask plenty of questions before you choose to sign up with a coach. Most programs that cost less than $100-150/mo are just workout templates. They are not personalized. Or, they are generic meal plans. They don’t consider your real needs or preferences.
When it comes to cost, less isn’t always more. And often less cost = less personalization.
That being said, at All-Tru every nutrition and training program is built for you, from the ground up. While we generally work with women who have a common goal of getting stronger and having more confidence, everyone’s needs, restrictions, background, and behaviors are so different. And as a coach, this needs to be taken into consideration.
Do I believe you can make some progress on workout templates and meal plans? As a beginner, sure. But do those results last? More often than not, no. Because you are trying to fit your needs into a premade plan. The plan was not created to fit your needs.
In Person Trainer
This can also be the same case for in person. Cheaper trainers give less personalized workouts. Or they have less experience. This is common in big box commercial gyms. I sadly have seen trainers take different clients through the same workout, time and time again.
That being said. Most personal trainers DO personalize each client's workout plan, so they can cater to the client's needs, goals, weaknesses, and restrictions. Because your trainer is there with you in person, it’s also really easy to make adjustments to form and exercises on the spot.
If you’re looking for quality in person training, I recommend looking into smaller or more private gyms. The caliber of coaching tends to be a lot better than big box commercial gyms.
Technology and Tracking
Online Coaching
If you hate technology, I will be honest. Online coaching may not be for you. Why? Because everything is done online. You typically will be using an app to track your macros, and another to track your workouts and progress. At All-Tru, we also use the same app to communicate with our clients (and communicate with each other via a group chat). So if texting or using apps isn’t your thing, the online coaching may not be for you.
That being said, if you like (or don’t mind) technology, and tracking, then… jackpot. The beauty of online coaching is that everything is trackable. You can track your habits in an app, your workouts (reps, sets, weights used, intensity), your macros / the foods you eat, and so much more.
In Person Trainer
With personal training, you don't have to use technology. Your trainer will handle all the data and tracking for you. You just have to show up to your workout and be ready to push yourself. Your trainer also typically will tell you what weights to use so you don’t have to second guess whether you’re not going heavy or light enough.
While this is a huge pro for most people (I mean, who doesn’t love to show up and just be told what to do)... if you plan on eventually working out on your own, this may come back to bite you in the ass. I have spoken to several people in which their trainers didn't tell them how to set up movements. They also didn't explain the purpose of specific exercises or how to gauge weights. Then, when they parted ways with their trainer, they felt completely lost on their own.
If you do go the route of an in person trainer, make sure that they give you plenty of explanation on the intent behind your workouts so you have autonomy in the gym.
Motivation and Accountability
Online Coaching
Imagine having someone in your pocket that you could message them at any time. It could be for motivation to go to the gym, inspiration for meal prep, or just a question about what protein powder to buy.
That’s online coaching for you.
I always tell clients that were a bit like Big Brother (#tbt) because we can see everything that our clients are doing. What they eat every day. When they hit their workouts. What weights they use in their workouts. When they are and aren’t hitting their goals and more.
For most people, this gives them an extra layer of accountability. And it can make the difference between being stuck and making continuous progress.
In Person Trainer
For most people, the best part of in-person training is that you have to go to the gym for someone other than yourself. And let’s be real, for people that struggle to go to the gym, that’s a huge plus. When 5:30 PM rolls around and the last thing you want to do is go workout, you might want to just skip the gym. But, when you know your trainer is there waiting for you and you'll be charged if you cancel last minute, you show up.
You also get real time motivation and encouragement from a trainer. This can help if you struggle to push yourself in workouts.
Available Resources
Online Coaching
This was the main reason why I transitioned from in person training to online coaching. In my in-person sessions, I found that my clients constantly had questions about their nutrition. Or, they wondered why they weren’t seeing the body results they wanted. Sure, they were getting stronger. But, changing your body, having more energy, and improving your health. It comes down to FAR more than just working out.
Your body and health are a product of the foods you eat, the habits you have, and thoughts you tell yourself. Unfortunately, I couldn't dig deep with my clients about these factors. We were there to workout.
While every online coaching program is different, at All-Tru we offer tons of resources to help our clients, including:
24/6 access to your coach
Weekly video and zoom check ins
Bi-weekly team calls on a variety of educational topics (blood sugar management, how to improve your sleep, creating long lasting habits, and so much more)
100+ macro and meal prep friendly recipes to help our clients add more variety and fun to their meals
Access and discounts to our Registered Dietitian to order and assess blood work, or other hormone or gut health tests
Access to our app to track daily habits, progress photos, workouts and meals
In Person Training
Most people sign up for personal training to lose body fat, or build more muscle. And while that’s a great start and push in the right direction, personal training doesn't go beyond workouts. And workouts are just a PIECE of the puzzle.
Unfortunately, most trainers aren't qualified to give nutrition advice. They also don't have the time or ability to dive into your life or eating habits in an hour-long session. So keep this in mind if you are really looking for a full body transformation!
Curious as to whether or not online coaching may be a good fit for you? Or want to know more about what we offer inside All-Tru and our TRU Strength program?
Click the link here to schedule a free call with me. We'll chat about your goals, struggles, and what you're looking for from a coach to assess whether online coaching may be for you!
Comments