How often do you get to sit down with a personal trainer and get free personalized guidance, tips, and workout plans for reaching your fitness goals? Whether you’re just getting started or trying to level up your fitness routine, finding what works best for your body can be confusing. A fitness consultation with a personal trainer can help you make sense of all the variables.
That’s why Anytime Fitness members get a free one-on-one fitness consultation. We want you to have a clear and personalized plan for success — whatever that means to you.
What is a fitness consultation?
In short, a fitness consultation combines body scan data with expertise from a fitness coach or personal trainer to map out your fitness journey in the most efficient and healthy way possible so you can see results quickly.
“Most Anytime Fitness trainers have been through a fitness journey of their own,” says Coach Heather. “You’ll be able to lean on their experience and score helpful tips on how to succeed.”
You’ll also get a closer look at club features that will help you reach your goals quickly. “We’ll point out things that may not have been covered on the tour and give you an insider’s guide to unlocking the full benefit of being an Anytime Fitness member,” says Coach Heather.
The best part? The fitness consultation is free!
What to expect during a fitness consultation
The exact details of your experience will vary based on the services available at your location, but here’s what the Anytime Fitness consultation includes.
The consultation takes about one hour. It generally consists of:
- A get-to-know-you conversation with your Coach
- A body scan to measure your body composition (if available)
- Quick movement assessment
- Free 15- to 30-minute Coach-led workout
- Wrap-up chat with the Coach to talk about your goals and next steps
The Coach will start by asking get-to-know-you questions, like what brings you to the gym, defining your goals, and what kind of support you need.
Next, you’ll get a body scan to measure your body composition. You can opt out of a body scan if you’d like, but if you decide to get one, you and your Coach will go over the results at the end of the consultation. (Keep reading to learn more about body composition scanning!)
After the scan, your Coach will ask you to perform a few simple movements to assess your abilities and range of motion. The purpose of the movement assessment is to identify muscle imbalances and any areas of discomfort or limited mobility.
The movement assessment also doubles as a warm-up for the quick workout you’re about to do. The 15- to 30-minute routine is designed to get you comfortable in the gym. The Coach will lead you through a few exercises tailored to your goals and abilities, so you know how to perform them correctly. “And then when you come in to work out next time, you have some exercises in your back pocket,” says Coach Heather.
After the workout, you and your Coach will reconvene to review the results of your body scan and discuss next steps. This is the time to let your Coach know if you’d like support in reaching your goals. They’ll explain what services are available — which might include group exercise sessions and personal training — and offer recommendations based on your needs and lifestyle.
Prefer to drive your fitness journey on your own? That is absolutely okay! There’s no pressure to sign up for coaching. That said, you won’t leave the consultation empty-handed!
“One of the things you’ll get out of the fitness consultation is a 30-day workout plan that’s truly personalized,” says Coach Heather. “That’s why we spend time getting to know you and your goals — and why we do the movement assessment — so that when we select exercises, we’re sure that they’re going to help you get to your goals quickly and safely.”
What questions should I ask during a fitness consultation?
The fitness consultation is a great opportunity to ask any questions you have about reaching your personal goals, whether that be weight loss, overall strength, or coming back from an injury. “Come ready with any questions you have about your fitness journey, because your Coach will know how to answer them,” Coach Heather says.
For example:
- What are the best ways to approach weight loss?
- How can I up my strength-training routine?
- Are there any services that can help me stay accountable?
- Which group classes would you recommend for my fitness level?
- When the gym is busiest?
What should I wear to a fitness consultation?
Your fitness consultation will include a quick warm-up and workout, so wear clothes that you can comfortably move in. If they’re right for the gym, they’re right for the fitness consultation. Pants and tees with plenty of stretch, and a pair of closed-toe athletic shoes are safe bets. Be sure to bring a water bottle, too!
What kind of equipment or tools will the Coach use?
We teased the body scanner earlier. Now, let’s dig into what this tool is and how your Coach will use it during your consultation.
Unlike a scale, which only measures your body weight, the Evolt 360 Composition Analyzer offers more than 40 different types of measurements that are more relevant to your overall health, such as lean body mass and total body fat percentage. It can even calculate your body’s internal age — maybe you’re younger than you thought!
How will the body scan result help me reach my fitness goals?
Getting a body scan done at your fitness consultation gives you a baseline for gauging progress over time. And it’s much more effective than relying solely on the scale, which can trick you into thinking your hard work isn’t paying off.
As Coach Heather explains, the scale can tell you how much you weigh, but it can’t tell you what you’re made of. The number on the scale may not budge (it may even go up!) when you start working out, but the odds are you’ve shed fat and added muscle. Tracking these changes can help you appreciate your progress.
How do you use the body scanner during the consultation?
After taking off your shoes and socks, you’ll step onto the platform of the body scanner and hold the two metal handles. Once your Coach starts up the machine, the body composition scanner will pass a safe electric current through your body. (Don’t worry, you can’t feel it!)
The current details your body’s makeup by measuring the different levels of resistance given by different body parts such as muscle, fat and bone. You’ll get a clear snapshot of your health in 60 seconds or less!
Is a fitness consultant the same as a personal trainer?
Because the consultation includes a movement assessment and workout, it’s typically led by a personal trainer. This ensures you get the best fitness advice possible. The fitness consultation, however, is a one-time meeting to set you up with a plan, whereas personal training sessions are offered to provide ongoing support.
4 ways a fitness consultation can help you reach your fitness goals
A fitness consultation can set you up for lasting success in the gym. Here are the perks to spending just one hour with a Coach.
1. A fitness consultation can save you time and major headaches
You have goals. How can you achieve those goals? That’s a pretty big question, and most of us haven’t a clue how to answer it. Or, we turn to outdated ideas and beliefs. In either case, we risk wasting time and energy on workouts and lifestyle changes that don’t support our individual bodies and health goals.
Coach Heather, for example, recalls the fitness consultation she had after joining Anytime Fitness in 2012. “I had a really significant weight loss goal and I thought I knew how I was going to achieve it, but I was so misinformed I would have failed,” she says. Her plan was to ride the elliptical for 30 minutes three times a week. “The Coach was super honest with me. He said, ‘There’s nothing really wrong with that approach, but I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never seen anyone change their life on an elliptical.’”
Thankfully, Coach Heather followed the Coach’s advice to prioritize strength training instead. The personalized program — along with the support and structure she received from her personal training — helped Coach Heather reach her goal weight.
2. A fitness consultation takes the guesswork out of exercise
Many people show up to the gym not knowing what to do. They might do a few sets of dumbbell curls, hop on the cardio equipment for 20 minutes, and call it good. After a few weeks, they get bored — or worse, discouraged by the lack of results.
At the fitness consultation, you’ll not only learn which exercises will help you reach your goals, but you’ll also get one-on-one instruction on how to do them with proper form. Then, you’ll leave with a personalized 30-day program that you can easily access in the Anytime Fitness app. You’ll know exactly what to do when you get to the gym, which means less time wasted and more results. A win-win!
3. A fitness consultation keeps you accountable
At your fitness consultation, you’ll be introduced to a Coach who cares about your success in the gym. Even if you don’t continue working together one-on-one through personal training, your Coach will check in occasionally to see how you’re doing. Knowing there’s someone keeping tabs on your progress can help you stay accountable to your program.
4. A fitness consultation makes the gym less intimidating — and more fun
Joining a new gym can be intimidating. After all, you don’t know where everything is yet, and there are all those unfamiliar faces around you. It’s even more overwhelming if you’re an exercise beginner. In addition to navigating the new space, you have to figure out how to work the equipment.
The fitness consultation takes some of the mystery out of it. You have someone there to show you the ropes: Where to go, what to do and how to do it. This way, you won’t feel intimidated when walking through the doors for your first official workout. And the more confident you feel, the easier it’ll be to visit the gym regularly — key for seeing results.
How do I get a free fitness consultation?
To get your free fitness consultation, all you have to do is ask! If you didn’t schedule one during your initial tour, simply call your location and let them know you’re interested in a fitness consultation. Or, download the Anytime Fitness app and schedule the appointment yourself.
What comes after my fitness consultation?
The support doesn’t stop once your fitness consultation is over. Typically, your Coach will touch base after 30 days, and at regular intervals after that. “We want to make sure that you’re following your program, visiting the gym, and if you have any questions as you go, we can answer them,” says Coach Heather. But you don’t have to wait to hear from your Coach; feel free to reach out with any questions anytime through the Anytime Fitness app.
Ready to start your fitness journey? Find your nearest Anytime Fitness location to set up your free fitness consultation today!
