Fitness goals are achievable with the right professional help. Sydney personal trainer Simon Anderson explains how to find it.

Achieving their desired body weight, dress size, belt size or whatever-you-like-size, and looking and feeling absolutely amazing in the process is a dream shared by many people. If this is one of your goals, then employing the services of a personal trainer is something that you should give more than just a passing thought to.

Personal training has evolved so fast in the past 10 years, that it makes your head spin faster than the wheels of a bike! Gone are the days of unstructured workouts, where it was star jumps and crunches and push-ups for everybody. Today's trainers tailor workouts to suit your goals, your time frame and even how hard you want to work out. You don't need to train like an Olympian to obtain a gold-medal body - it's just a case of finding the right balance of movement and munching.

The body of your dreams doesn't have to cost you a lot of time, your social life or an arm and a leg financially. The benefits from even one session a week with a motivating trainer can set you on a path of fitness forever.

Take your time in choosing a trainer. There are a lot of them out there now, and some are always going to suit you better than others. Make sure they have their qualifications and insurance up to date, and have demonstrated a great understanding of what you want.

Some specialise in power lifting, which might not be the best match for a woman looking to lose the pesky last 5 kilograms, while other focus on aerobic exercise - not the thing for someone wanting to bulk up. So make sure the trainer understands your goals clearly.

As nutrition plays a huge part in maintaining your dream physique, select a trainer who will offer sound food-plan advice delivered in a way that you like to hear. Food management is the key to maintaining your weight, so don't be misled by the latest and greatest food fads. The basic principles have worked forever, so let your health professional guide you along the right path.

With people busier than ever and outsourcing everything from washing the car to walking the dog, the thought of taking the time to learn the right exercises and how to eat can keep people bolted to the couch in fear. A good trainer will make sure you get what you want in the way you want it. As warmer weather is just around the corner, make sure that this summer sees your fitness goals achieved.

Simon Anderson is a personal trainer at Vision Personal Training in Double Bay, NSW. Phone 02 9328 0013 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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