How Often Each Week Do You Train With a Personal Trainer?

It's up to you how often you exercise and what exercises you choose to do -- and the same goes for how often you work with a personal trainer. In short, there's no cut-and-dried answer for how often you'll train with one. You might work with a trainer once, twice or three times a week, depending on your goals and where you are in your fitness journey.

  1. Once a Week

    • If you're working with a trainer once a week, chances are it's because you're already fairly fit or motivated to work out on your own. In that case, the trainer may be your sounding board for concerns about your fitness journey, or a person who helps you develop more specialized training plans. You'll work out on your own the rest of the week, following the trainer's protocols, and then report back about your progress. The once-a-week schedule may also work if you have a limited income or are just starting to exercise and want to take it slowly, not taking on too much at one time.

    Twice a Week

    • The twice-a-week schedule is perhaps the most common training schedule, suggests Chicago-based personal trainer Ralph Klisiewicz. If you work with a trainer twice a week, you may spend your time learning strength-training routines. The trainer may also serve as a spotter and adviser on weight-training techniques. The sessions may involve half strength training and half cardio, or the trainer may simply design a cardio routine for you to follow throughout the rest of the week.

    Three Times

    • If you work with a trainer three times a week, you may do it because you're highly motivated to get in shape for a specific event, such as a competition or a race. During those sessions, trainers typically mix strength training with cardio or more advanced training techniques such as plyometrics or "jump training," for example. You may also work with trainers this often because you're not sure how to work out on your own or you need guidance during every workout session.

    Your Changing Goals

    • The goal of working with a trainer is to see some type of progress, so as you make that progress, your goals may change. If you worked with a trainer three days a week to learn how to exercise, you will eventually gain enough confidence to work out on your own. If you started out slowly, meanwhile, you may eventually want more of a challenge. When you begin a relationship with a trainer, read any contracts you're given carefully. Ideally, you'll be able to alter your training schedule and won't be locked into the same training schedule for more than a month or two. A personal trainer's goal is to help clients work out successfully on their own, reminds Jessica Matthews, Senior Health and Fitness Editor for the American Council on Exercise. With that in mind, an ideal trainer will help you set short- and long-term goals, and will recognize when you need to make a change.