I’ve often tried to put together a cost benefit analysis of personal training; partly out of interest but also to help support a value proposition that it is worth the spend. Exercise is something I personally believe works for my overall energy levels, well being and long term health and something I personally invest time and money in making happen in a time effective way. However, can we put numbers to this?
2 hours of personal training a week for a year will cost about $8500, about the same as some minor car upgrades, a one way overseas business class flight, around 16 weeks of private school fees or quickly swallowed up in cab fares and restaurant wine lists.
A key element of a good personal trainer is that they will help you make exercise happen and the benefits of consistent exercise are undeniable though hard to put a price on such as decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many cancers. Just the other day I wrote a blog on some new evidence suggesting that women being fit in mid age could decrease risk of dementia in later years perhaps by 90%. The study was small but the results showed a strong link between physical fitness earlier in life and longer term brain health. Other studies show inactivity increases risk of brain degeneration and even suggests a person who is physically inactive has an 82% higher risk of Alzheimer’s compared to an active person.
There is also now enough evidence to say exercise is a valid treatment for depression, to help decrease anxiety symptoms and generally improve mood and mental well being. In addition, there is evidence exercise (done correctly and consistently) decreases lower back pain, aids fertility and hormonal disorders, enhances memory, productivity and is generally associated with less sick days, pheww – and the list could go on.
Here we could try using fancy figures to show this means decreased medications, increased billable hours, decreased travel/life insurances and decreased psychology and other allied health costs but at the end of the day, how can you put a price on feeling 10 years younger, having less anxiety and a greater overall feeling of health oh and happiness – priceless.
Time and money are commonly reported reasons against personal training. Financial goals of early retirement or certain career and fiscal milestones sometimes trumps lifestyle and may come at the cost of balance. Earning future freedom is of less value if that time is spent in poor health. Using the analogy of having too many balls in the air, your health is a glass ball, don’t drop it.
Compared to exercising alone, a high quality personal training service helps you with accountability, exercise intensity, safety and overall variety. A good personal trainer almost guarantees improvements in cardiovascular fitness, movement quality, posture, strength, balance and motivation to exercise. A good personal trainer will help make exercise happen despite the life hurdles.
I am sure you will agree that the cost of personal training is far less than the cost of an inactive lifestyle. If you are motivated to get out and move then fantastic, enjoy it and bank plenty of health benefits in years to come. If you want a bit of a kick start then give us a call. Visit https://www.lifept.com.au/contact-us/to enquire now about how we can help make exercise happen in your busy life.
By Dr. Melissa Weinberg
Dr Melissa Weinberg is an accomplished lecturer, researcher, and public speaker with a wealth of experience in both the research and practical aspects of wellbeing and resilience, and sport and performance psychology.
