Getting Fit Online: The Good, the Bad and the Alternatives

As smart phones make their way into everyones pockets, so does the means to manage and track every aspect of our personal lives. For better or worse, we’re turing to these devices to help us manage our time, our productivity, our diet, and our fitness. While this can be a cheap and reliable alternative to personal trainers and real people, are they better?

It’s likely that a personal trainer is going to be more accurate than an app at this stage, simply given that they have the experience and know-how to manage your personal uniqueness, plus they can see and work with you, but apps will eventually raise the bar. For know, however, there’s the possibility that they can work together, as the Huffington Post notes:

Many of the world-class trainers have gone online. So if you want the best, and he is in South Africa, you can now have him. And if you are really into a specific fitness category, you can now find a personal trainer online who could not be found in your location. I have a friend who only wants Pilates training. She lives in a small town in upstate New York and her perfect trainer is in California.

A top trainer is often booked solid. And as he gets booked, you not only wait for an opening, you are also going to pay a lot for their time – up to $300-400 per session. If they go online, however, this may be the cost of a month’s worth of a program or even two months.

Until technology makes apps more like human trainers, this combination of person and machine is likely the best alternative, making for?the best of both worlds. Check out the full post for all the benefits and drawbacks.