Meeting your fitness goals in the way that's best for you

Feeling stuck this winter, battling to lose weight or trying to up your game? Tech and trainers are here to help you meet your goals. By Iza Trengove

- Iza Trengove

Some people need more than an app But for those who find tech too daunting, or struggle to break a habit and stay motivated, the answer might lie in the right expert.

Lee Archer, a sport scientist and co-owner of Fitpro fitness education provider, and Kirsty Elliott, the head of sport science at the Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute in Pretoria, stress the same point:

don't just pick anyone, and do your research. Vet their qualifications and approach. Ask yourself: do they "get" you? Can they work to your needs and goals?

Archer believes that fitness professionals, whether personal trainer, sport scientist or biokineticist, offer more than expertise. Fitness tech offers convenience, but it's no substitute for the insight, motivation and consistent tracking of a skilled professional. They provide structure, keep you motivated, create a unique programme for you and offer continuous assessment.

Elliott cautions that although the advancement in tech is impressive, it often makes assumptions. The numbers on your watch or device give you a guide, but not necessarily the whole truth.