A lot of the time spent at the gym, for most people, is wasted trying to determine what exercises you should be doing. You may know what your goals are but are unsure of what you need to be doing to achieve them. To combat this, you may have considered hiring a personal trainer to help you develop a regime that works for you and will help you get to where you want to be.

A personal trainer is someone who will help you determine what kind of exercise you should be doing, and also encourage and motivate you to work out consistently. However, their service is pricey, and because there’s little barrier to entry, you may be hesitant to invest. But, working with a personal trainer can elevate your workout to a higher level than you’d be able to achieve on your own. That doesn’t mean that it’s the right choice for everyone. If you’re happy with your progress and like the exercises you do, then stick with your current routine. If you’re someone who exercises casually and wants to stay that way, it’s not worth your money. If you’re on the fence, here are three situations when hiring a personal trainer is a worthy investment.

You don’t see results

Maybe you’ve been going to the gym four times a week for the past month, yet you don’t feel or look any different. If you don’t see results with your current regime, you should think about adding a personal trainer to the equation. A personal trainer will help you determine what isn’t working about your current routine and will design a new one that will work. Just because an exercise sounds great online, doesn’t mean it will work for your body. A trainer will listen to your goals and ensure you’re doing the work to help you achieve them.

You need to be challenged

If you’re stuck in a rut with your routine and want someone to challenge you, a personal trainer can help you switch it up and feel challenged again. A trainer can help you to challenge your limits by encouraging you to try heavier weights and new exercises to target different muscle groups. They may also work out with you, adding a competitive element to your workout. It’s much harder for you to slack off at the gym when a personal trainer is standing next to you watching your every move.

You need accountability and motivation

If you’ve been trying to make the gym a serious habit for a long time but have struggled with the motivation of getting yourself there on a schedule, a personal trainer may be the perfect solution. A trainer keeps you accountable in a number of ways. One, because you spent a lot of money on it, you’re likely to put your all into the workouts to get the most value. Two, you have a standing appointment with them, meaning you really can’t skip the gym on those days. Three, your trainer is going to ask about your week and how your workouts and diet plan is going. This will make you want to stick to your plans, so you don’t have to disappoint your trainer by telling them you’ve skipped.