Knowing the inside scoop about how to choose a personal trainer will save you time, money and frustration. The scene plays over and over again in gyms around the country. You finally get the nerve to walk into a gym let alone ask for a personal trainer to give you some help and guidance. The front desk help checks her clipboard to find out which of the trainers on staff is the next up to take a walk in client. Before you know it you are scheduled for your first session with a trainer you’ve never met and who doesn’t know anything about your goals… Sounds like a match made in heaven…or, not.
Choosing YOUR Personal Trainer is something that YOU should be involved in. You are using your hard earned money and your priority should be getting exactly what YOU need, not whose name comes up next on the list. You have every right to conduct an interview with the person that will be responsible for your care. If your potential trainer won’t take the time to, at the very least, have a phone conversation with you, then I suggest you keep looking. Also, it is often heard said in a gym “Oh, man, she worked me so hard I puked” Somewhere along the way this because synonymous with being a “good” trainer. Absolutely not true (and one of my biggest pet peeves in the industry). I would much rather have a responsible, educated and caring trainer that lives “the life” themselves than one that is only capable of delivering a hard workout that they found somewhere online from people who’s goals don’t match up with yours. Ok, rant over…
Here are 7 tips to help you choose the trainer that is right for you.
CERTIFICATION
There are several certifying agencies for personal trainers. The intention of these organizations is to make sure that your trainer is coming to you with the proper education and training to provide you with accurate, current information and to get you the results you want. Certified Personal Trainers are required by the certifying agency to earn continuing education credits. If a trainer is going to go to the time, energy and expense to get and maintain their certification, this is a good sign. They are willing to invest in themselves and their business to make sure they bring you the most up to date care. Check to see if your trainer is currently certified. Be aware that some people that refer to themselves as a fitness “coach” are not always certified by a national agency, they have often received a short session of training thru the parent company of the products that the person sells. Check into this and find out where the trainer received their education. Here are some of the national certifying agencies that put trainers through fairly rigorous and complete programs
ACE- American Council on Exercise
NASM – National Academy of Sports Medicine
ACSM – American College of Sports Medicine
ISSA – International Sports Science Association
EXPERIENCE
While a trainer’s longevity doesn’t always tell the whole story, I feel it is large part of the picture to take into account. Having been a trainer for over 20 years, I can look back and see so many things that have become part of my toolbox that are extremely useful today. Over the years, working with different personalities, conditions, injuries and people with a variety of lifestyle situations has taught me to modify and create programs that work for the individual in front of me. It is never cookie cutter and if you are getting what you deserve, you should look for a trainer that will mold and shape their sessions to your lifestyle and personal needs. There is a bit of psychology involved here on the part of the trainer and the more experiences they have had with various types of people the more they may be able to help you.
Now, with all of that said, I am not recommending that you simply pas over the trainer that is just getting started or has only been in the industry for 5 years. If you meet with the trainer and find that your personalities and approaches to life are an absolute hit then you are very likely going to get what you need! This trainer will “get” you and care about you because they can resonate with where you are at. You may find out through proper questioning that in the 5 years that the trainer has been in the fitness world that they have worked SOLELY with people just like you! That may be a perfect match. This is where the interview process will reveal what you need to know. Also, keep in mind that some of the newer trainers may be still very excited about their profession and keep up to date on all of the latest research. It is possible that a more seasoned trainer is just riding out the wave and has lost their passion for their work. You will hear the passion in your trainer’s voice and you will know.
OUTSIDE CONTACT
Ask your potential trainer what kind of contact will you have with them outside of your regular sessions. Will they receive texts, e-mails, phone calls…? Many trainers may have one preferred method of contact so that they can still help you but keep sanity in their “off” hours. For my clients I find that a private Facebook group is a helpful way for me to share recipes, motivation and answer their questions outside of their regularly scheduled sessions. I livestream on Facebook, post Youtube videos, and blog posts on this website that I can refer them to in order to keep them educated about and responsible for their own health. I often receive texts of food labels asking if it is “approved” and I offer them “challenges” to keep them going via email. I only have them 2-3 hours each week which leaves 166-165 hours of the week that they are left to their own devices. That is too long…In my opinion ;). Ask your trainer what other things they offer to help keep you motivated. If they are only willing to speak with you during your scheduled sessions then I suggest you keep looking.
NUTRITION
Nutritional and dietary guidance is not necessarily part of the scope of practice of a certified Personal Trainer. However, many trainers may have “add on” certificates that enable them to give yo a deeper level of guidance in the area of nutrition. Fitness and nutrition often go hand in hand in that most trainers are concerned with eating well adn will encourage the same for you. At the very least I would ask your potential trainer what their view on food and nutrition is and what kind of guidance they plan to give you. Will they help you create a meal plan ( there is typically an additional fee for this as it is very time consuming), share recipes, guide you to other resources or professionals that can give you help in this area? Diet is about 80% of the equation when it comes to good health and fat loss so if a trainer does not plan to give you help in this area, you should know this up front and determine if that is the trainer for you. Now, with this in mind, do be aware that many trainers are also part of nutritional sales programs. They may try to sell you on their products or “nutritional systems”. This may work great for you but keep an eye out for that. When there is monetary gain to the trainer it may be hard to tell if they are selling you a quality product or just trying to make some extra cash. Do your research.
SPECIALIZATION
If you have a particular issue or injury that may require extra attention, ask the gym if they have a trainer that is versed in that particular need. Maybe you have just recovered from a back injury, have suffered from an eating disorder or have a very stressful life situation. your trainer should know these things before you start and the best case scenario would be to choose a trainer with experience in you particular area of interest. But, if during your interview with the trainer he says “Well, to be honest, I haven’t had a lot of experience with that situation but I do have some people that I can ask for help”(and then does it) …He very well may be a keeper. To me, this shows his willingness to learn and as long as the situation isn’t too complicated (such as cardiovascular rehabilitation) then you know that this guy might just do research for you when something else pops up down the road. Also, if he is interested in talking with your physical therapist or medical doctor about your condition, these are great signs that he cares about YOU, not just your wallet.
A FEW MORE QUESTIONS:
I feel that being a Personal Trainer plays an important role in a person’s life in that they are handing over their trust to you that you are going to guide them in the right direction to meet their goals of living a healthier life. These goals should be taken seriously. It is also important that your personalities complement each other. I have “fired” clients in situations that I didn’t feel we were a good match. To be completely honest I found myself dreading their sessions and realized that I couldn’t be giving them my best if I wasn’t looking forward to seeing them. Here are a few more questions you can ask your trainer:
What is your education beyond your Personal Training Certification? (you may find they have helpful education such as nutritional or psychology training)
Why did you become a trainer? ( They may have a similar story to your own)
Do you have any references/testimonials from clients? (These have to be weighed with a grain of salt as most people are of course going to put their best foot forward but you may find that your connect with another clients testimony)
What types of people do you typically work with?
What does a training session look like?
How long have you been training? What kind of settings?
I hope these tips will help you determine how to choose your personal trainer. Remember, there is “personal” in the name so it really should work best for YOU, not just the gym.
If you are in the local Sandpoint area, I would love to work with you. Shoot me an email and we’ll make a plan:
If you are not able to find someone to work with in your area and would like to train with me online as part of my upcoming membership group I would love to have you. Shoot me a message and we’ll make a plan.
Or, if you want to scope me out first 😉 you can check out at:
my About page for a little overview.
If you are not local we can still work together online…Check it out HERE
Best of luck finding your new trainer!
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