How To Choose a Personal Trainer
So, you’ve decided it’s time to hire a personal trainer, but aren’t sure how to go about choosing one.
Should I just go with the one my cousin trains with?
What if I don’t like their personality?
Can I try before I buy?
I don’t like working out in a gym around other people.
I want to train with a female, but all I see anywhere is male trainers.
Here are some things to consider and look for in a trainer:
What are their credentials? Being that the fitness industry is highly unregulated, I say anyone charging for training services should have a respected personal training certification at a minimum. The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) makes it easy to verify someone’s credentials on their site.
Even better, do they have specializations, continuing education, and/or personal experiences that pertain to your specific goals? If you’re a postpartum woman, having a trainer that can personally relate and is also further educated and knowledgeable regarding pre- and postnatal fitness would be ideal. If you have significant weight to lose and are prone to binge eating, perhaps a trainer who shed 100+ pounds themselves and has a weight loss and/or behavioral change specialization would be a great fit. Bodybuilding goals? Find one who's competed a few times!
How much experience do they have and what kind? Does that suite my needs? In addition to the last point, have they previously worked with clients that had similar pain points and goals that you do?
What do they value? Are they trustworthy? What things do they stand for? What is their main objective in training people? Do they offer value or just push supplements? Do they fabricate client results to make themselves look good? No, Betty didn’t lose 20 pounds “in just two weeks.” That is not how weight loss works, especially not healthy weight loss, and any knowledgeable or simply honest trainer wouldn’t make such claims.
Do they practice what they preach? Do they take care of themselves and care about their own health and fitness? As it relates to health and fitness, does their life look like you want yours to look? Pay attention to the example they set and the life they ultimately lead.
How professional are they? Do they break rules? Do they forget to check in with clients? Do they just post their cleavage and sandy butt at the beach and never anything of value? How do they conduct themselves and their business?
Do you like their personality? You don’t have to be 100% in sync with this person, but if you’re going to be spending a significant amount of time with someone closely monitoring your habits, you should probably get along with them and mesh well together while you’re getting stuff done.
What about testimonials? These are not always progress photos. Photos come in handy when the goals are focused on fat loss (i.e. bodybuilding coaches, weight loss specialists, etc), but some trainers are more specialized in the functional aspect of fitness training, so written and verbal testimonials then take precedence. Despite popular belief, many trainers don’t even post progress photos, and many clients simply don’t consent for them to do so, no matter how awesome their results were. What should matter is whether the testimonials speak to you and your goals, regardless.
Do they offer anything of value for free that allows you to feel them out a bit (i.e. complimentary initial consult, free download materials like an E-Book or guide, helpful social media content)? If they’re dishing out valuable content and resources for you before you give them a dime, imagine what paying them is like. What someone gives away for free is usually a good indication of how much higher the quality of their work is that you actually pay for. So, question the ones that never give away anything for free or only ever post pictures with cute quotes. They’re probably not that confident in the work that they do, so why should you be?
Where do they train? If you don’t feel comfortable working out in a gym around other people, consider finding an independent trainer with their own private training space. If you want to train at a gym, what’s a convenient location for you? Does that require a gym membership in addition to their training fees (most likely, yes). Some trainers are also independent contractors who have training privileges at various gyms they aren’t actually employed at.
Do I need personal or online training? What services do they even offer? Ask, ask, ask! Even if their website or business card or social media doesn’t mention a service you had in mind, ASK! They may do it and/or add it to their line or services if it's in demand by their ideal clients. If you’re fairly new to exercise or are post-rehab, you’ll likely benefit most from in-person training. If you’ve been at it a while but just need someone qualified structuring your routine, or to break a plateau and learn some new things, or simply need that accountability and coaching while you do your thing, online training may be a convenient fit. Some trainers (like myself) offer both, and will make recommendations based on initial screening and consultation.
I hope this has given you some valuable insight and things to consider for choosing the best personal trainer for you and your needs. It’s an important decision and can make or break your relationship with health and fitness, so take it seriously! And of course, if you’d like to know more about my training services, feel free to visit my site!
Keep 'em shining!
Kandis
