If you’ve never had a personal fitness trainer before, it’s probably good to get an idea of what to expect from a personal training session – and what to ask any prospective trainer to make sure you get a qualified trainer who can understands your goals. Diligent research and asking the right questions will help you avoid an uncomfortable experience that can cause you to give up on your fitness or weight loss goals.
Finding a good personal fitness trainer takes time and effort on your part. But the research and time you invest in finding the right personal trainer can mean the difference between getting results from your weight loss or fitness program or not.
A good personal trainer is someone who will help you keep your fitness routine interesting so you don’t get bored only to quit and not stick to your fitness routine at all. Your personal trainer should incorporate a variety of different exercise routines and equipment — including using dumbbells, barbells, medicine balls, and maybe even kettlebells, ropes, or sandbags. And if any of this sounds strange to you, then there are even more reasons to hire a personal trainer to help and teach you the most effective exercises to lose weight and improve your fitness level.
If you have decided to hire a personal fitness trainer, he or she should meet your needs. And your expectations should be extremely high. Don’t skimp on the quality of personal training to save money. Any money is wasted if you don’t get results.
Ask the personal trainers you’re considering for a free session or “test drive.” If you’re investing a lot of money and time in a personal training program, you should know what you’re getting before you spend the money. Any good trainer would be happy to introduce you to their training style with a free session or two to familiarize you with the facility, their methods and their qualifications.
Most trainers offer a one-hour training session, others only half an hour. Some trainers offer you training sessions at your home or personal training sessions at a professional studio or gym. Whatever you decide, choose a comfortable environment where you can be confident that you will feel motivated, energized, and able to consistently carry out your fitness program. If it’s a place you don’t like being in, chances are you don’t want to go there. And that means your chances of success are slim.
When looking for personal training, always check your professional fitness trainer’s references. Always. And don’t assume that one certification is enough. A good trainer is more than a bright mind who has passed a paper test on anatomy or physiology. He or she is personable, friendly, motivating and encouraging. Many personal trainers have knowledge of fitness but may not be able to teach you what they know, or lack communication skills that make it easy for you not only to do what they say, but to understand why.
Most professional personal fitness trainers will have you fill out a medical questionnaire before beginning a fitness program. Be specific and honest in your answers. Next, you may be asked to complete a series of exercises to assess your fitness level. This will largely determine where your weaknesses and strengths lie.
You should have your height and weight recorded along with other measurements before beginning the program. This is for the personal fitness trainer to track your progress when you start exercising and to make appropriate recommendations as he or she creates your personal fitness program. The preferred method is bioelectrical impedance, just for convenience, although it only provides an estimate of body fat percentage and is not 100% reliable or accurate. But it’s a good start. If your trainer doesn’t know what bioelectrical impedance is – run for the hills. Calipers is another good way to measure, but it will vary depending on how/who is doing the caliper test for body fat. Either way – you just need to know where you are to start so you can measure progress over time.
Some people shy away from having “before” photos taken. If you’re uncomfortable having a personal trainer take your picture, take one at home. Strip down to shorts, running bras or even swimsuits for the brave. I can only recommend that. This photo will be of great value to you later. I can’t tell you how many of my personal training clients say they listened to me and took a picture before their amazing transformation. That photo is MUCH less embarrassing months later when you look gorgeous, confident and 20 pounds lighter!
Tracking your diet is essential to a fitness program. We don’t always eat as well as we should. We have busy lives, eating a lot of fast food can be unhealthy and your personal fitness trainer will educate you about this and suggest better alternatives to stay fit. Keeping a food diary is crucial. Ask your trainer if they provide their clients with a personalized diet and exercise diary that they fill out regularly and show their personal trainer. Logging your diet and keeping a food diary can be a powerful tool to support your success in achieving personal training results.
Certified personal fitness trainers should be trained in nutrition and proper nutrition in addition to exercise, physiology, and strength training.
They should be ready to create the right diet for you and encourage you to pursue your goals.
It is always important that every personal fitness trainer is certified and insured. However, remember that not all certifications are created equal. Some personal trainers are “certified” online or even by their institution. The personal training industry doesn’t have strict regulations for trainers – so don’t take certification as a mere qualification. Look for a recognized national certification that has rigorous requirements, mandatory continuing education, and evidence of actual hands-on experience.
Another benefit of working with a trainer when you’re at a gym or health club is that working with a personal trainer often means you don’t have to wait or take turns on machines or other fitness equipment.
Having a scheduled workout schedule encourages you to attend your program regularly, and a committed personal workout schedule with your trainer increases your chances of consistency and weight loss success.
A personal fitness trainer makes your appointments, reserves time just for you, and tracks your progress by evaluating your body fat and weight over time.
He/she will know your progress and your endurance to prevent injuries from trying too hard. Knowing your progress and having it recorded gives you feedback on how you are progressing and what you need to change.
A personal fitness trainer helps, motivates and encourages you to stick with your fitness regimen and helps with both physical and mental health. And most importantly – will help you lose weight faster and achieve fitness results that you can maintain for the rest of your life.
Thanks to Jana L Beutler, M.Ed.
