How to find the rite personal trainer.
So you have decided to work with a trainer or coach. Congratulations, you have just taken the first step towards improving your health wellbeing and fitness. Searching for the right trainer can be a daunting task. With so many personal trainers and so many personalities and approaches it can become very confusing and a little overwhelming. In this article, I aim to break down some of the key things to consider when choosing the right personal trainer. I will also share with you some of my personal views on what I consider to be some of the shortcomings of trainers, and how to spot a potential poor trainer. Here are some important considerations when making your decision.
1: Check their credentials
This is an important and sometimes overlooked first step. Make sure any potential trainers are fully certified, licensed and insured. There are a lot of uncertified, uninsured people moonlighting as trainers. Remember, being in shape does not make someone a good trainer. A trainer's ability is not judged on how good he or she looks or what he or she can lift. It is about their ability to help you achieve your best potential and how they make you feel.
2: Proof
Look for evidence of work. What is their track record? Check for testimonials, reviews, before and after pictures. Find out what are other people saying about this trainer. Look for information on their websites. Do they have a website? Do they have social media content? What is this content? This is evidence of their work and should help you get a feel for their style and approach to fitness.
3: Are they the right fit?
This is where I will share some of my own thoughts and experiences as a trainer to provide you with key information to help choose the right trainer. Now that you have verified any potential trainers, it may be time to meet and see if they are the right fit. Any trainer who is willing to just meet up with you on Monday morning and get to work is skipping some key steps in the process. This may be music to the trainer’s ears that you are willing to get right to work and he's or she is making money but it is not good news for YOU, and this process is about YOU.
I think it is short sighted of any trainer not to sit down and take the time to listen to a potential new client before the training starts. This initial meeting or consultation gives the trainer a chance to learn as much as they can about the individual: their workout history, medical history, nutritional background and most crucially, their goals. This is also when the client will have a chance to ask questions and get a better sense of who the trainer is and what their methods of training are. One of the first things I mention to any potential new client is that the client/trainer relationship is very unique, and I want them to feel absolutely comfortable and confident that I am the right trainer for them. 4:
My last tip would be ask questions and make sure - based on all the research you have done and all the time you have spent speaking with potential trainers - that you have a clear understanding of where your trainer plans to take you on your fitness journey. People come for results and stay for results, make sure your trainer isn't just training you on a random day by day basis. There should be a conversation about your goals. Whether you want to lose 20lbs, improve your strength, become more mobile, or all the above.
There should be a clear set plan laid out to work towards these goals, and data should gathered to measure and track progress. Measuring skin folds, tracking weight, progress pictures and weekly or monthly check-ins are all good signs that your trainer is taking your progress as seriously as they should. It is also your trainer’s goal to keep you motivated and on track to achieve your goals. Trust me, if your trainer has not taken the time to gather data and set forth a nutritional strategy, he or she is just crossing their fingers and hoping you have lost those few pounds or gained that extra muscle. You cannot track what you don't measure. As trainers, we have a responsibility to provide the best service we can and provide value to clients. I believe that if you are true to your principles and profession and are honest about placing your clients’ needs above all else, you will produce results for your clients and continue to grow as a person and as a fitness professional.
In summary…
Check credentials. Make sure they are licensed and insured.
Look for proof of their work.
Make sure if feels right. Remember its “personal training”
Take your time and ask questions
"You don't have to be good to start, but you gota start to be good"
Coach Paul
www.coachpmc.com
