Are you serious about losing weight? Are you tired of feeling tired all of the time? Do you want to improve your strength and endurance so you’re no longer winded every time you climb a flight of stairs? If so, a trainer is just what you need to reach your goals in record time. Here’s some guidelines to finding the right one for you.
Their Qualifications
The first thing to remember is that a personal trainer’s qualifications aren’t everything—but they do mean something. For example, let’s say after having two kids (who are now school aged), you want a trainer to help you lose weight, gain strength and get you on a healthy (but realistic!) meal plan. A good trainer can help you do this, and reach all of your goals in the shortest time possible. If eating poorly is your biggest problem, then you may want to find a trainer who specializes in nutritional science (as opposed to a trainer who is a body builder, and can eat 10,000 calories a day since he already has such a high metabolism!)
Look for someone who specializes in information correlating to your highest priority. If you have a lot of weight to lose, look for a trainer who has the compassion and the expertize to rev up your metabolism and train you with high-intensity intervals. If you need variety to stay motivated, look for a trainer who coaches his/her clients through a variety of exercises, from cross fit to kickboxing.
Client Feedback
When searching for the right trainer for you, do your research just as you would when finding a new doctor or dentist. Ask other clients how their progress has been with a particular client. Go on their website and read reviews of past clients. Watch them in action, and ask yourself, do they have a friendly personality? Do they listen to their client’s needs? Do they actively work with their clients to help them achieve their goals? Do they modify exercises to compensate for their client’s past injuries? Client feedback is so important because it gives you a gauge as to how your experience will be with him/her.
Their Personality
One of the most important things to look for in a personal trainer is personality compatibility. Each personal trainer will have a different approach to teaching you, and coaching you, through a fitness program. Some trainers are more aggressive, and train through a ‘push you past your comfort zone’ approach. Others are more gentle and compassionate, wanting to work you at a slower pace to build trust and rapport (before increasing the intensity of your workouts.) Know which type of training you work best with, and your personality will easily be compatible with their training style.
Their Cost
Depending on the gym or studio you belong to, the cost of a personal trainer will greatly vary. Some gyms have a ‘one price fits all’ training session package (meaning, any trainer you want will cost the same per session, regardless of their experience), while other gyms have a structured ‘tier’ system. In other words, the longer a particular trainer has been at the gym, the more expensive their fees are. Trainers aren’t cheap (costing you roughly about $50-70 per session), but again, the results you achieve with them are often what you pay for.
