Choosing a Personal Trainer

A personal trainer is a fitness professional who helps people to analyze their personal health and fitness objectives, designs fitness programs and some exercises, also motivates and educates people to help them to safely and effectively reach their health and fitness ambition.

When making your choice consider some more personal aspects that relate to the relationship with your trainer. Trust your instincts about the impressions the trainer makes upon you. Ask yourself if you think you could get along with the trainer and whether you think the trainer is genuinely interested in helping you.

A good trainer will regularly assess and monitor your progress, and change your program as required. They should also provide regular reports to you on your progress and associated health outcomes.

Choosing a Personal Trainer
Choosing a Personal Trainer

Services provided

  • Health and fitness ambition identification.
  • Fitness and health progress monitoring.
  • Lifestyle and basic nutrition advice.
  • Fitness assessment.
  • Directions in how to safely perform exercises.
  • Design of tailored exercise and fitness programs.
  • Guidance of health and fitness programs in response to changing fitness levels.

Beware of some personal trainers

If you’re worried about the qualifications of an exercise professional, ask to see their proof of professional credentials, or you can check for a recommendation. Sporadically, trainers have been known to be unethical, even though they have the correct credentials. Generally speaking, warning signs of a personal trainer who is unethical include that they:

  • promise immediate and awesome results – realistically, you’d expect to see some sort of improvement in commonly six weeks, although this will vary enormously, depending on factors such as your age, exercise history, gender, and types of activities.
  • prescribe dietary advice for which they are not qualified or attempt to diagnose and treat injuries
  • can’t or won’t provide proof of professional credentials
  • advocate exercise aids that may be dangerous, or weight loss techniques, such as saunas, passive exercise machines, or body wraps
  • try to sell you supplements or dieting aids, or insist that particular supplements or dieting aids must be taken as part of the program.

Other things to consider include:

  • What about updates to the exercise program that accommodate your improving fitness levels?
  • How much does it cost to hire their services and what types of payment options are available?
  • Are they available at the particular times and days when you’re free to exercise?
  • Do they offer a discount for larger training packages, for example, for more than one session a week?
  • Make sure you feel comfortable with their training approach.

Where to get help

Good places to start looking for a personal trainer include local gyms, health centers, or fitness centers. When you’re at the gym, watch trainers with their clients and see how they interact. Make a note of trainers who get along with their clients and seem fully involved in their workouts. Ask friends and workmates for word-of-mouth recommendations near your place.

Remember that a personal trainer will tailor an exercise regimen to meet your goals and personal health needs, teach you the best way to exercise and motivate yourself. Take your time before you make your final choice. Also, make sure that your personal trainer is properly qualified and registered before entering into any contract.