You are ready to invest your time, money, and physical effort into hiring a personal trainer. One of the most important decisions to make is the initial one – hiring a personal trainer.
Over the course of my life, I have had three personal trainers, each at a different phase and each that taught me unique, personalized guidance in both nutrition, exercise and recovery. What I have loved about each of them is the ability to absorb the knowledge, nutrition guidance and exercise routines, and apply it in my life without them, on my own.
Take the time to truly ‘interview’ your future personal trainer. This is just another realm of your health, so compare it to hiring the right doctor (or for that matter, firing the wrong doctor).
1 – Their results
A quality personal trainer holds themselves just as accountable as they hold you.
Ask:
- To see results of former clients
- Inquire the duration of time it took to achieve those results
- If they feel they are qualified to be your trainer based on your exercise/nutrition/lifestyle and goals
- What sort of tracking (regular measurements etc.) they do to show progress. This is both accountability and motivating – knowing you’re making progress goes a long way. Small changes add up and if there isn’t measuring and tracking you may not realize them and give up before profound changes take place.
Celebrate those small successes!!
2 – Their qualifications
How long have they been a trainer? What educational certifications have they received? How many clients have they trained?
Along with that, observe their demeanor. Do they seem to enjoy their career? Do they inspire you to work out? Does it feel like a good fit—tap into your gut / your intuition.
3 – Their plan for your personal training program
Without a clear plan and all the elements outlined (food / exercise / hydration / rest) you are unable to gauge if the personal trainer is
- The right fit for you
- On the same page and aligned with your goals
Personal trainers are in a business to improve citizens’ health, increase their knowledge of nutrition and optimal practices, and provide exercises and guidance that can be carried with you and practiced after you stop personal training with them.
In my opinion, a good personal trainer does not want to have you as a client for long term – years on end. A good personal trainer wants to achieve your goals, provide a wealth of knowledge and inspire you to continue to practice what you’ve learned.