Once you have made that decision, then you need to decide on your modality; going to a gym, working out at home, having a personal trainer come to your home or hiring a personal trainer at a gym, YMCA or community center. Perhaps you are interested only in group training classes; P90X, Insanity, Spin, yoga or similar group classes.
Your number one key to success (as it is in any endeavor) is consistency. Whatever you decide, you are making a commitment.
I am a Beachbody coach where I coach and mentor my clients using home-based programs, as well as mentoring my clients in nutrition, meal planning, and providing support and accountability. I am also a personal trainer and a group trainer; certified to lead P90X, Insanity and PiYo classes. I choose and combine modalities based on client preferences: budget, time allotted to training, and need for 1-1 contact with client.
Whatever health and fitness professional and in this case a personal trainer you are hiring, here are some guidelines that I would suggest you consider or questions to ask. Determine which are important to you. Some might be red flag issues whereas some may not matter all that much. Some are industry-wide "best practices" while some are very specific to nuances or priorities of a given trainer and your needs.
- When you meet for the first time, are they professional in their manner and yes, dress. A personal trainer is a relatively large financial commitment. You want a professional.
- Does the first meeting involve an assessment (written) and a release.
- Do they have liability insurance?
- Do they keep written record of your progress?
- Have you had the policies and procedures fully explained without you asking, concerning schedule, cancellation policy, rates, discounts, possible referral discounts?
- Is your trainer knowledgeable and expert in her field?
- Or does your trainer try to dazzle you with terminology?
- Does she have appropriate certifications and specializations? What about continuing education?
- Does your trainer share some of the latest trends in fitness health with you?
- Does your trainer have an online presence of any sort?
- How EXCITED is she about her job and seeing you?
- Is your trainer able to effectively communicate to you about different training modalities such as HIIT, balance training, use of foam rollers, etc.
- Does your trainer understand and make part of your training experience discussions about nutrition, portion control, how to recognize and avoid fads?
- Does your trainer "bad mouth" other training modalities? (above and beyond comparing and contrasting "facts" of different training approaches)?
- Does your trainer explain how to recognize and address the concept of "plateauing" and how and why the body gets into this kind of state?
- Does your trainer have any specialties? (e.g. senior fitness, TRX, golf fitness, lower body training, bodybuilding training)?
- Does your trainer both understand and implement a training plan that is consistent, challenging but yet understands the importance of changing things up?
- Does your trainer understand the role of balance and flexibility training as part of an overall fitness and exercise plan?
- Finally, does your trainer give you straight talk when needed? That is, for example, if you are not attempting to modify your eating habits and focusing on nutrition and portion control, does your trainer reinforce with you that your process is going to be extremely hampered? Are you getting value for your time and money investment?
Remember, ultimately YOU own your success of failure. Not your trainer.
You and your personal trainer/fitness specialist must be of a good working relationships where you both understand each other's goals and motivation. In other words it needs to be a good relationship.
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