Regardless of whether you’re just getting started with fitness or have been bodybuilding for years, a personal trainer might just be the difference between having the body you’ve always wanted and falling short of your goals. Of course, improving your fitness is a worthy goal, so it makes sense that you’re considering getting a personal trainer. However, if you’ve never hired a personal trainer before, you might even wonder if this is the right step to take on your fitness journey.
Every year, more and more people decide to work with a personal trainer to help them get fit and stay motivated, lose weight, or improve their overall strength and stamina. In fact, even many professional athletes and celebrities pay big money for personal trainers to lose fat and gain muscle fast.
The question is—how do you find the right trainer? Finding the appropriate personal trainer for you isn’t always as simple as it seems, but below, we’ll provide you with some key pointers that should definitely help you discern the person who’s the right fit for you.
Make Inquiries About References
To begin with, ask for the names, phone numbers, and even testimonials of other clients with whom the trainer has worked who have comparable characteristics and objectives to yours. Consequently, choosing a trainer who has trained customers similar to you or who has physical features comparable to yours (e.g., age and body type) makes sense. As a result, this enables the trainer to empathize with and comprehend your specific issues and requirements.
Additionally, contact former clients to inquire about their satisfaction with the trainer’s workouts, results, and experiences. Make sure to ask about the trainer’s professionalism, punctuality, and preparedness and whether each participant thought their needs as clients were met.
Ensure They Are Adequately Insured And Straightforward About Their Business
Many personal trainers work as independent contractors rather than as employees of a gym. For that reason, it’s important to check and see if the trainer you’re considering has a reliable personal trainer insurance policy. A reputable fitness instructor will also ensure that you are aware of the cancellation and billing policies. Having those policies in writing is the best approach to avoid confusion and safeguard your rights.
Find Out The Costs
The cost of a session is determined by the length of the session, the trainer’s credentials, experience, and skill, as well as the location of where they work and where you live. A personal trainer who works in a fitness club, for example, will likely charge less hourly than one who operates independently and must travel to your home or workplace.
Consider Their Education
A college degree in nutrition or exercise science helps a trainer’s knowledge and credibility in establishing your program, however not having a degree does not rule out the possibility of a fitness professional being effective.
Consider Your Compatibility With The Trainer
Some people prefer to exercise in the mornings, while others prefer to exercise in the evenings. For that reason, ask if the personal trainer you’re speaking with willing to work around your schedule.
In addition, some people prefer to work with a trainer of the same gender, while others prefer to work with a trainer of the opposite gender, so that point is important to be considered. Before establishing a professional relationship with a trainer, you should think about these and any other compatibility problems you may have.
Communicate and Provide Feedback
After you’ve found a personal trainer, work with them to develop measurable and realistic goals so you can see how effective the sessions are. Even though there will be good and bad days along the way, you should still speak up and let your trainer know if you aren’t enjoying the sessions or if you feel it isn’t in line with the goals you asked for. However, before you ask your trainer to change things, make sure you’re contributing and giving the sessions your all.
Know When It’s Time To go
If you’re still not receiving the results you wanted, even after your trainer has made changes to your workouts, your training partnership may be coming to an end, because after all, you are the paying client.
However, don’t put your search for a new trainer on hold: by this time, you will have learned what you want and don’t want in your future coach. Additionally, if your old trainer is a professional, they should also be willing to refer you to a colleague or offer fresh strategies to motivate you to achieve your objectives on your own.
Final Thoughts
In the end, if you’re going to spend the time and effort looking for someone to help you change your body, you might as well have a great experience. Hopefully, this article has helped shed some light on the process of choosing a personal trainer, which is not a decision to be made lightly. Just keep your goals in mind and you’ll find someone who can meet those needs.