Increasing numbers of people are turning to personal trainers for help for any combination of the following reasons:
They’ve tried the gym and finally realized that, like their car, they can’t fix it on their own no matter how hard they try or what they try.
They don’t want to try the gym because the thought of big muscle men scares them or they are too self-conscious.
They have realized how their friends never get anywhere despite having been a gym member for 3 years and they don’t want to waste money in the same way.
They don’t have much time for exercise and need precise, efficient programming.
They struggle to push themselves on their own and quite simply need a good kick up the backside a few times each week!
Whatever your reasons for choosing to hire a personal trainer, you need to consider a variety of critical factors to ensure that you get the results you are paying for by finding someone who can not only deliver a very high quality service, but work well with you on a personal level.
Here are the most important issues you should have at the front of your mind when searching for a trainer:
Check out their website. Does it appear professional and fill you with confidence that they see quality as a major factor? Do they look like your kind of person / place?
Check they have the necessary insurance for your own protection. They should have professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Ask to see certificates.
It is still very easy to operate as a personal trainer without requiring proper qualifications which guarantee safety and quality of service. This includes first aid certification. In Britain the trainer should be at least REPS Level 3 qualified.
If you have special needs which could affect your training such as diabetes, recovery from severe injury etc make sure the trainer has the necessary skills and won’t just use generic methods
Check what support mechanisms they have in place such as nutrition systems, exercise manuals and exercise videos, all of which will make your experience more enjoyable and thorough and increase the chance of great results.
Check out testimonials. Ensure these testimonials are relevant to your goals and aren’t written by people who have 10 hours per week to train and are training for a triathlon when you just want to lose weight effectively.
Consider their training philosophies. Are they mainly bodybuilding focussed? Do they mainly deal with athletes or sport-specific training? Will they try to enforce yoga on you when you want to learn to lift weights effectively?
How much do they charge? What do you get for this? Is there an added charge for travel? Remember you get what you pay for so don’t always choose the cheapest option!
When you speak to them do they listen intently to exactly what you want or do they seem intent on pushing certain methods on to you?
What assessment processes do they use to assess your current lifestyle, current physical health, movement issues etc.
What review systems do they use?
What training facilities do they have available. If they can only train you in public gyms, will this put you off?
What times do they have available and can they guarantee you a regular weekly slot at a good time for you?
Do they offer money back guarantees if you follow what they say and don’t get results?
What is your gut instinct? This will become a very personal relationship so you must be comfortable working with them and feel like you can trust them to always do what’s best for you.
Every trainer will have different methods and opinions on the best way for you to achieve your personal goals. Take time to find the right one as this will save you a lot of money and frustration in the long-run.
Jon Le Tocq created the online Storm Force Fitness concept which continues to produce amazing fat loss and conditioning results without gym membership! You can join the fun at http://www.stormforcefitness.com
