Choosing the Right Personal Trainer

Personal Trainers can be like a box of chocolates—you never know what your going to get. PTs come in all shapes and sizes. Choosing the right one can be intimidating. Here’s a simple guide for you to help you choose.

STEP 1: DISCOVER YOUR PRIORITIES

What are you looking for in a trainer? What are your health and fitness goals? Just like you wouldn’t go to a cop if your looking to check out a book at your local library, don’t hire a trainer unless you know they can help you reach your goals.

Look for trainers that have experience in helping other people do what you want to do. For example, maybe your crazy enough to want to run your first marathon. Look for a trainer with marathon experience. Maybe you want to lose weight. Look for a trainer that has helped other people lose weight.

STEP 2: OBSERVE THE NATURAL HABITAT

One of the best ways to really get to know someone is to observe them in action. If you already have a gym membership observe trainers in action. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I like how they treat other clients?
• Do I like their training programs?
• Do I like how they talk?
• Do I like their work ethic?

If the answer is no to any of these, run (don’t walk) the other direction. If you don’t have a gym membership, does the trainer you want to work with have a website? Social media profiles? Flyers or handouts? Get as much information you can before making your decision.

STEP 3: CREATE A COMPARISON CHART

Now that you’ve discovered your priorities and have observed your trainer do work it’s time to compare. Create a simple chart like the one below:

Organization	Name	Price	Specialty
YMCA	Bob	$32 per session	Weight loss
FUEL FIT	Craig	$45 per session	Endurance training

STEP 4: TALK TO FORMER CLIENTS

Former clients can tell you exactly what is was like to train with a specific trainer. Talk to as many as you can, as we all know personal experiences can vary. This is easy to do if you already have a gym membership.

Online it’s a little harder. Most trainers have testimonials from clients, but we all know that testimonials only show half the picture. Nobody in their right mind would post a negative testimonial. Try to message clients directly if you can.

STEP 5: SIGN A CONTRACT

Before dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s, read every detail of the contract. Understand that almost every contract will contain the following elements:

• Cancellation policies
• Fees and due dates
• Description of exercise tests
• Health history questionnaires
• Liability waivers

Again, do not sign anything until you fully understand the terms and conditions.

Hope you found this article on choosing a personal trainer helpful. If you’re looking for more tips and tricks for building a bullet proof training program feel free to check out my YouTube Channel.

And as always, if you’re looking for real results from a scientifically backed programs feel free to book your initial client consultation.