How to Choose a Personal Trainer

The pursuit of fitness and wellness isn't rocket science but it can be a complex mystery for the majority of the population. Sky-rocketing obesity statistics bear witness to this. A certified personal trainer is supposed to help motivate, inspire and guide you on this path safely and effectively. If you knew anything about physical fitness you wouldn't be out of shape. Would you? So how do you know which personal trainer suits you best?

1. Do your homework about what your personal fitness and wellness goals are. Do you want to drop a few pounds of excessive body fat? Do you want to get over an injury or recover your pre-baby body post-partum and get back where you were before these circumstances? Do you want to try competing? Have you spent most of your life out of shape and want to find your way to a better, stronger, healthier lifestyle? Figure it out and write that down. Keep your goals with you when you interview perspective candidates. This will help you spend the interview process far more productively and it will also help cut through the sales hype that many personal trainers are forced to engage in. If they don't get sales, they don't continue to work. It is a simple equation. Do not be side-tracked by this fact of life. Your directive is not their sales quota.

2. Research the various types of certifications that personal trainers can acquire. It only takes a few moments to look them up online and/or ask about the specific training a certified fitness professional has to see if their training is in alignment with your specific goals. Not all certifications are equivalent. Just because a personal trainer is certified that does not mean they actually know what they are doing.

3. Ask what type of experience the personal trainer has. If they are fresh out of schooling and have little or no practical experience with a varied or specific client base then chances are against them having the ability to deliver regardless of how well-meaning they may be. This situation equals a waste of time, money and puts you, the client at a greater risk of injury and burn-out which will put you even further behind the eight ball.

4. Ask if the trainer can help guide you with your nutritional habits as well. This may not be necessary for you specifically but as proper nutritional habits play a tremendous role for many who are trying to change their metabolism, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc it is an invaluable component when deciding to whom you will entrust your time and body.

5. Referrals are always valuable. But remember to ask the source what it is specifically they liked about the personal trainer. Also ask what they did not like about that specific personal trainer. Just because the source thought a personal trainer was good at helping them reach their specific goals, this does not necessarily mean the same trainer will be equally effective helping your reach yours.

6. Ask the fitness facility for personal interviews as well as at least one free session with each of the personal trainers that you thought would be suitable. This will be a mutually beneficial situation for both you and the trainer to see if you will be a fit before you plunk down your hard-earned money and trust them to help you get where you want to be.

Above all remember that the pursuit of fitness and wellness is not a spectator or passive pursuit. This is your body and your health so be prepared to hold up your end. You also want someone that is willing to work just as hard. A personal trainer isn't merely someone that stands over people while counting repetitions. Good personal trainers will put their heart and soul into your success. Those are the people you want on your team.