The Ultimate Guide in Choosing A Personal Trainer
On television and, unfortunately, in real life, we've all seen clichéd personal trainers and coaches. We've all developed a stereotype of a pumped-up, upselling "professional" who resembles a cross between a high school sports coach and a shady motivational speaker.
Of course, if you're serious about improving your health, fitness, and attention, this doesn't always seem optimal. These types of people can be bothersome, but they're also businesspeople, and you want someone who is passionate about helping you reach your goals, not just collecting a paycheck from you.
We take a unique, personalized method to selecting personal trainers. A fitness coach should first and foremost represent and work for your best interests. You want a professional who derives as much personal satisfaction and delight from your accomplishments as you do. Your personal trainer should aim to actually assist you rather than stroking their ego, flexing their muscles, and barking commands at you. But, isn't that a bit of a broad generalization?
So, how do you pick an excellent personal trainer?
Today, we'll go through some of the things to look for in greater depth. You will be able to discover someone to assist you become what you want to be if you follow this advise and, of course, get to know your potential trainers before making a commitment.
Remember that there are some truly awful personal trainers out there — I've met my fair share. But, as with most things in life, there is a delicate balance to be struck. There are many fantastic, deserving personal trainers out there who will treat you and your objectives with respect. Let's have a look at how to choose one of these.
Know Your Goals
Before you hire a personal trainer, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to develop some real athletic abilities? Are you simply want to get in shape and live a healthy lifestyle? Or do you have any ambitions that are somewhere in the middle? What aspect of your current situation and lifestyle seems to you to be the most problematic, and where do you wish to focus on making improvements?
Because, among other things, some trainers are more prepared to manage specific sorts of goals than others, you should have a clear aim in mind ahead of time. Personal trainers, like other professions, are prone to specialization.
Interviewing your prospective trainer about their goals, fitness path, and success stories with other customers is always a good idea. Another useful rule of thumb is to check for certification. A qualified personal trainer will be trained on how to build a plan that is appropriate for your skills and will help you avoid injury.
When you meet with a personal trainer, they'll ask you what you want to achieve and where you want to go in the long run. They'll then provide a plan, at the very least a general one, for getting you there on the spot. The on-the-spot plan cited by a trainer can reveal a lot about how realistic and applicable they are.
A good trainer realizes that you're going to have setbacks with your routine and that overloading you is a genuine possibility. The trouble with any major life change is that you'll be all fired up when you start, but once the tiredness, daily grind, and long-haul become a reality in your mind, your motivation may wane, regardless of who you are. A smart personal trainer will understand this and have procedures in place to account for "cheat days" - which they, too, are guilty of from time to time.
Establish Your Criteria
If you like what they have to say, you can move on to the next round of evaluating your potential trainer. The way they connect with you is more important than a simple checklist of fundamental requirements for determining whether or not they deserve further inquiry.
They should, first and foremost, be good listeners who understand where you're coming from, who you are, and what you want - as well as why you want it.
Second, a competent trainer should engage you in conversation by asking you questions and learning about your background. They should be interested in your previous attempts, why they failed, and how you felt as a result.
They should really delve in and ask you about your eating and nutrition habits, and they should be tough but gentle when it comes to fixing problems that may result from bad habits.
Top personal trainers should practice what they preach and follow their own advise.
They should assist you in setting sensible goals that you can achieve without hurting yourself or becoming disheartened.
All outstanding person trainers should be able to share success and failure tales, as well as personal experience and relatability.
Set Up Your Red Flags
There are things to look out for that are terrible indications, just as there are things to look out for that are good signs from a personal trainer.
Before diving too deep too soon, a professional trainer should always start you out slowly and examine your form and performance on a simple schedule. They shouldn't be ardent supporters of excessively difficult workouts — there is such a thing as overdoing it.
Exercises should not be interpreted too literally by them. The majority of workouts engage many muscle groups at the same time.
What About Certifications?
Certifications aren't everything, but they do indicate a higher level of education and understanding, which is beneficial. NSCA, ACSM, NASM, ACE, and Crossfit are some certifications to seek for (but not necessarily require).
Bottomline
If you've discovered someone you like, it's crucial to think about your own connection with your workout and your trainer. Trainers can only assist people who want to help themselves, therefore you must take some of the responsibility.
- You should be able to accept criticism with stride.
- You must be willing to hear what others have to say.
- Above all, you must be open and honest about your medical conditions, recognized restrictions, and diet, as well as any cheating on your new diet or failure to follow the advised schedule.
- You must have patience and be approachable.
Remember, it's easy to regard your trainer as a tyrant or nasty man on a tired, unmotivated day — they're used to it – but you must do your best to overcome any bitterness that may arise.