Personal Trainers – Choosing the Right One For You

If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know that we love fitness and all things to do with natural, wholesome health and well-being. We’ve advocated a tobacco-free life, tried to inform you of just what and how certain diseases can affect your life, and strongly urged you to get up, get moving, and get fit. Today we’re going to look at what many may consider the “next step” in fitness–taking it to the professional level. No, we’re not going to discuss professional athletics, but rather the rather exciting world of the professional personal trainer. We all know that celebrities have their own personal trainers, but did you know that for as little as $25 a week, you can have one too? Of course, that will only buy you one hour of the trainer’s time, but what a difference a one-hour session can make when you have the guidance and tutelage of a professional fitness expert. And if one hour isn’t enough for you, well, what price can you really place on your health and well-being and a chance to live a longer, fuller life? Let’s look at what it takes to be a professional personal trainer, how to choose one, and what he or she can do for you!

• Certification – DO NOT hire a personal fitness trainer who is not certified through an accredited training program. Personal trainer certification ensures that the person into whose hands you are placing your health, well-being, and safety is fully trained and educated. In other words, your brother-in-law’s ex-football buddy might be in great shape and an experienced gym rat, but can he really know what’s best for you? Personal trainer certification isn’t hard to get, but it does take time and effort. Personal training certification online programs exist to aid the motivated individual who otherwise might not be able to obtain personal trainer certification. Just make sure that the certificates your trainer holds are from an accredited program, or accrediting agency, such as the NCCA.
• Experience – Hiring a personal fitness trainer who is new to the game isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you want to make sure that evn if you are their first client that they have some experience with fitness and health. A newly minted certified personal trainer is most likely someone with great enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, physical fitness and overall well-being. Certification will ensure that they have some experience and knowledge, but personal achievements and recommendations should also accompany that certification.
• The Big Picture – A personal trainer should be able to create an overall plan to meet your fitness goals. Some trainers go on to receive additional certifications in weight loss and nutrition, as well as fitness. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds, then you may want to look for a trainer who has this additional education. If you’re wanting to become a competitive runner, for example, can your trainer take you all the way to your first big race? If all you need is to get back in shape after giving birth, or an extended illness, or have recently suffered an injury and needed to take some time off, does your trainer have a program that will meet your needs as well as your limitations? If your trainer seems to have a one-size-fits-all mentality, or if he can’t seem to adjust your program to meet your specific needs, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Hiring a personal trainer shouldn’t be difficult, and it should have the positive results you are looking for. Otherwise, maybe you’d be better off with your brother-in-law’s football buddy after all.