How To Choose A Personal Trainer... A Good One.

It's been a while since I have posted a blog. So, I figured why not start off by talking about personal trainers. Yes, I am a personal trainer (NSCA-CPT)so I am around other trainers all the time. A fellow trainer recently told me, "your certification is only as good as you are." Then said he train clients well enough to make them feel like they are getting results, but not enough to "cure" them of the issue that brought them to the gym in the first place. That brings me to believe he has a "study over the weekend" internet certification. So I put him in the category of a bad trainer. I could be wrong, but hey it's my own opinion. But, you know a lot of clients don't know any better. Some will choose a personal trainer based on looks, physique, how many clients hs/she has, or by watching him or her have their client(s) do some crazy exercise that serves no purpose. Of course, you don't want to choose a fitness trainer that does not look like they are in shape or eat healthy, but that shouldn't be at the top of your list. Here are some things you should look for in a quality personal fitness trainer: 1. Certification/Education 2. Experience 3. Style of training 4. Results/Success stories 5. Trainers own lifestyle (Fitness and diet) Certification/Education- All personal fitness trainers should have some type of accredited certification and education background. Though it is not required by law, it does show that the trainer does have some kind of knowledge and they are willing to invest in their career. Now, there are quite a few certifications to choose from. The top Organizations are NSCA, ACSM, NASM, ACE and ISSA. They are accredited certifications and requires the trainers to continue studying new information in order to stay certified. Don't go for the trainers with internet certification that was received over the weekend. That's not the trainer you want! Experience- When searching for a personal trainer, you want to look for someone with some type of experience. Whether it's educational and/or hands-on, they need to have something under their belt. Picking some novice that's never trained a client, no educational background or some "Joe" that you've seen lifting heavy weights at the gym is high risk for a possible injury, espcailly when you're a rookie too. That is a recipe for disaster and a high medical bill. I saw a guy with no training skills working out with a friend of his. They were in the squat rack and the next thing I know the friend is folded up by the barbell because he was mimicking the other guy's bad squatting form with too much wieght... Hire a professional. Style of training- Every trainer has or should have a special niche. Whether it's weight loss programs, Cardio endurance or Metabolic training (my specialty), we have a style of training. If your goal is to lose 10lbs. and look lean, you should go to someone that specializes in that area and not a trainer that works better with clients looking to gain muscle size and mass. Common sense, right? So when searching for a personal trainer, make sure they fit in with the goal(s)you have set for yourself. Results/Success stories- A personal trainer talking about what he/she can do is ok. But, actions speaks so much louder. Before and after photos of clients are a great way for a trainer to show you their exercise programs give results. As the old saying goes,"a picture speaks a 1,000 words." In this case, it does. Not only does it show the total body transformation physically, but sometimes the way the client(s) feel about themselves also shows through the picture. Another is success stories or testimonies. It's a great tool for clients to write down their exeperience with the personal trainer, from the obstacles they may have faced to the end results. Trainers own lifestlye (Fitness and diet)- We are "walking billboards". When I say we, I'm talkng about personal trainers. I know I said you should lnot choose a trainer based on looks, BUT I still believe a trainer should practice what they preach. I've never understood why some people sign up with overweight lazy trainers. I see it too often. Is it because they feel like they can relate? I don't know. Personally I would never go to someone for fitness and nutrition advice when that person is not living a healthy lifestyle. It's like going to a broke person and asking for financial advice. It makes no sense. Ultimately it's your choice on the type of personal trainer you choose to hire to help you reach your fitness goals. But remember, "you get what you pay for."