As of recently, I’ve seen friends and family get amazing results from seeing a trainer. On the other hand, I’ve had friends who have been hustled into buying the most expensive training and nutrition package at their gym because some trainer-shark told them they needed it. My curiosity for what I can do for potential clients has peaked my interests to look into why anyone needs a personal trainer, what to look for when you get started, and ideally what the affordable route is.
A personal trainer should be, at the least, educated and certified through a reputable fitness organization (BCRPA, NSCA, ISSA etc.). Gyms typically have strict hiring policies when it comes to certifications and experience. Their job is to assess your fitness level, set up a program for you and keep you motivated. A personal trainer should watch you, correct your alignment, and explain what you're doing and why. He/she will push you past your comfort level--something difficult to do on your own. He/she should provide:
• guidance on reaching your goals
• education about strength training, cardio and basic nutrition
• a reason to show up at the gym each week
• accountability
• ways to help track your progress
I came across a website stating the TOP 10 Reasons to hire a Personal Trainer, here goes:
1.
Accountability
2. Education
3. Encouragement
4. Family Impact
5. Independence
6. Management & Prevention
7. Recovery
8. Results
9. Creativity & Resourcefulness
10 Value
Read more @
Watch Out Now
Like any profession, personal training has its share of losers. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find a keeper right away. It may be a personality conflict or they may not be giving you the best advice. Either way, here are some red flags that it's time to move on to the next:
• He/she ignores or dismisses your questions
• Works you so hard you're in pain for days. Soreness is normal, but you should still be able to get out of bed
• Neglects any part of a complete program or recommends a level of training that's too hard for you
• Recommends questionable supplements or herbs. Always talk to your doctor before taking anything!
• Diagnoses injuries or illnesses instead of referring you to a doctor or therapist
• Interrupts your session to talk to friends or take phone calls (unless it's an emergency or can't be avoided)
• Doesn't return phone calls or emails
It's your money and your body...you have a right to get what you want and a good trainer will understand that.
Get it for Cheap
Although I do advise you to see a professional at one of your local community centers or gyms, there are ways around some of the expenses. So if money is an issue then you have some options. I saw on craigslist recently, a woman who stated that her goal was weight loss and she was looking for a personal trainer to get her in shape for a wedding. I think she was willing to pay $25/hour. If you take this route make sure you are very specific and DO NOT do that if you have any sort of medical conditions. More than likely, you may get a response from a student or someone who doesn’t have a ton of experience but is still pretty keen. Get them to send you a resume and make sure that they have updated CPR/AED training and are certified through a professional Personal Training body (do your own research). Education is key too, if they have courses in anatomy, physiology, exercise science, health psychology etc. All good.
You can also check to see if any gyms or trainers do group session training. Get a friend or two to join and it will be less expensive and maybe even more motivating.
If you don’t need the presence of someone to motivate you, and you have enough motivation to get going, check out women’s or men’s health magazine – the website offers some sort of online training program that you can customize something specific to your goals. See “Other Clever Tings” for the link.
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