Many people would like to exercise, but do not know how to choose the right exercise routine that is right for them. The result is often injuries or boredom – both of which lead to less physical activity rather than more. A personal trainer can be a great asset for starting an exercise routine, reaching new levels of intensity, and holding you accountable for getting enough exercise. However, trainers are not one size fits all and it is important to know how to make the right choice for you. Below are some tips for choosing the right personal trainer.
• Interrogate candidates in a persistent manner. Don't be afraid to delve into a potential trainer's background, references, and clients. Also know your own fitness goals – is it losing weight or do you need to increase body mass? Compare your trainer's past experiences with your current needs. If you have a specific health problem — such as arthritis, a back injury, or if you're overweight or obese — ask how he or she will handle these issues during workouts. Ask if they can give you references and contact their past clients. Experienced trainers have multiple techniques and can tailor a workout to a client's specific needs and fitness level. They should also help prevent injuries. Also consider practical logistical questions:Does the availability of the trainer match yours? What is their cancellation policy?
• Ask about their certifications. It's not just scraps of paper. Current certifications are evidence of training, qualifications and commitment to stay on top of the latest science and trends in fitness.
• Did the trainer ask you questions? Trainers should ask their own questions about the fitness level of potential customers and whether they can train safely. They should ask about medical conditions, medications, previous injuries, and surgeries that may be related to physical activity. Top trainers often provide an assessment that serves both to demonstrate their understanding of the risks of exercise to their clients and their ability to appropriately assess clients' health and fitness.
• Maximize your training time. Your trainer should help you with a proper warm up and cool down, as well as exercises to build flexibility. These steps are essential to avoid injury and you should not push your trainer to spend all your time together and work as hard as possible.
• Get your homework? Depending on a person's fitness goals, you'll need more time than the time an average person can spend with a trainer. That's why homework is so important. The best trainers suggest workouts that you can do on your own that are more sustainable after your sessions. Your personal training should last long enough to change your habits, but few people use trainers in the long run. Keep this in mind when developing routines with them. Being on the treadmill with a personal trainer can be doable, but maybe less fun alone. Make sure your trainer gives you exercises that lead to healthy habits.
• Trainers should be proficient in various movement disciplines. Boredom is the enemy of fitness. Trainers who know many ways to train the same muscles can banish that sluggishness. They can also increase the intensity of a workout – a critical aspect of their role in continuously improving clients. Find someone who can vary the regimen by doing fun and different activities such as strength training, Pilates, yoga and martial arts.
• Combine cardio and resistance training. No workout is truly complete until you've raised your heart rate and challenged your muscles. The best trainers combine cardio and resistance training to maximize your workout. While circuit training provides a path to a complete workout, you may want to tackle some cardio on your own or after a session. This approach builds lean body mass – key to the body's metabolism – and is important for protecting when losing weight.
• Beware of the seller. It is common for clients to need to adjust their diet to achieve their fitness goals. When resistance training is added to a routine, clients often need to increase their protein intake, which they may also need to increase as they lose weight to protect against loss of muscle mass. While trainers can offer advice on nutrition-related topics, be wary of those who are too eager to ignore the exercise regime while recommending specific supplements, protein drinks, or fat burners. There are no "miracle cures" or pills on the market – fitness requires old-fashioned, hard work.
