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How
to Choose a Personal Trainer |
by:
Phil
Goglia |
How
to Choose a Personal Trainer
In the fitness industry there is a joke
that goes something like this: "The reason
I decided not to become a personal trainer
is that I had no table waiting experience
and I didn't want to become an actor."
This may sound humorous but, unfortunately,
there is a core of truth there. Because
there are no strict guidelines about who
can call themselves a trainer, almost anyone
who has a job or career aspiration that
demands a high degree of physical fitness
can hang out a shingle or get a job coaching
at your local gym. In fact, it is very common
for an actor, sports model, or athlete to
try to pick up extra money by working as
a fitness instructor, especially because
there is good money to be made by doing
so.
While these individuals may know what works
for them as far as exercise and diet goes,
that does not automatically qualify them
to train others or to give them nutritional
counseling.
What Are Your Goals?
The first thing you need to be clear about
when considering a trainer is what goals
you have in mind. Do you want someone who
can design an exercise and nutritional protocol
that will help you to shed 20 or more pounds?
Do you want to develop greater strength
and muscularity, perhaps with the guided
use of protein drinks and sports supplements?
Do you want to get back into shape after
a pregnancy or a long period spent without
exercise? Or maybe you are trying to slim
down for a class reunion, wedding, or other
family event.
Once you are clear on what you would like
to accomplish, it will be easier to find
the person who has the experience and qualifications
to help you get there.
Where Do I Find Trainers to Interview?
There are several ways to locate trainers.
Word of mouth through friends, colleagues,
or your family doctor are good places to
start. You might also check your Yellow
Pages under "Personal Trainers," "Health
Clubs," and "Exercise and Physical Fitness."
Another great resource is the National Strength
& Conditioning Association (NSCA), one of
the largest nationally recognized fitness
organizations (www.nsca-lift.org).
Questions You Should Ask a Prospective Trainer
Once you have found a trainer who look promising,
you need to learn as much about their qualifications
as possible. The first and most important
question you should ask is "What qualifies
you to be a personal trainer?" NSCA and
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists
(CSCS) are two nationally recognized certifications.
A background in exercise physiology, sports
medicine, physical education, or anatomy
and physiology are also helpful because
that tells you that this individual has
made a thorough study of the body and how
it works.
It would also be a plus if your trainer
were involved in some sort of elite exercise
him- or herself, such as body building.
If you need nutritional guidance from a
trainer, make sure that he or she has some
kind of solid education and background in
the subject.
Ask your prospective trainer what their
goals are. If they tell you they want to
star in films or have their own sitcom on
NBC, they are probably not the right person
for you.
You will also want to know the length of
time a person has been working as a trainer
and how many clients they have coached.
The most important thing you can request
are client referrals. Speaking with people
who have received fitness instruction from
the trainer you are considering will give
you an idea whether he or she is the right
person for you.
Some questions you might consider asking
clients are:
·How long have you worked with this trainer?
·Has he or she helped you to achieve your
goals?
·Do you feel like this trainer makes efficient
use of the time you have together?
·Does this trainer clearly explain each
exercise to you and help you to perform
it with good posture and body positioning?
·Have you ever been injured when working
out with this trainer?
·Do you find him or her professional and
supportive of your goals?
Starting Out: What to Expect
Once you have chosen a trainer, there are
certain questions they should ask you and
evaluations they should perform.
First, they should be very clear about what
your goals are and make some suggestions
as to how they can help you to achieve them.
Before even beginning an exercise program
they should do a complete physical evaluation
of your strength, range of motion, flexibility,
current exercise routine (if you've been
working out on your own), any injuries you
might have sustained over the years, and
any physical limitations you might have
(such as a weak lower back or arthritis
in your knee or shoulder joints).
Once they have designed a unique program
to fit your body type, level of ability,
and goals, they should be able to give you
clear instructions and a clear idea of how
to correctly position your body on any exercise
ball, machine, or with any free weights.
You will only get the maximum benefit from
each exercise and avoid injury if your trainer
is knowledgeable about physiology. They
should be able to coach you on correct posture,
which includes good head, neck, shoulder,
arm, lower back, hip, and leg positions
for each machine or exercise.
Good posture and positioning of the body
will enable you to perform exercises correctly
and without pain. If something is hurting
you or you feel undue strain, stop immediately
and communicate this to your fitness instructor.
Improving your level of fitness takes effort,
endurance, and consistency, but not to the
point of strain or injury.
A good workout program should include enough
sets and repetitions of each movement to
challenge you and to fully work each body
part. If you are doing two sessions per
week with a trainer, they should spend one
on upper body and abdominals and the second
session on lower body and abdominals. In
other words, they should thoroughly work
each section of the body and allow it enough
time to recover in between workouts.
Warning Signs
There are certain behaviors you should be
aware of that might indicate that a trainer
is not being as professional as they should
be with a client.
A trainer should be a good listener, always
attentive to your goals. If your trainer
is constantly using a lot of "I" and "me"
statements, they are not making good use
of your time together. They should be focused
on your needs, your progress, and what you
require.
A good trainer should always respect emotional
boundaries. Beware of trainers who want
to tell you their life story, ask you for
advice in their career, or pour out their
heartaches and stories about their love
life. You are their client, not their therapist.
It is equally time-wasting to work with
a trainer who encourages you to take about
your own problems. In such a situation is
it easy to feel sucked dry emotionally and
talk your way through your hour, instead
of getting the full workout you are there
to do.
We are all human and have our ups and downs-and
we mention them from time to time-but this
should first and foremost always be a professional
relationship from which you need to get
a certain amount of value for your physique.
Lastly, a good trainer should always keep
upgrading your workout. If weeks go by and
someone is still having you do the same
amount of sets and reps with the same amount
of weight, they are not helping you to make
progress. The body will eventually acclimate
itself to any exercise routine and it needs
to be continually challenged.
If you follow these guidelines, you should
be able to find a trainer who will help
you to meet your goals and improve your
physique, energy levels, and general health.
Good luck!
About the Author
Philip Goglia is a Los Angeles-based
nutritionist, trainer, and author. Goglia
has just released SmartJourney, a metabolic
food program that is personally tailored
for each individual. "There is no one-size-fits-all
diet," says Goglia. "We realize that everyone
has their own unique metabolic type, and
we design a program just for you." For
more information about effective exercise
and nutrition, please visit his website
www.SmartJourney.com. |
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