Personal trainers--seems as though every nook and cranny of every gym is bursting with these enthusiastic fitness buffs just waiting to take the old and forge the new. But before you start to believe that a personal trainer is your panacea to a better body, you'd best weigh your options. How do you know the perfect trainer when you find one, or does such a thing exist? What kinds of expectations should you and your trainer have? Do you really need one at all? These are just a few of the many questions you should ask yourself and a prospective trainer before investing your money and health in her or his hands.
Assess Your Needs
Remarkably similar to good parental or investment advice, you should first ask yourself, "Is this something I absolutely need?" If it's a matter of you trying to keep up with the Joneses or it's the only way you can think of to get some "quality time" with that cute trainer, save your money. Better reasons to seek help include recognizing that your training has reached a plateau, experiencing decreased motivation or being uncertain of your own ability to reach your desired fitness goals. The right trainer can also be a godsend if you have a specific medical condition, you're coming back from an injury or preparing for a competition, or you're simply looking for a change in your routine.
An Informed Consumer
Once you've decided why you need a trainer, you can tackle some of the more serious issues - what are your specific goals, what kind of program will help you achieve them safely, and how do you know if a trainer is offering valid information are just a few. First things first, though: Can you afford to spend between $20 and $100 per one-hour session? This fee may vary depending on special deals or specific training needs and location, so take it into consideration as you search for the right personal trainer.
Keep in mind, though, that a trainer can be the best investment you may make in safely improving your level of fitness: "I really look at a qualified personal trainer as an efficiency expert for the human body . . . to maximize the time spent in the gym and use every minute that you're in there to help you achieve your goals. Almost anyone can help you get stronger, but there are definitely safer and more effective ways to do it," says Thomas R. Baechle, EdD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, executive director of the National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) Certification Commission, and professor and chair of exercise science at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
The key to finding the right trainer for you is to approach the decision-making process as if you were trying to find someone to care for your precious child or beloved pet - be thorough! Baechle suggests interviewing several potential trainers (using the "Personal Trainer Checklist" can help) and getting at least one free training session with each before making your final decision.
