How To Find A Personal Trainer

This past week I've had a couple of conversations with people about the importance of finding a good trainer.  The majority of people don't seem to really give much thought to this process - they take the trainer assigned to them at the gym.  I think this is a mistake.  Why?

A trainer is someone who works for you.  You're hiring this specialist to help you meet you goal.  But before you commit to this relationship, it would help to figure out what your goals are first.  Here are some good questions to start with:

• Do you already have a gym membership?  Do you want to work with a trainer through the gym, through a training studio, or in your home?  It may be less expensive to work with an individual trainer through a studio but more convenient to go through your gym.
• What gender trainer would you prefer?  There's no right or wrong answer here, just a matter of personal preference.
• What age trainer would you prefer?  Age doesn't necessarily mean anything, but go with your comfort.  Keep in mind that it also can be an indicator of experience or keeping current with fitness trends. 
• Is there a type of trainer you think you'd feel more comfortable with?  Someone who's tough, fun, encouraging?  Write out a list of ideal characteristics and rank them in order of importance.  For me, a trainer isn't meant to be my friend.  If we become friends in the course of our relationship, that's great, but that's not the purpose of our relationship.  However, as a friend put it, you don't want to leave each session hating the person that's meant to motivate you.  If you dread your training sessions, or even the possibility of running into your trainer between sessions, there may be something to reassess.
• What do you want the trainer to do?  This is a really broad question, so let's break it down with some specific questions.
• What do yo want to accomplish through working out with the trainer?  Whatever goals you set, they should be:
• Realistic
• Measurable
• Specific
• Challenging yet attainable
• Broken down into smaller steps
• Time-limited (either a deadline for meeting your goal or for reassessing progress)
• Meaningful FOR YOU
• Do you want to workout using machines or free weights?  If you're steering clear of free weights, why?  Are they just for "meatheads" or advanced weightlifters?
• Do you have any injuries or limitations that the trainer would need to work with or work around?  I have a bad knee, so I need to be aware of limited mobility and focus on strengthening surrounding muscles.  My husband has a shoulder injury, so he has to be aware of compensating with other muscle groups.
• What have you tried before?  What worked and what didn't work?  Remember this includes high school sports, dancing, and walking the dog.
• Are you looking for a long-term or short-term "relationship" with the trainer?  Maybe an introduction to machines in the gym so you can workout on your own?  Or perhaps on-going weekly training sessions?
• How frequently do you want to work out?  Weekly?  Twice a week?
• Do you want the trainer to focus just on weight-lifting?  What about a broader fitness plan including cardio?  Or nutritional planning?

Once you've outlined your goals and priorities for working with a trainer, it's time to start interviewing.  Yes, I said interviewing.  A trainer's first job is to sell services to you.  You wouldn't buy a car without taking it for a test-drive, so why not the same with a trainer?  At the very least, I would recommend a sit-down conversation to discuss the goals and priorities you identified.  Does the trainer feel that these are realistic and attainable?  How will the trainer help you reach them?

As you begin working with the trainer, don't be afraid to ask questions.  After all, the trainer is TRAINING you.  What does that mean?  You're being educated as to how to challenge, push, and take care of your body through physical activity.  Trainers aren't superheros (though they may have the physique) - they're regular people people who have specialized expertise in a particular area.  You're paying the trainer to share this knowledge with you, through developing a customized workout plan and through explaining this plan to you.

You also want a trainer to ask you questions.  A thorough checking-in will help to reassess the effectiveness of the training program and whether or not it needs to be modified.  Asking questions is also a means for challenging certain assumptions you don't even realize you have.  If I tell my trainer I "can't" do something, I want him to ask why.  Is it because the weight is too heavy?  Are my muscles giving out?  Is my grip failing?  Am I experiencing pain (which is different from hurt)?  A trainer that responds to my "can't" with "okay" is less likely to challenge me because s/he won't be getting the necessary information to make effective adaptations to the training approach.

What about credentials?  Aren't they important?  Yes and no.  For $99, I could get my "primary personal training certification" by taking an online course.  Does that make me a good trainer?  Who knows!  It doesn't translate to my effectiveness working with an individual.  Here are some of the letters you may see attached to a trainer (adapted from what my trainer explained to me):

• ACE (American Council on Exercise) - The "go-to" certification that is very common and of decent quality.  It may carry a little less weight nowadays because everyone's getting it.NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) was held in pretty high esteem and could be seen as the new ACE.  It's an investment to get this certification, so people who pursue this may be more committed to working as a trainer rather than "mailing it in" with an easier certification.   The major NASM certification is "certified personal trainer" and there are 2 advanced certifications for sports training and special populations (geriatric, etc.).
• The National Strength and Conditioning Association has a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist which seems to require a 4-year degree in related field (health or exercise science, nutrition, etc.) before you can even apply for the certification.
• The American College of Sports Medicine is another certifying body, as is the National Personal Training Institute.  

There's no hard and fast rubric for figuring out how to find a personal trainer.  As I've said before, I've worked with my fair share of trainers.  They've all been capable and qualified and great at engaging me in effective training programs.  But that's where the similarities end.  They've all had different personalities, different styles, and different ways of helping me meet my goals.  My trainer laughed when I asked him for resources for finding a trainer - why wouldn't I refer everyone to him?  While I think he's a great match for me, I know he's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Here's to finding that cup of tea - and remember it doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough!

Food Log:

• Meal 1 
• 2 egg whites with peppers, onions, and salsa
• 40g oatmeal 
• Meal 2
• Apple
• Light string cheese
• 1oz almonds
• Meal 3
• BIG salad
• 3oz chicken
• Meal 4
• Not as big a salad
• 3oz ground turkey
• 40g oatmeal
• Tablespoon of peanut butter

Exercise:

• Time: 60 minutes on elliptical
•  Level: 1 minute Level 1; 58 minutes alternating (2 minutes Level 4, 1 minute Level 5); 1 minute Level 1
• Calories: 625+

Today's Weigh-In:  144.0