So you’ve finally decided to take the leap and hire a personal trainer to help you with your personal fitness goals, but you’re not sure where to start. Personal training can be a great way to help someone reach their goals, but finding the right personal trainer can be daunting. When looking for a personal trainer you want to find someone who not only understands your current fitness level and how to help you specifically but also someone you can form a good relationship with. After all, you will be spending a significant amount of time with this person every week, so it’s important you find someone that you get along with. Finding a good personal trainer should be similar to interviewing a potential employee, and it isn’t something that should be rushed. To help with this process, we’ve highlighted the top 5 questions to ask a personal trainer before you hire them.
According to health professionals, beginners need three to four workouts per week to see steady weight loss and visible results. A personal trainer that recommends anything less in order to fit your budget or his or her busy schedule may not be a good fit. A personal trainer should always be focused on your success and progression rather than signing up as many clients as possible. You should also be wary of those trainers who try to oversell their training sessions. Working out 6 days a week may not be the best idea for someone who is just starting out. Your muscles need to heal properly after an intense workout and overtraining can lead to injury and/or a lack of progress in the long run. Whether you just want to lose weight or you’re training for a triathlon, keep this in mind and select a trainer who understands your body’s limits and is committed to gradual and consistent improvement.
When starting a new fitness program it’s important that your goals and progress are tracked by your trainer in order to maximize your improvement. Some people like to receive this data themselves to really understand where they stand and others would rather let the trainer handle this aspect of the training. The most important aspect is that the trainer sets realistic goals agreed upon by the client and can consistently track your progress. Your trainer may switch up your workout routine frequently to adjust to your progress, which is normal and a good sign that they are invested in your individual fitness.
A proper diet and nutritional guidelines are essential to weight loss and should go hand in hand with your exercise plan. A personal trainer who is focused on helping you reach your goals should have a nutritional background and at the very least make general diet recommendations to assist you with your goals. The fact is that without a proper diet your training results will be minimal. Some personal trainers are also nutrition coaches and may charge an extra fee for this service. Nutrition coaches can create custom meal plans to really get the most out of your training sessions. It’s up to you whether you want to invest in a nutrition coach as well, but remember to keep nutrition in mind while looking for a personal trainer.
The question most people probably want to ask a personal trainer upfront is how much they are going to charge you for their services. Personal trainers can charge anywhere from 40 to 70 dollars an hour, but some may charge even more than that. Keep in mind that more expensive rates do not always mean better training. The rates should correlate with their experience level, the type of program they offer. Another key piece of information to get is the contract and cancellation policy. Most trainers work on a session by session basis and require at least a 24-hour notice to cancel a personal training session. Failure to notify the trainer of a cancellation may result in you having to fork over the session fee whether you attend or not. This is usually stated in the initial contract and is put in place to protect the trainer from wasting their time and losing out on another potential client.
This is an important question for multiple reasons. First off you want to make sure your trainer will customize and tailor the exercise program to you and your goals specifically. If the trainer already has a set training plan before even discussing your goals or giving you an assessment, that may be a red flag. If you have any physical limitations or previous injuries, discussing the program exercises will be a good opportunity to bring them up. Your personal trainer should be able to work around these limitations and offer alternative solutions to help you reach your goals. Knowing the type of exercises to expect will also give you an indication of the intensity level of the program and can help you mentally prepare for the journey ahead.
Selecting a personal trainer is a great step towards living a healthy lifestyle and with the right guidance can be life-changing. So be sure to choose one who is invested in you and your health and fitness success.
You now have the best questions to ask a personal trainer, so don’t wait and start your personal training journey today. Our personal trainers at O Athletik have a passion for physical fitness that they use to help their clients reach and maintain their goals. Contact us today for more information.