When you’re just starting out, or you want to head back to the gym to achieve specific goals, it can be hard knowing where and hard to get started. Some people find it helpful to work with a personal trainer. If you find yourself in this position, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll go over some tips to help you find and work with a personal trainer to achieve your fitness goals.
Who Can Use a Personal Trainer?
Anyone can benefit from and use a personal trainer. You can be of any age and fitness level. The key is to have specific fitness goals that a personal trainer can help you reach.
Fitness goals that a personal trainer can help with can include:
- Weight loss
- Gaining muscle
- Improving cardiovascular health
- Recovering after an injury
- And more
How to Choose a Personal Trainer
To find the right personal trainer, it’s important to consider several factors, including the following:
- Understand the basics of what you need/want
- Know what to look for when choosing a personal trainer
- Find the right personal trainer
What to Look for When Choosing a Personal Trainer
Here’s what to consider when searching for the right personal trainer:
Credentials: all personal trainers should be certified by a reputable organisation, and they should have a good understanding of anatomy and physiology. And if you need a specific type of trainer, make sure they have the right qualifications, credentials, and experience.
Experience: finding a personal trainer who has experience is crucial. Ask these questions when searching for the right personal trainer:
- Do they have experience working with clients who have similar goals to yours?
- How long have they been training for?
- Have they won any awards, or do they have any great success stories to share?
- What are their qualifications and certifications?
Personality: another important aspect of the personal trainer is their personality. Here are some questions to ask yourself when interviewing a personal trainer:
- Do they seem like someone you can work with?
- Will they be able to push you hard when necessary? Will they also be understanding when you need a break?
- Do they have a good sense of humour?
- Do you feel comfortable around them?
Specialties
If you have specific fitness goals, it’s important to find a personal trainer who specialises in that area. For instance, if you want to improve your lifting, you need to find a personal trainer who has experience working with lifters.
This way, you’ll get more out of your workout sessions and reach your goals that much faster.
How to Find a Personal Trainer
Searching for the right personal trainer takes time and patience. The goal is to find a personal trainer that you feel safe with and encouraged by. You may want to see if family and friends can offer their referrals or ask your healthcare provider for their recommendations on a good personal trainer.
Another way to find a personal trainer is to use a Google search with the keywords “personal trainer near me.” This way, you can find personal trainers in your area and make a list of the ones that may be the right choice.
Once you have a list of personal trainers, it’s also a good idea to check out their credentials, qualifications, and experience. All of this information is usually available online.
Consider Connectivity & Comfort Level
When you’re getting ready to choose a personal trainer, the decision should include a desire and commitment to show up for your sessions because you like them and want their assistance. Accountability is tied to your feelings of success, combined with the personal trainer’s encouragement and guidance.
So, be sure to focus on finding a personal trainer you can connect with and feel comfortable with. As with any other profession, there are many trainers with varying degrees of education, different personality types, and more.
Be Honest About Your Expectations and Effort
Next, it’s crucial to be completely honest with your personal trainer about your expectations and effort. Your goals are tied to your success; without a goal, it’s much harder to achieve your fitness goals.
Everything is tied to your expectations and effort, including your workouts, feeling comfortable with your approach, being comfortable with your commitment level with your new personal trainer, and more.
Think About Why Working with a Trainer is Right for You
Next, determine the reason why working with a trainer is what you want to do. While it may seem obvious, you need to be certain this is what you want. Learning why this is so important to you can help you stay motivated and dedicated to your goals.
Remember, your fitness routine and working with a personal trainer are a commitment of both time and money. The “why” you’re doing this is essential to your success.
Moreover, a relationship with your trainer is one that grows stronger over time. It’s a continuous learning process, starting with an evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your physical abilities. Be mindful of the reason you want a personal trainer, and you’re sure to stay committed and reach your goals.
Communicate About the After-Effects of the Previous Session
As you work out with your personal trainer, it’s important to communicate with your trainer about the after-effects of the previous sessions and any other details that they should be aware of. Sessions usually start with a warm-up and end with flexibility and stretching. There’s usually a discussion about how the workout has gone and how it made you feel. The trainer may also offer a recommendation on what to do until your next workout with them.
It’s important to remember that even a healthy, fit person cannot only live to work out. It takes more than workouts to stay happy and healthy. That includes eating a healthy diet and adopting lifestyle habits that aid your fitness goals.
So, be sure to sleep well every night, stay hydrated, and stay as active as possible every day. Challenge yourself when possible, too.
Success increases the chances of future success, so be patient and persistent. Your efforts will eventually pay off! It’s crucial to have a long-term perspective in reaching your fitness goals.
