What Do You Look For in a Personal Trainer?

I have a personal trainer and I absolutely love her!
I think professional dress is important..and modest! Maybe capris and a shirt? I don't think I would continue to go to my trainer if she wore short shorts and a tiny tank top..it would make me feel uncomfortable because my body is definitely not good enough to wear those kind of clothes!

I see her 1-2 or 3 times a week. I think it is important to see her at least once, twice is better but 3 times is best!

As for online, i have never tried it, and I personally don't think it would motivate me as much as seeing someone in person, but I guess you never know!

I have a personal trainer and I was her first male client. My wife and I specifically chose her for experience in training herself and completing the Tough Mudder Challenge. She is very good at what she does - we like her philosophy on training.

Personal Trainers are like other professions where a personal relationship has to be built - the more someone trusts you the more apt they are to come to you. WORD OF MOUTH works wonders!

Never tried an online program but I like the personal one-on-one face-to-face time. Works best for me.

I've just started seeing a trainer and he just wears t shirts and basketball shorts. If I had a woman trainer I think seeing her in teeny tiny clothes would both motivate and depress me at the same time, but that's probably just me. I don't see anything wrong with capris or decent length shorts (no need for anyone to have their booty and everything else the good lord gave them hanging out lol) and a tank top.

I see him twice a week. I personally wouldn't do good with an online thing. I would just make excuses to not do it or not push myself as hard. I'm already dreading being too poor to pay my trainer for those reasons because I wonder how well I'll do on my own.

I would love it if my trainer helped me more on my food but I have a book to help me out and I could probably get one of the students majoring in nutrition to help me.

Also, I was glad I was set up with him because he is really into weight training and isn't one of those guys who thinks I should just lift a 5lb weight and walk on the treadmill. Our "goals" (for lack of a better word I guess) match up and to me that's probably the most important thing in a trainer

Hi, I recently started with a PT at my local gym. I am a 54 yr old female and riddled with OA. For me it was important to pair me with someone who would be willing to take the time to understand limitations with my 'bones' and find alternative ways to do certain strength exercises, all while the long term goal is to strengthen those 'bad' areas. My PT is male, and I think we 'click' and work well together. In the past I had once upon a time a female PT for a very short time, a complimentaty 2 session deal. The issue I had was that she was very young but did not seem willing to understand limitations of persons 15+ years older, she was tiny as well, and I did not feel like she could relate to me at 5'10". But as mentioned you have to be willing to do some homework.. She also dressed in skimpy cothing to which I did not find apealing given I have over 300lbs at the time. I think you attire should be covered, there is nothing more distracting that low cut tops or high cut shorts, a PT is not a t the gym to pick up a date.

I just got my certification, and I was wondering what you would specifically look for in a personal trainer? Would you ever consider some of the online training programs, where you communicate daily with your trainer, and follow the plan they create for you? How often do you expect to meet with a trainer? Is appearance super important (I don't mean that they show up dirty either, like should they wear a lot of clothes, or would a tank top and shorts suffice)?


1) I look for someone who is professional (polite, on time, no flirtatious behavior) with credentials (I like to see references and certifications); I also like to find a trainer who has a similar body type to mine so I could somewhat see the "future progress" of the work I'm doing. I also prefer if the trainer explains to me the method behind the madness so to speak; I want to know why we're doing what we're doing.

2) I would be open to an online training program, but I would have to really get to know them first. I wouldn't feel comfortable just finding someone and doing what they tell me for fear of fraud. I also think I would be less hesitant to do a plan like this if I never worked out because I would need the motivation in person at the gym; however, I would be okay with doing an online plan with where I am at now.

3) I would expect to meet with my trainer once per week at the very least; depending on cost, I would prefer two. Appearance is important in terms of looking clean, professional, and being able to properly demonstrate exercises to me. I think a tanktop and shorts would be fine, as long as the clothing doesn't distract from my workout by making you unable to demonstrate or me uncomfortable because I can see certain private areas.

I hope all of this helps!