What to look for in a Personal Trainer...?

You should always have a personal trainer that is certified to be one. I do have a personal trainer, my biggest thing that I looked for when I found one was that he/she had been through the weight loss themselves and they were not just one of the lucky ones who are naturally fit. If they hold a degree it should be in nutrition, or something fitness related. I got a great deal from my gym as a new member and paid 400.00 for 12 sessions... It may seem like a lot up front but in all reality I really feel like you get what you pay for.

While looking online here are some things that I found that may give you more answers.

http://exercise.about.com/cs/forprofessionals/a/choosetrainer.htm

http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_200/229_fitness_tip.html

Hope this helps you.

Biggest thing (I'm ACE certified as well) is if the certification is NCCA accredited.

Besides a certification, make sure the trainer meets the following standards:

1) they DON'T give you nutrition programs/plans unless they are qualified to do so. (this is my pet peeve, trainers are NOT nutritionist or dietitians, unless they have training in this area, it's not for them to tell you).

2) They have the available time to devote to you. Listen during your initial evaluation/interview to see whether they say things like "let me check my schedule" and "I may be able to squeeze you in..." And other markers that they are already full, training is more than just showing up, if they are to busy, you will suffer.

3) They have experience. And by that I don't mean "10 years on the job" although that's fine to. Just because someone wasn't a trainer their whole life doesn't mean they haven't gained the needed skills to train. A coach in certain sports could be just as qualified as a PT, or a mentor in a job, or even a community advisor. What you want to look for is personal skills and attributes.

4) Make sure you are comfortable with them. They can be the best trainer in the world, but if they creep you out, then you will be missing a crucial aspect of training, and that's the connection required for them to really understand your needs and wants. The trainer should be able to somehow empathize with your situation. That's why it's best (in many cases) to seek out a trainer that has once been, or had someone close to them, in a similar situation as you are currently in. It helps a lot.

These are things that I've learned in my experiences.

I think Banks meant that a trainer should not give you nutrition plans UNLESS they have training in that area, so that might be one of the questions you want to ask your step-dad's trainer when you meet with him, what, if any nutritional counseling does he provide, and what is his training in that area.

I would also tell the potential trainer/s what your goals are at the moment and ask for a brief description of how he/she would proceed with you.

My experience with my trainer has been incredibly positive, and I went into it completely blind, so I just lucked out, but I love that you are interviewing potential trainers. You definitely want to have the kind of relationship with them that you can trust they know what they are doing and will not allow you to get injured.

Good luck with the search!

Oh, and I currently pay $35 for a half hour session, but not all of that goes to the trainer. I think it's a great deal.

Not to put words in his mouth, but Banks has been pretty consistent that anyone giving individual nutritional advice should be a LICENSED DIETITIAN, not just someone "with training". In many states, personal trainers are actually breaking the law when they do what they do--unfortunately, it's rarely enforced. Many certifying bodies provide some type of "nutritionist" certifications, which are totally BS.

I think Banks meant that a trainer should not give you nutrition plans UNLESS they have training in that area, so that might be one of the questions you want to ask your step-dad's trainer when you meet with him, what, if any nutritional counseling does he provide, and what is his training in that area.

I would also tell the potential trainer/s what your goals are at the moment and ask for a brief description of how he/she would proceed with you.

My experience with my trainer has been incredibly positive, and I went into it completely blind, so I just lucked out, but I love that you are interviewing potential trainers. You definitely want to have the kind of relationship with them that you can trust they know what they are doing and will not allow you to get injured.

Good luck with the search!

Oh, and I currently pay $35 for a half hour session, but not all of that goes to the trainer. I think it's a great deal.

Not to put words in his mouth, but Banks has been pretty consistent that anyone giving individual nutritional advice should be a LICENSED DIETITIAN, not just someone "with training". In many states, personal trainers are actually breaking the law when they do what they do--unfortunately, it's rarely enforced. Many certifying bodies provide some type of "nutritionist" certifications, which are totally BS.

BINGO!

ACE actually puts it in their ethics section, it's not a "punishable" offense, but it is highly frowned upon. Basically, we are free to give our thoughts on what we think proper nutrition should entail, but to actually offer someone (who has paid for our services) nutrition plans and such, is essentially fraud, because we receive (as part of ACE certification) minimal nutritional training. It's fraud because WE are supposed to be the knowledgeable party in the situation, and we should be advising them on a proper course of action (seeing a dietitian).

It's why I'm happy to offer my advice on here, but I never offer to give specific plans, or if I do, I make sure the person knows that I'm NOT a dietitian (and they aren't paying me, so there's no expectation of knowledge).

In terms of just a trainer, there are a couple of general areas of concern:

1. Education--does the trainer have a broad and in-depth educational background, or just have they just been spoon-fed some boilerplate information in order to pass a "certification". Looking at someone with an actual college degree in exercise science is usually a good place to start. It doesn't guarantee quality and that's not to say that ONLY trainers w/degrees are qualified, but it's a good start.

2. Experience--all the education in the world doesn't substitute for practical experience. Does the trainer have a solid track record of results. More importantly, does the trainer have experience with people like you? Is the trainer willing to provide references? What is the trainer's personal background? Don't get stuck on a particular "profile"--e.g. an "athlete", or "someone who has lost weight". People in these two groups often have some serious deficits--in education, empathy, experience, or all three. Don't get locked into looking at any superficial "type".

3. Flexibility--does the trainer have the education and background to design a program that takes into account YOUR specific needs, goals, personality, etc. Or do they use a "cookbook" or "one size fits all" approach. There are many different ways to effective exercise, and there are not only different approaches necessary for different individuals, but sometimes different approaches are necessary for the SAME individual as they progress over time. If the trainer seems to be someone who espouses a "set" philosophy--whether it's HIT, or crossfit, or whatever--you should run, not walk--as fast as you can in the opposite direction.

4. Personality--Does the trainer's general approach/temperament/personality, etc, fit your style. You will be spending a lot of time with a trainer. You need to have confidence that the trainer is concerned about you as an individual and that he/she will design a program that matches your style. Does the trainer have a schedule that matches yours.

5. Certification--There is a reason why this is #5. Unfortunately, certifying personal trainers is an unregulated business and, as much, has become as much a tool for obfuscation as for illumination. Not to mention, the training business has completely perverted the whole concept of "certification". Certification should be a process that VALIDATES that an individual has achieved a minimum standard of competence and possesses a minimum educational standard. Instead, certification has become an "entry-level" tool, all too often, a hollow piece of paper that serves only to create the ILLUSION of competence. That being said, there are some certifying bodies that seem to attract--even if only by accident--persons of a higher level of integrity. I would have more confidence in a certification from NSCA, ASCM, ACE or NASM than anyone else. Again, not that that guarantees that trainers w/these certs are all good, or that proves that those without are all bad--but you do increase the percentages in your favor by staying with these certifications.

Unfortunately, trainers are not cheap. Nor should they be--good trainers are entitled to be compensated for their services like anyone else. In fact, a low-priced trainer should be a warning sign, IMO. Anyone who is any good should be able to find a position that pays them appropriately for their ability. Someone who is content working for $15 an hour, I would question either their competence (i.e. they can't get a better job) or their professional drive.

There are some options. Most facilities have some type of "buddy" program, where you get together with 1-3 other people and "share" the training time. Obviously, there is not as much individual attention, but often what you get is enough and you save a few $$. Or you can use a trainer as an "accountability agent"--i.e. someone you see once every 2 weeks, for example, to keep you on track and update your program, rather than a "fitness buddy" who supervises every workout.

Again, I apologize, in that I may have misread or misunderstood exactly the nature of the question at hand, and also, not to beat a dead horse, but couldn't a trainer be a dietician as well? Never hurts to ask.

And for the record, my trainer did not offer me a "plan" per se, but made suggestions as to the percentages of carbs/protein/fats that I should try. I don't think he was trying to fraud me.

Lesson learned though. I'm staying out of discussions.

cardgirl, don't be upset, it wasn't an attack, you were essentially right, and there was no meaning (from my part, and I THINK, not from Adzak either) to harm your point or upset you.


to reply to your statement above, I don't see a problem with offering advice to someone, as long as you don't make it part of your "program" as a plan to follow. I guess the difference is subtle and maybe I should have explained better in the beginning. Offering advice as someone who has done the research is fine by me. But (and I've experienced this personally) some trainers like to make their students follow nutrition programs of their own design, and unless they have the training to build those programs, I find this to be unacceptable behavior.

See, most people don't realize there is a separation between diet and exercise, to be a professional at one, does not make you a master of the other, but novices don't see that, and if you don't point it out as a trainer(at a minimum), you are essentially committing fraud. The fraud is that the client doesn't know any better, and accepts you as an implied professional, even if you never say you're a dietitian, it's implied. Until you look them in the eye and say I'M NOT A DIETITIAN, then there is no expectation. In this case.

Thanks Banks and Adzak, I guess I did take it a little personally. Need to develop a thicker skin, I guess. :laugh:

Actually, everything my trainer has told me about diet has matched up pretty much exactly with what has been discussed on here by you, Banks, and has been working for me, but he does not police my food diary or anything like that.

But I agree, there is lots of bad advice out there floating around and people need to be aware of how to distinguish the sound advice from the not so sound.

Adzak, that was a GREAT list of "concerns" about hiring a trainer, thank you for posting it.

And to OP, I hope you are successful in finding a trainer who can motivate you and help you and get you to the point of loving exercising to be fit, as mine did. It's been well worth the investment.