Why a Trainer May Be Right for You

If you want to lose weight, get healthy and/or build muscle, hiring a personal trainer can be a step in the right direction. A good trainer can help you set up a program that meets your goals and teach you the best way to exercise. Here's what you should know before you hand over the cash.

What is a Personal Trainer?

A personal trainer should be, at the least, educated and certified through a reputable fitness organization (see below). This person's job is to assess your fitness level, set up a program for you and keep you motivated. He or she will push you past your comfort level--something difficult to do on your own. A trainer also provides:

• guidance on reaching your goals
• education about strength training, cardio and basic nutrition
• a reason to show up at the gym each week
• accountability
• ways to help track your progress

What is a Session Like?

Each session lasts about an hour. The first meeting is devoted to assessing fitness level, body measurements, exercise and health history and goals. Be prepared to step on the scale, have your body fat tested and answer specific questions about your goals. After that, you'll spend most of your time on strength training and cardio.

What to Look for In a Personal Trainer

• Education: A personal trainer should be certified through a reputable fitness organization. An exercise science or other related college degree isn't necessary, but the more education your trainer has, the better your workouts will be.
  
  
• CPR: your trainer should have an updated certification in CPR and/or first aid.
  
  
• Experience: Make sure your trainer has several years of experience, especially in relation to your goals. For example, if you're a bodybuilder, you want someone knowledgeable in that area.
  
  
• Specifics: If you have a specific medical problem, injury or condition (such as being pregnant, heart problems, diabetes, etc.) make sure your trainer has education in these areas and will work with your doctor.
  
  
• A good listener: A good trainer will listen closely to what you say and make sure he understands your goals.
  
  
• Attention: A good trainer will be focused only on you during your sessions.
  
  
• Tracking progress: A good trainer will regularly assess your progress and change things if necessary.

Personality is important too since you'll be working very closely with this person. Make sure you get along with your trainer and feel comfortable asking questions.

How to Find a Personal Trainer

One place to look is your local gym. Most gyms have personal trainers on staff and offer attractive packages for personal training. The cost will vary depending on where you live and your trainer's experience and education. Typically, the cost will be anywhere from $30 to $50 a session.

• Get a referral from a friend who's had success in reaching their goals with a personal trainer
  
  
• When you're at the gym, watch trainers with their clients and see how they interact. Make a note of trainers who get along with their clients and seem fully involved in their workouts...that may be a good one to choose.

Assessment With Your Personal Trainer

This is a good independent view of what a trainer should do for you. I try to live up to this each day, with each client. If you have questions please contact me!!!!

Your first step is an assessment with your personal trainer. This will include a medical history intake; physical measurements of body fat, weight, muscle strength, stability, muscle imbalances, posture, flexibility; a stress test; a detailed description of your food cravings, water intake, food consumption, and current activity level; and a thorough evaluation of your goals (PDF).

A proper assessment is essential to the personal training process. Any personal trainer who doesn’t offer an assessment is someone you want to run from, not hire! Without having a good idea about how you function with weight and your body weight, there is no way a personal trainer can design a specific program catered to your needs as a client. You want the best results, right?

An assessment is one of the most important tools used in designing your fitness and nutrition program. A typical training session is an hour long, but this will depend on the program you purchase and your goals. A session begins with you coming in and warming up on the treadmill, bike, stair-stepper, etc. After you are warmed up, the personal trainer will show you corrective stretch to help improve any muscle imbalances you may have, allowing your muscles to function properly during the training session.

After stretching out your tight muscles, it is time to get you the results you want! Your training will depend on which activities will get your body the best results, so for the next 30 to 40 minutes, the personal trainer will incorporate weight training, free weights, Swiss balls, cables, yoga movements, Pilates, boxing, and many other training modalities that will get you the fastest results, guaranteed.

Contact Firelumpy Personal Training

Please feel free to contact me for more information or to schedule a FREE consultation!