What you should know before using a personal trainer.....

If you're interested in getting results and considering using a personal trainer, here's some tips you need to take into consideration:

BEFORE TRAINING

1)Are they Nationally Certified or have a degree in kinesiology?-Many local health club chains (aka X Crunch Time Total Life Sport Fitness) hire people who DO NOT have any certifications or experience, and let them work uncertified. With that said, ask to see Nationally recognized Certifications (NASM, NESTA, ACSM, ACE, NCSM, ect.) or a degree in kinesiology before handing over any money!! You work hard for your money, and you deserve to get your money's worth.

2)How long have they been training?-Some people aren't interested in helping people change their lives. For many it's just about the money. So ask the trainer, how long they have been training. Majority who've been doing it for years, the motivation is more towards helping people rather than just to get your money. For example, I recently met someone who is a new trainer. He told me, that he applied for "juice bar," but heard he could make more money as a trainer, so now he trains people with no experience or certifications. He said, "I'm skinny, I can do it." BEWARE!! Also, a trainer with education & experience, knows how to work with people with special needs (i.e. injuries, limitations) and will be able to design programs specific to that person and make modifications during the actual workouts.

3)Do they have testimonials/references?-Ask to see testimonials or references. This is another way to weed out the "juice bar" trainer types in it for the quick buck. They can be anything from pictures to written testimonials. Just something the trainer can show to give evidence, that he/she has helped people become a success.

4)Billing and cancellation policies?-Are these in writing and clearly understood? If not they should be!!

5)Rates?-Cheapest aren't always the best, and expensive doesn't always guarantee quality. SHOP AROUND!! Then base your decision on education, experience, if the trainer can work with YOUR schedule, and comfortability with trainer.

DURING TRAINING

1)Does the trainer keep any documentations?-This means food logs, measurements, and finally, documentation on each and every workout. If your trainer DOES NOT keep record of the workouts, how are they tracking your progress? How do they know what they did with you two weeks ago? One month ago? Documentation of the each workout is BASIC for any personal trainer. If yours isn't doing it, DEMAND why?!

2)How are you being trained?-Was the trainer attentive during your initial meeting to YOUR goals? And now are they training you SPECIFIC to YOU and YOUR goals? Or are you a 45yr old mother of three children being put on a flat bench press by your trainer? Bench pressing, which is an olympic powerlifting sport, does not relate to anything that mom or ny female would be doing in every day life, so why would she train that way? But---You see it everyday in health clubs. Trainers who don't have experience, and usually proper education, train everyone the same, no matter age, gender, whatever.

3)Ask questions?-Don't just blindly follow what the trainer tells you to do. ASK QUESTIONS!! For example: Why are we doing this exercise? What is this working on? How is this helping me get to MY goal? You'll find that many trainers can't answer these simple questions, because their education is coming from the latest issue of FLEX Magazine.

4)Time Management?-Most training sessions are 60 minutes. Is the trainer monitoring how long each set is taking? Are they monitoring the rest time? Do they even have a watch on?! Are they talking to you or making jokes for most of the session? Some trainers deliberately get you talking about random things so the session goes by quicker. You only got a couple exercies in, and they just got paid to talk. PAY ATTENTION to the time!!

5)Professionalism?-Is your personal trainer punctual? Do you they notify you with enough time if they cannot make an appointment with you? Do they call to confirm your appointment? Do they dress appropriately? Are they chewing gum, drinking or eating during your session (EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL)? While you are exercising, are they leaning against a machine or sitting down? If so to that last one, how are they monitoring your form from all sides?