Here are some basic questions that you can ask your personal trainer before you sign up for their services. Remember, choosing the right personal trainer can make a tremendous difference in your success or failure.
1.) Why are you doing this? It makes a big difference if they are doing it because they love it or just because they wanted to hang out in the gym all of the time. Watch their body language. If it is just a paycheck for them, don't expect too much from them.
2.) How long have they been working out themselves? You want someone with some experience and longevity in working out. They may not have been a trainer for long, but you want someone that is time tested and knows the hard work and dedication involved for lasting results.
3.) What is your routine? This will give you an idea of what they are going to have you doing? If they love cardio, you can bet you will be doing a lot of cardio.
4.) What is their background? Did they lose a bunch of weight or were they skin and bones? They will better be able to tell you how to get there if they have done it for themselves.
5.) What is their follow up policy? Do they check your progress or call when you don't show up? If not, they really don't care about your success.
6.) How packed is their schedule? You obviously don't want someone that doesn't have any clients. If so, it may mean they are not very successful and their clients leave them very quickly. Also you don't want someone that is constantly booked, because you run the risk of being a number, rushed, and get less quality of time.
7.) What is their diet? This will give you an idea of how they will expect you to eat. They might not just come out and say that you have to eat the same way that they do, but it will give you an idea of what they will tell you to eat.
These are only a few questions that you can ask. Whatever you do, make sure you feel comfortable with your trainer. If you don't then you will not give your best and the only one to get the short end of the stick is you.
Showing posts with label personal trainer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal trainer. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
How Do I Know When I Can Stop Paying For A Trainer
Ok, so you have been with a great trainer for some time and have seen some sort of results. Now it is time that you are wondering if you should get rid of your trainer all together or change trainers. There are some very basic ground rules that you need to ask yourself.
1. Am I disciplined enough?
Let me define discipline-forced obedience. That means you will force yourself to go even when you don't necessarily feel like it. If you going to the gym when you feel like it, is still negotiable then you may still need a trainer to hold you accountable for showing up.
2. Do I have a basic understanding of what I should be eating?
What we should be eating is really pretty basic, it really doesn't change. For example, fiber is always going to be good for us and refined sugar is always going to be bad for us. There may always be some debate on how much, how good or bad, or what foods are best, but common sense is common sense. If you don't have a clue, consider either visiting with a nutritionist or keep your trainer to guide you.
3. Do I know how to use the equipment, weights, etc correctly?
Although new equipment may come out on a regular basis, it is all pretty self explanatory. No matter which gym you go to in the country, it is going to have roughly the same stuff with very little variation. You have to determine whether or not you still need that physical demonstration of how to do something. If once your trainer shows you how to do something, if you can say "I already knew how to do that" then you may not need a trainer anymore. However, if you look at something and have absolutely no clue then keep your trainer.
4. Do I know the proper form for the various exercises?
This goes with #3, good form is good form. You have to ask, do you already know if you are doing something correctly? If you still have to ask, then keep your trainer. If you can already tell if you are doing wrong and make the correction(s), then you may not.
5. Do you know various exercises and routines?
Nothing is worse that doing the exact same routine over and over again. When it is time to change your routine, do you have to rely on your trainer to show you or do you know enough exercises to change it yourself. If you have no idea on how to make up a routine, definitely keep your trainer.
6. Are you noticing improvements?
This is obvious, if you are noticing improvements determine whether or not you can get them without your trainer and can accomplish the same thing yourself or if you still need them for that extra push. If you are not noticing any type of improvement, it may be time to either go on your own or get a new trainer that can better meet your needs.
7. Is your trainer helping me make unrealistic or realistic goals?
The job of a trainer is to help you determine the goals that you have for yourself. They should give you direction on how to reach your goal(s), but they should not be making them for you. Ask yourself, "Does my trainer keep me focused on realistic goals and let me know when my goals are too unrealistic?" If they don't give you any feedback or give direction on how to reach your goals, it may be time for a new trainer. However, if they keep you properly focused on the right goals you may want to keep them.
These are just a few questions to ask yourself when you are deciding whether or not you want to keep your trainer or not. Consider each question carefully. You are the only one that can make the decision, do not let your trainer make it for you. Remember although they may geniuinely care about you, they are still getting a check.
1. Am I disciplined enough?
Let me define discipline-forced obedience. That means you will force yourself to go even when you don't necessarily feel like it. If you going to the gym when you feel like it, is still negotiable then you may still need a trainer to hold you accountable for showing up.
2. Do I have a basic understanding of what I should be eating?
What we should be eating is really pretty basic, it really doesn't change. For example, fiber is always going to be good for us and refined sugar is always going to be bad for us. There may always be some debate on how much, how good or bad, or what foods are best, but common sense is common sense. If you don't have a clue, consider either visiting with a nutritionist or keep your trainer to guide you.
3. Do I know how to use the equipment, weights, etc correctly?
Although new equipment may come out on a regular basis, it is all pretty self explanatory. No matter which gym you go to in the country, it is going to have roughly the same stuff with very little variation. You have to determine whether or not you still need that physical demonstration of how to do something. If once your trainer shows you how to do something, if you can say "I already knew how to do that" then you may not need a trainer anymore. However, if you look at something and have absolutely no clue then keep your trainer.
4. Do I know the proper form for the various exercises?
This goes with #3, good form is good form. You have to ask, do you already know if you are doing something correctly? If you still have to ask, then keep your trainer. If you can already tell if you are doing wrong and make the correction(s), then you may not.
5. Do you know various exercises and routines?
Nothing is worse that doing the exact same routine over and over again. When it is time to change your routine, do you have to rely on your trainer to show you or do you know enough exercises to change it yourself. If you have no idea on how to make up a routine, definitely keep your trainer.
6. Are you noticing improvements?
This is obvious, if you are noticing improvements determine whether or not you can get them without your trainer and can accomplish the same thing yourself or if you still need them for that extra push. If you are not noticing any type of improvement, it may be time to either go on your own or get a new trainer that can better meet your needs.
7. Is your trainer helping me make unrealistic or realistic goals?
The job of a trainer is to help you determine the goals that you have for yourself. They should give you direction on how to reach your goal(s), but they should not be making them for you. Ask yourself, "Does my trainer keep me focused on realistic goals and let me know when my goals are too unrealistic?" If they don't give you any feedback or give direction on how to reach your goals, it may be time for a new trainer. However, if they keep you properly focused on the right goals you may want to keep them.
These are just a few questions to ask yourself when you are deciding whether or not you want to keep your trainer or not. Consider each question carefully. You are the only one that can make the decision, do not let your trainer make it for you. Remember although they may geniuinely care about you, they are still getting a check.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How Do I Find a Personal Trainer
Now that you have made it to the gym, it is time to find a personal trainer. Finding a good match for you can either make or break your chances of success at the gym. There are several things that you want to take into consideration.
1.) Are they qualified? By this, I mean more than what certifications, degrees, licenses etc they have. Are these things important? Yes and No. I say Yes, because you don't want anyone that doesn't know the truth about what they are telling you. These things make sure they know the do's and don'ts of exercise and nutrition. However, I say No, because some of the best personal trainers that I know don't have any of the above.
What is important, is that they know what they are talking about and have been through it themselves. The worst thing that you can do, is get a personal trainer that has never trained themselves. To read, test, and study about it doesn't mean diddly squat if they have never done it themselves.
2.) Do they meet your needs? If you are overweight and want nothing more than a trainer to help you lose weight, then the last type of trainer you want is someone that is strictly a body builder. However, the opposite is true if you are interested in becoming a body builder then someone that has already done it would be perfect.
Your trainer should be someone that has done what you are striving to accomplish. They should be where you are trying to get to. If you are trying to lose weight or build definition then you should get a trainer that has done one of those two things.
It is very possible that as your needs change so will your need for a personal trainer.
3.) Are you compatible? Do you need someone that is a Drill Sargent or do you need someone to just guide you along? Do you need to be called daily to get you to the gym or are you there waiting? This is something else that you will need to consider when choosing a personal trainer.
4.) Do you really need a trainer? If you have never stepped foot in a gym and don't have the slightest clue of what you are doing, then you need a trainer. There is no getting around it. They will be able to show you the proper technique so that you do not cause injury. If you are a former gym rat and already know how to use the equipment, then the decision is yours to make. You may only need someone to get you jump started and then you can go on your own.
Whatever you do, do not just take the first trainer offered to you at the gym. Every gym has several trainers that are either freelance or employed by the gym. Take time to speak to at least a few of them and don't be afraid to ask questions and make a intelligent decision. It is a decision that you need to be happy with in the long run. The wrong decision can put a bad taste in your mouth about going to the gym or keep you going even when you don't necessarily want to. Make it the right one.
1.) Are they qualified? By this, I mean more than what certifications, degrees, licenses etc they have. Are these things important? Yes and No. I say Yes, because you don't want anyone that doesn't know the truth about what they are telling you. These things make sure they know the do's and don'ts of exercise and nutrition. However, I say No, because some of the best personal trainers that I know don't have any of the above.
What is important, is that they know what they are talking about and have been through it themselves. The worst thing that you can do, is get a personal trainer that has never trained themselves. To read, test, and study about it doesn't mean diddly squat if they have never done it themselves.
2.) Do they meet your needs? If you are overweight and want nothing more than a trainer to help you lose weight, then the last type of trainer you want is someone that is strictly a body builder. However, the opposite is true if you are interested in becoming a body builder then someone that has already done it would be perfect.
Your trainer should be someone that has done what you are striving to accomplish. They should be where you are trying to get to. If you are trying to lose weight or build definition then you should get a trainer that has done one of those two things.
It is very possible that as your needs change so will your need for a personal trainer.
3.) Are you compatible? Do you need someone that is a Drill Sargent or do you need someone to just guide you along? Do you need to be called daily to get you to the gym or are you there waiting? This is something else that you will need to consider when choosing a personal trainer.
4.) Do you really need a trainer? If you have never stepped foot in a gym and don't have the slightest clue of what you are doing, then you need a trainer. There is no getting around it. They will be able to show you the proper technique so that you do not cause injury. If you are a former gym rat and already know how to use the equipment, then the decision is yours to make. You may only need someone to get you jump started and then you can go on your own.
Whatever you do, do not just take the first trainer offered to you at the gym. Every gym has several trainers that are either freelance or employed by the gym. Take time to speak to at least a few of them and don't be afraid to ask questions and make a intelligent decision. It is a decision that you need to be happy with in the long run. The wrong decision can put a bad taste in your mouth about going to the gym or keep you going even when you don't necessarily want to. Make it the right one.
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