So you’ve just hired a Personal Trainer or you’re thinking about hiring one. You’ve made that first step towards improving your health & fitness and becoming the person you want to become.
(Hey, if you’re in Kent, contact me if you want my help!)
Hiring a Personal Trainer is an investment. An investment in yourself. You want to make sure the person you’re hiring is going to be good for you.
Remember, a trainer isn’t just someone who helps you work out. They are much more than that.
You might, however, be unsure what to expect from a Personal Trainer especially if you’ve never really exercised before or had no experience.
In this post, I’m going to break down what I feel makes a good Personal Trainer and what you should expect from yours.
A Full Assessment
Before you even start a programme, your Personal Trainer should begin with a full assessment to see what your fitness levels are.
This could include body fat measures, a flexibility test, a posture assessment, a dietary review, and other health-related assessments.
Once you have a baseline, your trainer can then determine what areas need improving and how much intensity there needs to be.
A Nutrition Plan
Not all Personal Trainers are nutrition experts, but most should have a basic understanding of what works.
Nutrition is one of those topics that divides a lot of people and there is a lot of confusion over what is right and wrong.
Make sure your Personal Trainer is honest with you about their level of experience and seek more expert advice if you need to.
Your nutrition plan shouldn’t be optional but instead treated as equally important, if not more so, as your exercise plan.
A Strength Training and Cardio Plan
You should be given a training plan that matches your goals and fitness levels.
It should make use of progressive overload and be adaptable.
It should also cover workouts when you’re not with your Personal Trainer so you know what you’re doing on any given day.
Photographs
You’ll be surprised by how many Personal Trainers miss the opportunity to take photos of their clients at the beginning of their fitness journey.
Any decent Personal Trainer will ensure they take photos of you so you can look back at your progress.
Trust me, if you don’t have evidence of progress, you might feel as though nothing is working.
Change is gradual and a mirror can make you second guess. Having photos will allow you to compare the start of your journey to where you are now.
Weekly Check-ins
Without weekly check-ins, you won’t know for sure if you’re making progress.
Whether you’re on a running programme or fat loss plan, you need feedback.
Yes, we shouldn’t get too caught up on numbers, but they are helpful when used appropriately.
Weekly check-ins can be in the form of body fat measurements or strength improvements.
Any good Personal Trainer will know what they should be tracking as soon as they start working with you.
Communication
Communicaiton, communication, communication!
It’s so important.
Being a good communicator is an essential skill for any Personal Trainer.
If the only time you speak with your trainer is during sessions, you’re not getting the value from them that you should.
Communication is different from weekly check-ins and is more about providing a support system for you.
A Personal Trainer should be there to answer any questions you have when you’re not in sessions and find out how you’re feeling in your daily life.
Education
When hiring a trainer, you want to be sure they know what they are talking about.
Your Personal Trainer should be a source of information that you can lean on and use to better your health habits going forward.
A good Personal Trainer will pass on knowledge and insight so you’re able to make better choices when they are not around to guide you.
What Can You Expect From Me as a Persona Trainer?
All of the above!
If the qualities I’ve mentioned resonate with you and you’re interested in working with me, don’t hesitate to contact me for a chat.
I’ve been doing this a long time so I know what works for my clients. I have a passion for fitness and a passion to help others achieve their goals.
If you decide to join me, I’ll make your experience as easy as possible so you can focus on achieving your health and fitness goals.
You can find out more about me and my services on my about page.
