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How to make sure you choose a good pt
This time of year is the busiest period for us pt’s. lots of you seek help for getting in shape. In any industry you have good workers and bad,personal trainers are no different but how do you know what to look for in a trainer to ensure your choosing the right one here are some things to look for.
The consultation
Any pt worth his salt will book you in for a consultation before taking you on as a client,I do this to assess your current fitness,your fitness goals,mobility issues and to give you info of what to expect from me and what I expect from you. In your consultation the trainer should be taking notes as they speak to you,have a record of results be it before and after pics,testimonials or ideally both. The key word in personal training is personal during the consultation do you actually like the person you are talking to do your personalities match for a good working relationship. If not this doesn’t mean the pt is bad just means his/her techniques won’t match to create that working partnership. From my side of the fence too its so much better when we can get a long and chat during the rest periods. I’m quite fortunate in that I get on with all my current clients and can share a joke or two and look forward to training them.
Before your first session
Ok so you have signed up he/she knows your goals and your ready to go. Have you had a test relevant to your goals off your new trainer to see your starting point,eg if your goal is fat loss you should have had your body fat done or even just a before picture.
In session
Has your trainer got an Ipad,laptop or clipboard with them. If not they are making up sessions on the fly and your not getting your money’s worth. You should expect planned sessions with a proper progressive structure.
Are you getting feedback on your technique,especially as a newbie to the gym you should be getting plenty of pointers during an exercise. If your pt is vacantly staring into space or just rep counting (your gym buddy can do that for free) drop the bar slap them in the face and demand your money back.
You should be getting assessed to check progress dependant on goals and/or personal preference it can be weekly,bi weekly or monthly.
Out of hours
We can’t be there for you 24/7 we have other clients and our own lives, but you should expect some help when you need it, if your sending the odd question by text and never getting a reply that’s not acceptable in my book.
Your trainer should educate you on healthy eating habits as it’s just as important as training to reach your goals.
And last but not least are you getting results,if not
then have you followed your fitness and nutrition plan, if no the fault is your own I’m afraid if your struggling don’t be afraid to speak to your trainer,so you can discuss why maybe they can tailor your plan as they learn more about you. If you have stuck to your plan and got no results time to find a new trainer.
I hope this article helps you guys spot the good from the bad.As always if you found this useful or have a question regarding this,leave a comment I always welcome feedback.