Are you looking for a personal trainer? First of all, YAY! Congratulations on taking the first step towards helping yourself by making your health and fitness a team effort. We are quick to call plumbers if pipes are broken, an electrician if the lights go out, but why not a trainer when we are giving up on our fitness? So yes, congrats on taking that first step because often, that’s the hardest part. 

Second, just like any other professional you might hire, ensuring that you educate yourself on what makes a GREAT trainer before hiring someone is super important. Just because they have 12k followers on instagram and have a killer body, doesn’t mean they’re going to be a great trainer.

Some important questions to ask when talking to a new trainer are: 

• Have you worked with anyone that has similar goals that I have?

• How would you describe your coaching style? 

• What are you going to do to ensure I am successful and held accountable?

While these questions might seem like general questions here’s what they really mean: 

• Have you worked with anyone that has similar goals that I have? Real talk: what is your experience and am I going to be the first person you’ve trained who wants to accomplish X? You want someone who has experience with clients like you that has success stories and case studies to tell you about. This is almost like a resume in itself!  

• How would you describe your coaching style? Real talk: are you going to fit the coaching style that I’m looking for? Are you tough and stern? Or are you more understanding and nurturing? Neither of those are right or wrong answers, but you will know what works best for you. Think back to all the teachers in your life you’ve had, what style worked best for you to learn? 

• What are you going to do to ensure I am successful and held accountable? Real talk: how are you going to help me stay accountable OUTSIDE of the workouts? Normally working out is 1 hour per day. The other 23 hours make a huge difference, and you want a trainer who has a plan to help you get to your goal including the hours outside of the gym. Most people go to trainers for accountability, so listen to what their plan is to hold you accountable.  

A great trainer will knock each of these questions out of the park, make you feel comfortable and confident with their answers, and show that they have a clear plan to help you get to your goal. If you are questioning their ability to help you and your specific goals, trust your gut.

Remember that just because there can be a personal element to personal training (it’s even in the name), just because a trainer might not have been the right fit for you, it’s not an attack on their character. If an electrician comes out to your house to give you a quote, but you got a better vibe from the electrician that came out the day before to give you a quote, you wouldn’t think twice about which option to go with. Training is no different. This is a professional service and you have a right to be particular about who you hire to help you. 

Find the right team to have in your corner and you can conquer anything together!