With summer around the corner, you may be rethinking your fitness goals. After all, isn’t it more fun and effective to train when you’re not freezing? If you’re not sure about the type of workout program that will help you achieve maximum results, it may be time to invest in a personal trainer.
One of the more effective ways to start, stick to, and achieve your fitness goals is to rely on the personal training Frankston locals use to stay in shape. That said, finding the right personal trainer can be challenging if you’re not sure what to look for.
Finding the Right Personal Trainer is Easier than You Think
Deciding to invest in a personal trainer is the best first step you can take on the journey to achieve your fitness goals and improve your overall health. However, once you’ve made this decision, what’s the next step in the process to ensure that you don’t spend more time looking for a trainer than actually training? We’ve got a few top suggestions to help you with this process.
1. Speak to your Healthcare Professional
Before you even start looking for a personal trainer, discuss your fitness goals with your healthcare professional. This is especially important if you are overweight, have underlying health issues, or have never exercised before. Getting an overall health assessment from your doctor will help you create the best fitness goals for your current health.
2. Narrow Down Your Requirements
The next step in the process is to create a list of the top things you want a personal trainer to assist you with. This will be based in part on your medical assessment and also on your ideal goals.
To help you with this, answer these simple questions:
- What do I want to achieve? (build muscle, lose weight, increase fitness)
- Do I have any medical conditions or injuries that could hamper exercise?
- How much time do I want to work out each week?
- What is the budget available for personal services?
- Do I prefer a male or female trainer?
- What personality type will be more effective in getting me moving? (A motivator versus a drill sergeant)
3. Always Check Experience and Credentials
Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start interviewing potential trainers. The goal here is to find someone who ticks all the boxes of your requirements. The best personal trainer should have the right skills and knowledge to address your specific fitness goals.
To assess this, be sure to ask about relevant experience in dealing with your requirements. Quality trainers are also recognised in their field, making it easy for you to verify credentials. Degrees or working experience in sports medicine is always a huge plus if you want a very intensive workout or have had a serious injury before. Be sure to discuss your doctor’s assessment, and your requirement list with your potential trainer to assess whether they will be a good fit.
4. Review How You Feel After the Consultation
Once you have spoken face-to-face with a potential trainer, always review how the interview made you feel. Do you feel inspired and motivated? Does what the person is offering sound like something you can see yourself doing? Do you feel that they will be able to motivate you on your lazy, down days? Interview as many candidates as possible till you find the right fit. Always trust your gut.
5. Monitor the Relationship as It Develops
Just because you have made what you believe to be the perfect choice, doesn’t always mean it will pan out that way. Monitor your relationship with your trainer and assess how effective they are at getting you the results you want to achieve.
A personal trainer that benefits your relationship should be doing many of the following aspects:
- Providing constant feedback
- Modelling the type of routine you’re doing to ensure you have an accurate example to mimic
- Helping you address issues that you’re having with your workout
- Checking in to see that you’re sticking to the right type of eating plan, even on non-workout days
- Switching up your routine to avoid muscle strain and boredom
- Increasing the intensity of your workout at scheduled intervals
- Adjusting the routine when it doesn’t seem to be having the desired effect
- Constantly providing support and motivation
- Measuring how you’re progressing toward your fitness goal
If you find that you’re not feeling invested in the process after a few sessions, it may be a good idea to try another trainer. It’s not uncommon for a trial and error process and you should keep looking until you find the best person for the job.
Final Thoughts
Getting a personal trainer is an excellent way to help you achieve your fitness goals. Use our tips to help you find a trainer who understands what you need and also motivates and encourages you on tough days. Teaming up with the right person will ensure that you feel motivated enough to stick to and achieve your goals!
