If you’re looking to hire a fitness trainer, you likely have big goals that you are looking to accomplish. You may have tried eating healthier or exercising regularly with no actual results. And you’ve finally decided it’s time to hire a professional to help you become fitter, stronger, leaner, and happier.
Working with a personal trainer is a great way to ensure you successfully make fitness your habit. Here are some questions you should ask to ensure the professional you are considering is worth your hard-earned cash.
1. What certifications do you hold?
You will want to know what certifications your potential fitness trainer holds, not the person conducting your consultation. There are countless certifications in the fitness industry, and a basic personal training certification through a significant accredited institution (ACSM, NASM, ISSA, NSCA, and ACE) is a must. This will ensure your coach has a baseline education. Other certifications that focus on nutrition, behavior change, or working with special populations can also be beneficial.
2. What continued education are you participating in?
To keep personal training certifications current, trainers must engage in continued education. This is because fitness science is always evolving, and you want to be sure that your trainer is up-to-date on what studies say and the most effective techniques to accomplish your goals.
Continued education can take many forms, like conferences, specialty certifications, scientific journals, books, or discussions with other fitness pros. Be sure to hire a person that is constantly updating their skill set.
3. How many hours of personal training experience do you have?
Personal training should be more than just a part-time job or side gig. You want to find a fitness trainer who spends significant time helping and training others. In fact, most gyms require a personal training certificate to begin working. This ensures that you are paired with someone that studied fitness and passed the exam. But it does not mean that the fitness trainer you work with has experience helping people succeed.
If you are brand new to fitness, have a previous injury, or have significant weight loss goals, your trainer’s experience will be a vital factor in your success. Asking about your potential coach’s experience ensures you are not paired with a beginner when you need a pro.
4. Have you helped others reach similar goals?
This is one of the most important questions that you can ask. Just like medical professionals, personal trainers have specialties. You wouldn’t want a brain surgeon helping you work on your knees. If your potential trainer is a powerlifter or bodybuilder, they may not be the best person to help you with your weight loss goals.
Asking for references from other clients ensures you will be working with someone who can help you navigate the world of fitness and develop the best solutions for your goals.
5. How will you track my progress?
If you have weight loss goals, you want to be sure that your progress along the way is being tracked. Checking your weight on a scale can help, but it doesn’t provide the whole picture. A great personal trainer will track your body measurements with a tape measure and regular progress photos. Combining tape measurements, images, and body composition goals will ensure you get the most accurate data regarding your progress.
Schedule a free consultation with a fitness coach!
If you’re ready to turn your life around and revamp your wellness and health, we have the best hyper-personalized weight loss programs in the Bay Area for you at Fog City Fitness. With over ten years of personal training experience, we can help you achieve goals you never thought possible and turn you into your best self. Schedule a free consultation now!
