Mens Health Personal Trainer 

Finding a Personal Fitness Trainer

For many people, having a personal trainer helps provide motivation. A practical advantages is that it can reduce injuries. They're popular and they get results, but making a good match takes effort. While the relationship between a personal fitness trainer and a client is not a friendship, you will be spending a few hours a week with a person, so make sure it's someone you like and feel comfortable asking questions.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association conducted a survey of prices and found that an average of $50 per hour with a range of $15 to $100 per hour was spent on personal trainers. The prices varied depending on region, and were found to be higher in urban areas. A personal fitness trainer affiliated with a commercial health club is probably the cheapest way to go. The number of sessions you will need can vary, but the recommended number is at least twice a week. While many sessions typically run for one hour, you can have half-hour sessions, to save both time and money. While money may be a factor, it should not be the determinant when choosing your trainer.

While many trainers may have a diploma or certificate indicating certification, it is important to note the organization which cited certification. There are about 400 organizations in the U.S. that purport to certify personal fitness trainers, but only a handful are considered legitimate by many professionals. Among the most respected are the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). The better organizations have specific requirements based on tested and practical knowledge, mandatory retesting at renewal periods, and continuing education. The ACSM has recently begun to require that its certified trainers have a formal educational degree in exercise science or a related field. The requirements for other organizations may not be so strict. Some award certification after an online course or as little as a weekend retreat. Also make sure your personal fitness trainer's certification is current. In addition to certification, speak with the trainer about their education. The more formal education in the field, the better. Also, the trainer should have some training in CPR.

Other Points

• It is also crucial that the personal trainer has liability insurance. While many trainers are actual employees of gyms and get coverage through their employers, others are independent contractors who are responsible for getting their own insurance. You should not work with a personal fitness trainer who does not have liability insurance.
• The personal trainer you are considering should also be fit themselves, it should not mean that a male trainer has to be big and muscular or a female has to wear a size zero. Good trainers come in all shapes and sizes. On the flip side, many people are turned off by the appearance of fitness trainers who dress in muscle shirts and spandex. They feel that trainers are simply providing instruction and should, therefore dress professionally.
• A great personal fitness trainer should offer more than just recommendations about how many reps to do on a weight machine or how to press buttons on the treadmill -- he or she will give you a general picture of how to live a healthy life.
• Maintain bounderies. While it may be tempting to treat sessions with your trainer as one-stop shopping for all of your exercise, nutritional, psychological, and medical needs, resist the temptation to overly relying on them. An experienced trainer will focus on the scope of their practice, establish the correct boundaries of the relationship, and, if the need arises, provide appropriate referrals for the client to a registered dietitian, physician, or physical therapist. By the same token, be careful if you feel that the trainer is offering suggestions on topics that he or she isn't trained in. For instance, if they are providing specific diet prescriptions or a lot of advice on ways of treating medical conditions, that's a problem.
• Clients with medical conditions should always check with their doctor before starting a program, and the personal fitness trainer may collaborate with them to develop a workout routine.
• Have a good sense of what you want to achieve, before meeting with the personal trainer. Do you want to lose 10 pounds or 50? What kind of exercise do you want to do? How many sessions per week can you reasonably fit in or afford? Also discuss the business policies of the trainer. In writing, get their specific charges, cancellation policies, and liability insurance. While you can request references, be aware that some trainers may be reluctant to give them in order to protect their clients' privacy.

Mens Health Personal Trainer Source: Finding a Personal Fitness Trainer, R. Morgan Griffin, WebMD Feature