Congratulations, you have decided to start your fitness journey, which in itself is commendable. However, one crucial determinant to ensure you are successful on this journey to fitness is the decisions you make earlier on. For example, deciding on whether to start with a personal trainer or not can have a significant effect on the results you get. The personal trainer you choose at the start of your fitness journey could make or break your goals.

Just because a trainer comes recommended, or you see that they have amassed a massive following on social media is not enough reason to use their services on your fitness journey. There are five key steps you need to take when choosing your personal trainer, but first, why choose a personal trainer?

A personal trainer is essential to your goal of fitness (especially for fitness newbies) because not only will you have someone to motivate you, but they will also guide you along your way to fitness. Trainers teach you how to perform the right exercises, eat the right food, lift the proper weights, and test the limits of your strength that you might not know you have while helping you to go past your limitations. 

Also, not all exercises are for everyone, and while one diet may work for one person, the same diet plan may not work for another. A personal trainer will test what works and what doesn’t work in your fitness training, and push you towards the programs and meal plans that produce the best results in your journey.

Another reason a personal trainer is recommended is that they hold you accountable, checking in regularly to make sure you are putting in the necessary work to reach your fitness goals. 

With that said, here are the five steps to pick the personal trainer that is right for you. 

Step 1: Outline Your Fitness Goals

Selecting a personal trainer should be a decision influenced by your fitness goal(s). You

need to ask yourself questions like, what is your aim, are you trying to acquire muscles, maintain or lose weight, do you want an intensive program, niche fitness program (like yoga), or do you want a weight infused program.

All these questions, when asked, will help you in outlining the expected result you want from the training. This, in turn, will help you in choosing the best personal trainer to meet your fitness goals and needs. It is imperative to work with trainers who are experts in the intended fitness goal you aspire to.

Step 2: Temperament / Personality

A personal trainer is like a friend, and you start by telling them about your health and fitness struggles. Therefore, the personality or temperament of the trainer you decide to go with has to match your temperament; if not, you will end up getting regularly irritated, which can affect your desired outcome.

While a good trainer will know the reasoning and science behind certain exercises, if he can’t connect with his clients on a more personal level, then he can’t be a good fit. Also, don’t judge the personality of the trainer at the first meeting, but ask around to see what people are saying about the trainer.

Step 3: Certifications

Is your prospective trainer certified? Does he hold some form of accredited degree in fitness, health, and/or nutrition? These are essential things to look for when choosing your personal trainer.

The fact that you are practically putting your fitness goals into the hands of this trainer means you are entitled to know about their educational and experience history. This will help you in making the right decision. 

Different groups and associations have different personal training licenses or certifications they offer. Even universities have courses that could qualify someone to become a personal trainer, which includes courses like Physical fitness and nutrition, Kinesiology, and so on. It is important that you carry out proper research and narrow your list before moving to step four.

Step 4: Price

This is a significant step to take when choosing your personal trainer because, in the end, nothing can be achieved without adequate funds. Set out a budget for your fitness journey, including how much you can afford to pay a trainer per month. Now, go to your narrowed list and make a final decision based on the budget you have set. Keep in mind that various trainers have packages that could work with your budget; they may offer fewer days and longer hours or pledge that you will see results after a specific time. The important thing is to pick a personal trainer within your budget and work with them. 

Note that you can always take online training created by already established trainers. These tend to be a lot cheaper than face to face, and they tend to be as effective as face to face with the biggest con being the lack of accountability that comes with this form of impersonal training. 

Step 5: Request a Free Trial And Read Reviews

Just like some sites like Yelp or Online Writers Rating, where you can read reviews about products/services, read reviews about a trainer before you make any commitment. Also, Request a free trial session with your top three choices for personal training and test their services. See if their training style works for you, and how adaptive they are to your needs and wants. Is their temperament what you envisioned, and so on. Only by doing this will you know if they are the right fit for you.

Conclusion

There you have it, the five steps to follow when choosing a personal trainer. While all these steps are essential for individuals, following these steps collectively as a group is even more critical. And while you are at it, don’t forget to ask around to see what other people are saying about the personal trainers you have in mind.