A good Personal Trainer is part exercise scientist, part motivational coach, and full-time working in your best interest. Exercise is physical stress applied to the body. The right amount of it done in the right way can produce extraordinary results. However, it’s also true that the wrong kind of exercise, or trying an exercise that’s too difficult too soon, could result in an injury or burnout.
That’s where a Personal Trainer comes in – to find the right balance specifically for you. Read on to learn more about what makes a good Personal Trainer and how to find one.
WHAT DOES A GOOD PERSONAL TRAINER DO?
You deserve the best results out of your workouts, and a Personal Trainer can help you attain them. Personal Trainers provide support and accountability in several areas of your health and fitness, from your workout to nutrition. They help develop Personal Training programs with targeted exercises while also providing encouragement and feedback to help you reach your goals.
However, the best Personal Trainers do a few key things to help maximize your success. If you are currently working with or searching for a Personal Trainer, read below for 5 traits to look out for.
1. FOLLOWS THE 80/20 RULE.
When you first meet with a Personal Trainer, you should do approximately 80% of the talking, and the trainer should do 20%. This 20% should be spent asking you questions about your fitness and health history and the specific goals that you want to accomplish.
2. ENSURES EACH EXERCISE HAS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
A good Personal Trainer will be able to tell you why you’re doing a certain exercise and explain how it will help you with your goals. If they are having you do different exercises with no rhyme or reason or can’t explain what they’re building towards and how that relates to your goal, then they’re not the right one for you.
3. HAS A CURRENT CERTIFICATION OR A DEGREE IN THE FIELD.
Did you know that a trainer doesn’t have to be certified to call themselves a Personal Trainer? Your Personal Trainer should be able to tell you about their certifications and how their experience can help meet your needs. At minimum, a trainer should have a current accredited certification and be up to date on their credentials and education.
4. PROVIDES NUTRITION SUPPORT.
When a Member purchases Personal Training at EōS Fitness, they also receive 30 days of Betr Health. Betr Health will help you with your nutrition so that you can receive the best results out of your workouts.
Taking vitamins and supplements can also provide important nutrients that may be missing from your diet, and are an essential component for reaching your goals.
The science of nutrient timing tells us that to enhance muscle growth, it is important to have protein and carbohydrates within the first 45 minutes after a workout. Recovery nutrition is important to understand also, and a good Personal Trainer knows that having protein or amino acids available right after training could help promote post-workout recovery.
5. TAKES AN INTEREST IN YOUR NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE HABITS DURING EVERY WORKOUT.
Let’s face it–on some days, we can make very healthy choices, but on others, not so much. Your Personal Trainer should ask you about your lifestyle habits and work with you to develop healthy ones that can last a lifetime. They should ask how you’re feeling before every workout to see if you have the necessary level of energy and focus for that day’s session and will then adjust the intensity of the session accordingly.
Good, top trainers want to help change your life for the better. It may take time to find one that’s the right fit for you, but with the above considered, you’ll know what makes a good trainer and what to look for.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PERSONAL TRAINER
When you commit to working with a Personal Trainer, you’ll likely have a vision of what you want out of your time at the gym. A few key expectations can help you figure out how to find a good Personal Trainer and realize that vision:
Motivation – Your Personal Trainer should be able to motivate you and help you through your workout lulls and plateaus. The best Personal Trainers know when you are reaching your limits and when to push you a little harder.
Communication – It’s crucial that a Personal Trainer communicates with you and involves you in your fitness program. Whether your Personal Trainer needs to adjust your program or thinks that something may be hindering your progress, this should be communicated to you early and as needed.
Support – You workout to feel good about yourself, and your Personal Trainer should be part of that process. The best Personal Trainers understand how to motivate you without making you feel bad.
Patience – A good Personal Trainer should understand your needs and tailor your program to them. Everyone’s body is different, so the best Personal Trainers take time to learn their clients’ goals and adjust accordingly.
Knowledge – A Personal Trainer should be both knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge. You should feel like you can ask your Personal Trainer a question and receive a helpful answer you can put to use.
If your Personal Trainer isn’t matching up to these expectations, then it might be time to consider working with someone else. Fortunately, it isn’t hard to find a Personal Trainer that meets your needs when you know where to look.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK A PERSONAL TRAINER
Your Personal Trainer is like your gym buddy, so it’s important that you understand each other and know what you can expect from working together. Having set expectations from the beginning will ensure a strong and lasting partnership that gets you on track to your fitness goals.
Before you begin working with a Personal Trainer, you should ask the following questions:
- Which area(s) do you specialize?
- What are your certifications or educational background?
- What is your communication or motivational style?
- How will you track fitness goals and progress?
- What is the recommended timeline for your training program?
- Do you provide support for meal planning or nutrition?
Asking these questions upfront will do two important things. First, it helps you determine whether a Personal Trainer’s style is a good fit for you. Second, it gives you a picture of what you can expect out of your Personal Training program and whether it aligns with your goals. Communication is one of the most important parts of working with a Personal Trainer, so these questions will help start that relationship off strong.
HOW TO FIND A GOOD PERSONAL TRAINER
A good Personal Trainer understands your fitness goals and provides expertise in multiple areas. The best way to get assistance in discovering how to find a good Personal Trainer is to start at a trusted gym. When you work out at EōS Fitness, you can find a Personal Trainer that is committed to helping you reach your fitness goals and has your best interests in mind.
Explore Personal Training as a way to take your fitness results to the next level. Find an EōS Fitness location near you today to see what makes a good trainer, and sign up to get a Complimentary Welcome Workout from an experienced and certified Personal Trainer.
