Choosing a Personal Trainer – Know Thyself
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Shari Rivera Sharp is a personal trainer, a Nordic walking instructor, and instructs group fitness classes. She is the guest author for this article. This is part one. Part two will appear on a future Wednesday. You can leave your comments for Shari in the comments section at the end of this article. Here is Shari.
So you are thinking about finally kicking your fitness program into high gear, and want to hire a personal trainer. Just how do you decide which trainer is the best one for you? Today I am going to discuss the first step in the decision-making process: know thyself!
Before picking up the phone, every potential client must consider their needs. Just what do you want to achieve? Maybe you want to lose some weight and tone up. Be specific! The more specific your goals are, the more you will get out of training. For example, you really want to lose 20 pounds by spring, so that you can go to your class reunion or wear that bathing suit you’ve been wanting to buy for the summer. Perhaps you want to begin training for a specific sporting event, or just maintain your weight through the holiday season?
Do you have any physical limitations that must be addressed? Perhaps you have a bad back, shoulder or knee. Or you are recovering from a recent injury or surgery.
Make a list of all of the things that any trainer needs to know about you. This also includes medical issues, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Do you have any chronic illnesses? Do you have diabetes? Are you recovering from a stroke or heart attack? Has your physician given specific instructions, if necessary, about what you can and cannot do for exercise?
Also consider whether or not you are in need of nutritional advice. Are you taking any special medications that may interfer with fitness training?
Finally, when would you like to schedule your workouts? Do you prefer mornings, midday, or evenings? How many days per week would you like to meet with a trainer?
Once you have made a list of all of your needs, you will be ready to look for the best “fit” in a personal trainer. There are all kinds of trainers out there- how do you find the one that can help you? Next week I will talk about how to find a qualified trainer who can meet your goals and address any physical limitations you may have.
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This is a good checklist to have handy before making that appointment.
Great post. I like the idea of the client taking responsibility for what they want out of the relationship. I’ve used trainers and I view them as consultants. I pay for their advice and experience but ultimately I need to take responsibility for my own fitness.