Things You'll Need:
- just your eyes and ears
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Step 1
Your personal trainer is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). ACSM is the most reputable health fitness certification out there, so rest assured if they are ACSM certified, they are trained to know what they are talking about. That's not to say that other certifications aren't valid - I know plenty of personal trainers who have other certifications and are great personal trainers. You can't go wrong with an ACSM certified personal trainer though.
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Step 2
The personal trainer talks to you about your fitness goals, exercise habits (or lack thereof), diet and answers your questions before they start training you.
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Step 3
The personal trainer measures your body fat and performs fitness tests before they start training you. This will help you measure your progress as you train with them over a period of time.
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Step 4
While they train you, the personal trainer does not look away, watch TV, check out other people, talk to other people, flirt with other people or admire their own muscles in the mirror. It's amazing how many personal trainers actually do this!
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Step 5
The personal trainer does not share or discuss your fitness information with anyone. Keeping your records private should be important to your personal trainer.
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Step 6
The personal trainer arrives on time and is available to you the entire training session. This means your personal trainer shouldn't take phone calls or other interruptions while they are training you.
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Step 7
The personal trainer greets you with a smile and congratulates you on your successes. They are also the first to get on your case when you've had a setback. You should feel like your personal trainer genuinely has an interest in your well being.
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Step 8
The personal trainer doesn't become your therapist. A good personal trainer is there to train your body and guide you through your workout. Having general conversation is great to build rapport with each other, but using your trainer as a sounding board for all your problems is not what you're there for. A good personal trainer will bring your focus back to your workout and make sure you leave feeling physically refreshed.
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Step 9
The personal trainer doesn't hurt you physically. The 'no pain, no gain' theory is false. If a workout is painful, it's probably not good for you. When you workout and train your muscles, a good personal trainer will guide you to an uncomfortable point and progress your weight and reps from there. You should never be pushed to the point of throwing up either.
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Step 10
The personal trainer keeps you accountable. Whether this means calling you on the phone to make sure you're eating right on your days off or simply designing a workout plan for you while your on vacation, your trainer should be consistently staying on top of your progress.
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Step 11
The personal trainer respects your personal space. For example, if you are doing crunches, they should not be at your feet looking up your shorts - they should be at your side monitoring your breathing and form.
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Step 12
The personal trainer doesn't make inappropriate comments or moves on you. If you feel like they are treating you inappropriately in any way, fire them and hire a new personal trainer immediately. Report incidents as necessary.
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Step 13
The personal trainer doesn't talk negatively about other personal trainers. A good personal trainer has a positive, can-do attitude and respects his/her colleagues at all times.
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Step 14
Be sure to check out the Resource links below for more health and fitness advice.
Comments
goodselfme said
on 4/23/2009 good tips on knowing a good personal trainer when you are exercising for your health.
sonni57 said
on 4/23/2009 Good article on knowing a good personal trainer this is very important thanks for the information.