6 Signs Your Personal Trainer is an Expert

Personal training is quickly becoming one of the most popular jobs in the United States for a good reason. It’s a very rewarding career that’s fulfilling for both the client and the trainer. Most dedicated trainers pursue their PT license so that they may become a full time trainer and change the lives of many by transforming their health. But just like with any other job, some people obtain their license without having much personal experience or knowledge in the field.

If you’re looking to hire a personal trainer, you want somebody that has the entire package. You want a trainer that lives a fit lifestyle, eats right, works out, cares about your personal health and is constantly trying to improve their practice. You do not want to fall into the hands of a lukewarm trainer because your own progress will stall if they do not supply the necessary motivation trainers need to give. Here are six signs of a good personal trainer you should look for before putting your body and life into their hands!

1. They are physically fit.

This one may seem like a no brainer, but being fit is not a requirement to be a trainer. You can have a poor body and a bad attitude towards physical fitness and still be a trainer, believe it or not. If you have a trainer that it not pursuing fitness themselves, it’s highly unlikely they are going to motivate you to improve. A good trainer budgets time into their hectic schedule to work on their own body and strive for constant excellence. Having a healthy lifestyle takes a few sacrifices and it’s crucial to have a trainer that makes those sacrifices so they may lead by example.

2. The trainer creates a different program for most every client.

When it comes to coaching a client, there is no one-size-fits-all approach and a good trainer knows that. Every training session and program should be tailored to your needs, goals and body type. If you are a 20-year-old girl doing the exact same program as the client before you, a 55-year-old male with a knee injury, then there’s something wrong. Every client needs to be treated as an individual because every body has individual needs.

3. They ask you questions.

In order to get to know a client, a personal trainer should ask all kinds of questions, from daily routine, to food preferences and then of course, medical history for safety reasons. If they avoid asking any questions, it means they are most likely going to give you a cookie cutter program they give everybody else. Make sure they show interest in your life.

4. They take measurements and record the client’s progress.

Data is very important when it comes to making transformations and reaching goals. If a trainer does not record some kind of data in the beginning stages of training a new client, how are they going to know which areas need the most work and how much progress is being made in the individual over time? Whether it’s pictures, body fat testing, a Bod Pod, measurements or some other type of method, it’s important they take the time to record data for future references.

5. They eat healthy.

Exercising and staying conditioned is obviously an important quality for a personal trainer, but an expert in the field knows that good nutrition is equally as important. A great trainer is not just concerned about what goes on inside of the gym, but also what happens in the kitchen. The body needs to be fed nutrient-dense foods to function, improve and stay in great shape. Pick a trainer that has pride in their healthy diet and can help teach you the ropes of clean eating and proper nutrition.

6. They are encouraging and motivating.

Trainers are essentially accountability partners. They should be somebody that you look forward to seeing on a regular basis because they motivate and encourage you with affirming words. Some people may prefer to have a blunt and military-style trainer, though others may want one who cheers them on as they train. It all depends on the client and their personal preference in training techniques but regardless, it’s important to find a coach that will excite you in the gym and have you feeling good about your progress by the end of the session.

If you investigate a trainer and can check off these 6 bullet points, you have just found an expert in the field. Have confidence in the ability of your new trainer and trust them to lead you in the right direction!