Personal trainers (PTs) can be a great way to not only boost your results in the gym, but also keep you accountable whilst increasing your knowledge regarding all things health and fitness.

If you’re thinking of taking up some personal training but you’re not sure which personal trainer to go to, here’s some advice to help you find the right personal trainer for you.

First and foremost, you shouldn’t choose your new PT based on what they look like; you wouldn’t, after all, choose a doctor based on their beatific complexion. Of course, you’d expect your PT to be in good shape, but any trainer worth their salt is more than just a walking set of abs.

Above all else, trust your gut. Look for a knowledgeable and experienced personal trainer who feels like the most natural fit. That’s the one to hire because he’ll not only help you reach your goals, but will also keep you feeling comfortable, motivated and inspired throughout the process.

What’s the most important thing when choosing a personal trainer?

Results! It’s that simple! Never look to work with a coach based on the way they look, as their goals are sometimes different to the goals that you want to achieve. When picking a coach almost treat it as an interview and have at least three in the running.

Set your goals first

It’s important that you think about why you would want to hire a personal trainer. Are you looking to lose body fat? Increase muscle mass? Perhaps learn to Olympic lift? Improve in a particular sport? Determining your goals at the start will mean that you’ll be in a much better position to find a trainer who has the expertise to help you with your goals. 

The first thing to do is ask a potential trainer about their own fitness ‘journey’ plus those of their clients. If they have coached people with similar goals to you, they’ll have an understanding of the challenges involved. If you want to lose weight, for example, it’s far more important to look at their track record in securing results than their own body-fat percentage.

Look for a experienced personal trainer

Practice makes (near) perfect, so a trainer who has been around the block a few times has likely tested and perfected his process for providing the best cues to help you get the most out of every single rep. So, unless you’re okay with playing guinea pig, it might be best to resist the urge to cut a deal with a freshly certified trainer in favour of one who has some previous experience.

With a good understanding of nutrition

Working out and nutrition go hand in hand. You can’t expect to get good results if you are training but eating poorly. A good personal trainer will be able to give you guidance on nutrition so that you can reap the results of your hard work in the gym. You’ll find that some personal trainers have qualifications in nutrition, so if eating better is something you want to work on, find out if the personal trainer has the knowledge and experience to help you with this.

Who practices what he/she preaches

I’m not saying they should look like an Olympian but generally you want to see that the person you’re giving your hard-earned money to has the same values as you.

A Personal Trainer that knows when to push you and when to step back

A good trainer will be the person giving you what you need not just what you want. Depending on our needs and fitness ability, this might mean you might have personal training sessions where you are just focusing on getting good at basic movements and improving joint mobility, before moving on to including these exercises in your training programme. Or this could be giving you the support so you can push yourself to a more challenging level or intensity that they know you are capable of. A good personal trainer will know when you need to take a step up and step back in your training.

What are the personal trainer’s specialties? 

Ever heard the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none?” Well, if you’re looking for something specific, like hitting a new 5k PR, you’ll want to work with a trainer who specializes in running over, say, Olympic weightlifting. Not only will they have more expertise in your desired area, but chances are he’ll be more passionate about it if he knows the nuances of the sport and has a vested interest in it, as well.

What’s the personal trainer reputation? 

The best compliment a trainer can receive is a referral, but having people see results of their clients firsthand comes in a close second. Getting people to achieve their goals (especially if those goals are similar to what you’re wanting to achieve) is the ultimate proof here, and good trainers will happy to share success stories, testimonials and references.

How about the cost?

Just as experience, personality and philosophy can range vastly between trainers so can their hourly rate, depending on certifications, specialty and location (sometimes as much as hundreds of pounds). So, before you begin your hunt, sit down and think about your budget. And if hourly solo sessions are currently beyond your means, don’t despair; some trainers offer semi-private sessions or a discount for buying in bulk.

Although you might be feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of choosing a personal trainer, it’s important to note that the criteria above are just guidelines. Look for a knowledgeable and experienced personal trainer who feels like the most natural fit and ticks all the boxes.

Need help?

Are you looking to get in shape? Do you live around Eastbourne area? Do not hesitate to contact you and book a free assessment and consultation. Take this chance to visit our private gym Umaxfitness and break the ice, meeting our personal trainer Umberto Massimino. Check our testimonials here.