Considering that getting a personal trainer in the gym can be expensive yet pretty common, it is important to know whether it is right for you. Since you’ll be spending a lot of money on this, you should make sure that it is a good investment for your health.
Personal trainers often follow the 80/20 rule where the top 20% will give you 2-8x or more than the average. It is important to note that good trainers can help you bypass years in the gym, potential injuries while giving you the tools to train yourself. Still, bad or even average personal trainers can injure you and waste your money and time on workouts that they just recycle from the internet or from “what worked for that guy”.
When to consider getting a personal trainer?
Here are some of the situations when it might be best to get a personal trainer:
- You might have a pre-existing medical condition that requires a special set of training
- You have a significant goal such as realistically achieving them takes a significant amount of daily and conscientious effort
- You have multiple, failed efforts because of a severe lack of confidence or motivation
Keep in mind that a personal trainer is not a nutritionist or a dietitian, although they may have some knowledge about it. Moreover, a personal trainer is not a physical therapist or doctors (unless they are certified) so they shouldn’t be prescribing treatments to cure diseases. For these things, make sure to consult certified individuals.
Things to look for in a personal trainer
Although these things aren’t a one-size-fits-all set of criteria, these are good considerations especially when you don’t know where to start.
- Experience should match your goals
- Proofs of accomplishment
- Referrals
- Degrees and certifications
- Rate per session (or per contract, depending on your agreement)
It is best not to get into a long contract before trying a specific personal trainer. Try asking for shorter sessions so that you won’t be committed with a trainer and not yet be fully sure about it. Additionally, if you don’t feel comfortable or you feel that your current trainer isn’t a match for you, don’t hesitate to try other trainers who might be a better fit for you.
Anything to add to these? Share your thoughts with us.
