There are a lot of trainers out there, most of them with the greatest of intentions. I have had the opportunity and mostly pleasure of working with several trainers in the salinas area. These trainers have been at Golds, ultimate fitness, and T-Muscle Gym. I found each one to have helped, but they also had their respective pro’s and con’s. Having done this a couple of times, I decided to come up with a list of what I look for in a trainer and how I go about selecting one, in hopes that it can help somebody.
1. Credentials and Reputation
So the first thing I do is walk up to the front desk and ask for the name of their best trainers. I tell them that I have been working out for a while and dont need someone that will run me through the basics, but instead give me a more advanced level of training that spans both exercise and nutrition. I know that doesn’t tell them what it is exactly that I am looking for, but the person at the front desk well usually say something like, “oh, then you want so and so, (s)he is pretty good.”
I usually follow it up with something like, “do you know what days they work?” or “is that them on the wall right there?” (if they have pictures on the wall). Something to help me increase the chances of running into them.
By doing this I automatically start with a list of 2-3 trainers who have a good reputation. These trainers will usually have their cards on the front desk, and sometimes plaques with their certifications. Their cards will usually list any certifications as well. I find that certifications help cement the chances that they are knowledgeable, but in the grand scheme of things are not that important. The main advantage that I see is that someone with a certificate will have to have an idea of how to give you CPR 🙂 Reputation is by far, in my opinion, the better indicator that the trainer knows what they are talking about.
2. Walk the walk
Assuming that I get a chance to run into the person, I try to see how fit they are. I have run into many trainers who may or may not be good, but they are not in the best shape of their life. Some have been downright unfit. If I pay someone money to train me in anything, I would like to make sure that they practice what they preach. If I hire a landscaper, I want to make sure their house has a clean lawn. If I hire a tech guy, they better have some gadgety cell phone and maybe a laptop with them. So if I hire a fitness trainer, they should be fit. I want them to be my role model.
3. Share knowledge on first session
This is a big one for me. I usually try to schedule some sort of appointment with the trainer(s). Most clubs have a free fat eval check, or a free intro training session. I use this as an opportunity to ask some questions. Ok, I use it to test their knowledge, and willingness to share it.
I start with basic stuff like, how many calories should I be taking in, should I be taking protein supplements, and should I do more cardio? If they take the time answer the questions, then they will have to break out a piece of paper and take down your weight, get a body fat percentage measurement, ask some questions about your routine, and maybe break out a calculator. Anyone who goes to that trouble without you being their client is someone who is probably willing to go the extra mile for you and deserves a shot at your business.
I then try and test their working knowledge by asking something like, ‘based on your experience with other clients with my goals, what has worked best for them?’, or ‘So what things should I not do too much of, what wouldnt work for me?’. This should give you an idea of how much working knowledge they have.
Their knowledge level and ability to communicate it most important to me because anyone can yell at you and tell you to lift more weight ‘x’ more times. Paying someone to do that seems like a waste of money to me. Paying someone to teach you something new, that you can use the rest of your life however, seems like an excellent investment.
4. Not just a trainer, but a partner
The trainer I prefer allows me to struggle until I can do no more, and then helps me do more. They also vary the reps and weights, depending on how I am performing. They concentrate more on the how’s (strict form, proper breathing, slow pace, etc) then the what’s (10 reps, 3 sets, x amount of weight). To do this, they need to be aware of my performance for that session, ask alot of questions about how I feel, and be involved in my workouts. I think of them more as my workout partners, than someone who is getting paid to spot me.
Beware of the trainer who leaves you doing your reps to “do something real quick” or spends time talking to people during your session.
5. Chemistry
All other things equal, this will be differentiator. Ask yourself, can I stand this guy/gal? Do you guys click?
If you find a great trainer who seems arrogant to you or just rubs you the wrong way, you will probably not get as much as you can out of it. You are not looking for a best friend, but you don’t want to be training with someone that annoys you either.
How do I narrow down the field
Ok, so how do I go about finding someone that matches these traits? There are a couple ways I have gone about:
1. Play Spy
So.. this might be a little stalker-ish, but it has helped me weed out some trainers I would not have liked. What I mean by this is not to follow them home, or check out their favorite restaurants (thats creepy), but to check them out in action while training clients. This is especially helpful if they are training someone with your body type. You will get an idea of how friendly, chatty, insightful etc they are as a person.
You can also tell if they prefer to stick to free weights, machines, or plyometrics, or varies it up. If you like strictly weights, then you don’t want someone that concentrates on body weight exercises. Personally, I feel that the more tricks the trainer has, the better.
2. Ask their clients
I also try to talk to their clients after their session. I usually introduce myself quickly and ask something simple like, “Sorry to bother you, but I saw you working out and was wondering if you would recommend your trainer?”
That’s usually followed by and “have you seen progress towards your goals?”. You don’t want to give them the 3rd degree, but most people will be happy to share their opinion as long as you keep it short.
3. Search the web
Trainers are on face book, myspace, yelp, craigs list, etc. As in all cases when doing research, Google is your friend.
4. Buy a session
Hey, if you got it down to 2 or 3 and can’t decide, buy a session with each. Don’t commit to more, and there should not be a reason for some elaborate lie. I usually just say that I am not sure if I want a trainer, but want to give them a shot.
You don’t need to tell them you are comparing them, but you shouldn’t mislead them either. I once narrowed my field down to 2 trainers and I felt they were both good, but after buying a session with them each it helped me pick out which one I wanted to work with.
Last thoughts
Hopefully this will help you on your search for a trainer. No matter who you go with, remember that you are ultimately responsible for your body. Don’t do anything that will hurt you, and don’t waste your time (and money) with people who make lifting not fun. You should look forward to meeting your trainer, not dread it.
Good luck.