Be patient with me…I am getting ready to hop on my soapbox…
I meet with a lot of people in my life as a gym owner, personal coach and transformation specialist. I get mad when I sit across from someone who has had a bad experience with someone who called themselves a personal trainer. Over the past few years, lots of people hopped into the personal training space. There are some people who do it really well. Unfortunately, a large percentage of people do it extremely poorly. More often than not, you are just throwing your money away.
Here are some tips about how to find a GOOD trainer. Whether you want virtual or in-gym, these same rules apply.
🏋️♀️Anyone can obtain their personal training certification over a weekend for as little as $99. Therefore, just asking the question “are you certified?” is not enough to qualify a trainer.
🏋️♀️Ask how long they have been training clients.
🏋️♀️Ask what their typical clients’ goals are. For example, do they get people ready for figure competitions? Do they primarily work with weight loss clients? Do they work with clients who are trying to add muscle?
🏋️♀️If a trainer says they specialize in all populations, they are just looking to take your money. Everyone has a “target client”. Yes, a good trainer CAN work with all populations but to say they specialize, would be an exaggeration.
🏋️♀️Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Don’t settle just for testimonials, either. There are a LOT of testimonials that can be bought online from training companies. Press to get actual people you can talk to about their results. Keep in mind, the trainer is going to share their most successful clients, but they should have at least 10 people on a list that have achieved the results comparable to your goals. For example, if you need to lose 50+ pounds, ask for people like that. If you are looking to get competition ready, you need to talk to references they’ve helped in that area, etc.
🏋️♀️Finally, if you have a friend, family member or co-worker who is willing to train you for free, keep in mind…FREE COACHING COMES WITH FREE RESULTS. What is going to happen when you have an appointment with them and they are too tired, too busy or just unmotivated to meet you? The same criteria above apply when you are thinking about working with someone you know. Free is great, but results are better and priceless!!
Just yesterday I sat down with someone who spent several hundred dollars for a month of training. After talking with her, I found the calories and macros her “trainer” prescribed for her were WAY off. Based on what she told me, I’m willing to bet she gained weight over the month with this trainer. Also, her trainer had her doing what I would describe as “old school” training, which is not at all what this person requested. Lastly, there was NO accountability. The trainer didn’t reach out to her at all to tweak her program or answer questions.
Keep in mind, the fitness part of the personal training relationship is only one part of the equation. They also need to be able to guide you in nutrition, hold you accountable and guarantee results. Lastly, they should have a teaching heart. Good coaches want you to learn and grow beyond them. Bad coaches don’t want you to learn anything because they want to just keep taking your money.
I personally guarantee results in our program. I can do this because I’ve proven my system works. If you can’t find a coach who is willing to stand behind their program with a GUARANTEE, keep looking (or click the link below and schedule a time to talk to me).
If you live in the Irmo SC area and are interested in learning more about my Guaranteed Results Coaching program, CLICK HERE to schedule a meeting, and let’s talk about how we can get YOU results. Keep in mind, I am NOT a cheap date. If you are willing to put in the hard work to get results and want to work with someone who will help shorten your path to success, I look forward to your call.
Radley West 