Personal training is an investment. It’s an investment in YOU, your health and well-being, and it’s an important one. Each trainer has a unique style, set of specialties, and fitness philosophy.
It’s important to communicate with a potential trainer beforehand to make sure you are finding the best fit for your personality and personal fitness goals.
Questions To Ask Your Personal Trainer
Pursuing a healthier lifestyle can be a daunting task on your own. You may have many questions. What type of exercises are best for me? What is proper form? How often should I work out? Do I need to join a gym, or can I get the same results from online training? What types of foods should I eat? Can I have a cheat day?
A certified personal trainer can be a wealth of knowledge and help you answer all these questions. But before you settle on your fitness coach, there are some questions you should be asking, so you can get to know your trainer and their qualifications.
- What Are Your Qualifications?
- What Is Your Experience?
- What Is Your Fitness Philosophy?
- What Are Your Specialties?
- How Often Should I Exercise?
- What About Meal Planning?
- What Is Your Pricing & Cancellation Policy?
Qualifications & Certifications
One of the first things you should be asking your personal trainer is where they received their certification and training. A few training programs you may want to familiarize yourself with are the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), which focuses on competition training.
Of course, certifications do not guarantee a great trainer. But you will know they have been trained and certified as a fitness trainer by a reputable organization that holds them to certain standards.
Experience
Another important topic to cover is experience. How long have they been training? How many clients have they trained? If you are thinking of diving into the world of competitive bodybuilding, you may also want to make sure your trainer has experience in this area. You can also ask for testimonials from past clients who have seen success.
Fitness Philosophy
Each trainer is going to have their own fitness philosophy. Some are going to embrace the whole body, mind, and soul connection. They will want to establish a deeper relationship with you. They’ll want to dig into what motivates you or what might be holding you back. They care about your fitness journey, both physically and emotionally.
Others are going to be solely focused on the workout and seeing physical results. Think about what is going to work best for you and your personality when deciding on your coach.
During your first training session, look for cues that you’ve chosen the right coach. Are they paying attention to you? Are they correcting your form? Are they explaining things in a way you can understand?
Specialties
Depending on your goals, level of fitness, and age, you may want to seek out a trainer with certain specialties. For example, if you need extra help in meal planning, you may want to find someone who also has additional training or a degree in nutrition.
Or if you are interested in competitive sports such as bodybuilding or fitness modeling, you will probably want to find someone who specializes in competitive training.
Duration & Expectations
Everyone has different goals when it comes to becoming healthier. Make sure you communicate with your trainer about your goals and find out how often they recommend you workout and for how long. Get an idea of how much weight lifting and how much cardio should be in your routine.
If you are interested in competing, your exercise routine is going to be much more intense, versus if you are just looking for a little toning and to drop a few pounds.
Communicate with your trainer on your expectations, find out when you can expect to start seeing results, and what you need to do to get those results. They should help you set realistic goals for yourself and keep you motivated every step of the way.
Nutritional Counseling
Proper nutrition is vital when it comes to getting in shape and losing weight. It’s important to have someone who can help plan your meals, so you are not only losing body fat but properly nourishing your muscles.
Although personal trainers have some training in nutrition, it is often limited. If proper diet is high on your list of priorities, you may want to seek out a trainer who is also a registered dietitian or has a degree in nutrition.
Pricing & Cancellation Policy
It’s important to ask upfront about costs and cancellation policies, so there are no surprises or confusion. To avoid any awkward misunderstandings, make sure you understand pricing and what will happen if you are unable to make your workout session.
Find The Right Personal Trainer For You
If you are looking to live a healthier lifestyle, tone up, lose weight, or even get into competitive bodybuilding or posing, contact Team Dee’s in Las Vegas, NV. She is not only IFBB certified with over 30 years of experience, but also has a degree in Nutrition from UNLV. Dee will be happy to answer any questions you have to find out if she’s the right personal trainer for your fitness journey.