Personal Trainers

Selecting a Personal Trainer
Before contacting a personal trainer, consider you may not even need one. There are many programs such as 'Callanetics', 'Billy Blanks', P90X, and countless DVD’s on the market you can watch and emulate in your own space providing you plenty of activity. I’ve told countless persons that brisk 45 min walks can have a huge impact on one’s well-being. However, if you are in a physical state where you need to add a good layer of skeletal muscle over your entire body, you will likely require a professional personal trainer.

If you’ve not looked into the financial cost of a personal trainer, please know they can get pricey. Beware. Many of the personal trainers and gym employees I have encountered would be hard-pressed to acquire a shovel from me to dig a hole, let alone undertake the responsibilities that accompany personal fitness training. I recommend diligence and scrutiny in the selection of a trainer. Don’t be dazzled by the certifications that most personal trainers are required to possess. Some of these “certifications” reportedly have no enforced personal or academic prerequisites and can be earned within a couple of days. Look for more credentialed programs such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) www.acsm.org/sportsmed, National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) certifications and others, but know that none of these require a college degree.

If an un-certified prospective personal trainer is not working under the auspices of a licensed physician, registered dietitian, holistic practitioner or other qualified professional and you require nutritional guidance, do not accept their services.

In any case, it should only take up to 16 sessions or so for you to obtain the knowledge you need to weight-lift and conduct other form of exercises on your own. If you need more time, take it, but don’t get talked into 6-months worth of sessions without getting several other opinions.

Exercise Strategies
Of course, regular exercise is an essential component of attaining vibrant health. The primary goals are:

♦ Cardiovascular
♦ Bodyfat Loss
♦ Muscle Gain
♦ Balance and Flexibility (Yoga)
♦ Shaping & Performance (Callenetics, Plyometrics)

Each person’s current condition will determine what phase of physical training to prioritize. A personal trainer should direct you into each of the five above. If she or he is not considering all of the above for you, drop them like an old shoe and obtain additional advice from other practitioners.

Not everybody is ready to start exercising immediately. Be wary of those who are willing to “train” you without a comprehensive, individually tailored exercise, nutrition plan, and proper evaluation. Specifically, is there an existing physical or emotional condition that might preclude you from attaining your health and fitness goals?

Before interviewing and selecting a personal trainer, ensure you read the Body Fat-Loss/Muscle-Gain Tips & Tricks in the QuickStart Guide.