The TOP 10 Things....

You Absolutely Need to Know BEFORE You Hire a Personal Trainer

For over ten years I've worked in the fitness arena.  During this time I've trained clients from every walk of life, Hollywood celebrities, pro athletes, expectant mothers and people suffering from MS to name a few. Not only have I trained a myriad of clients, I've worked with a wide-ranging variety of trainers. all of which have taught me a number of important lessons. Some, had a positive teaching influence, helping shape my current training philosophy while others delivered an equally strong impact by demonstrating a less than professional approach to a highly significant career choice.  Personal training is a field where those working as trainers have a considerable impact on improving a client's health and self esteem. Unfortunately, because many lack education, experience or they're just a lazy hack looking for a free gym membership, they can wreck an innocent persons attempt of reaching their fitness goals.  One such example came with a client I started training who had not seen any progress with her former trainer. During their time together her trainer repeatedly told her not to expect much because her age would limit her progress (she was only 41). I assured my new client that this was absolute nonsense and that if she followed the plan I had outlined for her, success was guaranteed. After only six weeks my client's progress had surpassed any of the faint results she achieved after training two entire years with her previous trainer.  The following list is taken from years of observing and working side by side with both excellent trainers, and those far from excellent. My hope is that after you read them you'll feel better armed to find a trainer who will help you to not only achieve the goals you have set for yourself, but also achieve them with in a reasonable time frame.

1. No Plan: Success starts with a clear understanding of the desired objective. I can't tell you how many times I've heard trainers ask, "So, what ya wanna work today?" When was the last time you just jumped into the car without directions or without knowing where you were going?  When was the last time you had a workout that had a crystal clear objective?  If your trainer hasn't set a plan for your success, then you can bet he/she is not committed to your success. So, if your trainer begins each session with what did we do last time?  You would be well served to look elsewhere.

2. Sacrificing quality for quantity: This is the most common and costly mistake that I see in gyms. Most trainers believe if their clients aren't beaten into the ground, then they haven't done their job.   When it comes to exercise, more doesn't mean better. Better is better.  Success should be measured by how much you've improved not by how sore or rundown you feel after a workout.

3. Fatigue seekers:  This is an extension of our second topic.   Many trainers are unaware of fatigues negative effects.  They don't understand the vital importance of recovery.   If you are always sore, always tired or continually riddled with aches and pains, then your trainer is missing the boat on what physical improvement is all about. There are times when you'll have discomfort and feel pushed to your limits?  Sure, but you shouldn't be treated like a Turkish prisoner in every training session.  I believe fear and ego, drives this training disaster.  Trainers want to have a reputation as "tough" or "hard core" or they fear if their client isn't in danger of drowning in their own sweat they may get dumped for a more "challenging trainer." Understand there must be hard work but smart work teamed with hard work has a far greater pay off. The common story line I hear with new clients that had previously been working with another trainer is how much better their body feels. So, what's the big difference between my approach and your average trainer?

First, I assess each client to pinpoint his or her limitations and muscle imbalances.  If a trainer doesn't take the time to address these fundamental deficiencies, how can he /she develop a customized program to benefit you?  Here's a very common scenario. Mr. Client comes in wants to shed some weight while improving his strength especially his bench press. Mr. Trainer says, "No problem, let's get pumping!"  What do you thing the program will look like?  I'll bet my first born child it will look very similar to this:  Monday bench press, incline press, cable flies dumbbell flies, all for 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps plus three or four bicep exercises.  Is this bad?  Maybe, maybe not…  The problem with this shotgun approach is the fact most guys have a powerful imbalance between their anterior (front) and posterior (back) musculature. Almost every shoulder problem I've seen is rooted in this imbalance. Not only is your trainer increasing your injury risk they are limiting your progress because they have failed to address your "weak link" your posterior musculature.  A great trainer will understand how to correct these types of imbalances.  Also, results will skyrocket while sparing their clients from nagging injuries that will develop or may already exist.

4. Proper progression.    So, many trainers are guilty of having clients perform routines which are designed for more advanced trainees.  Often these routines are something they've taken from a magazine or are just a mish mash of exercises they've thrown together as they lead you around the gym for an hour.  These trainers lack the skills and/or work ethic needed, to take time and create an individualized and customized program for their clients.   Just look at the latest training fad called "functional training."  You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a trainer that spouts off that he/she is into being "functional."  With this acknowledgment, they break out a balance disk and expect you to perform squat after squat telling you how this is going to improve your balance, kinetic chain, skin, eye sight, relationship with your parents; I'm exaggerating, but you get the point. I'm sure they are well intended, but what's missed is the fact that 95% of most gym goers (as opposed to members that don't go) have surprisingly low strength levels.  Most people have a very difficult time controlling their own body weight in a stable environment because they have yet to develop optimal strength levels. Being thrown a bouncy ball or wobble board does feel like a challenge and may seem cutting edge, but what's being overlooked is a persons need for basic strength.  Once a proper foundation is developed, then, and only then, do all the balance gizmos have their proper place?  Just a quick F.Y.I.: qualities like balance can only be moderately improved in adults, because this motor skill is basically set in stone by the age of twelve and is influenced by a number of other physical qualities (i.e. foot size to height ratio). Once again, what this comes down to is having a trainer who can properly assess a client’s physical need, while also listening to the goals they may have set for themselves.

5. Bicep-Zilla:  A common problem I've observed over the years is seeing a trainer training his/her client the way they would like to be trained. In other words, if a trainer is arm-crazy you can bet you'll be Bicep-zilla!  These trainers ignore the client’s important needs and just stick with what they like.  If there isn't a focus on your weaknesses as well as strengths, then rest assured, your results will be in the realm of slim to none.

6. Insufficient Diversity.   If you've been with a trainer since the search for weapons of mass destruction began, and your still on the same program, then your training regimen is in need of a major overhaul (hint: or you need a new trainer).  Lacking diversity leads to muscle imbalances, as well as future or sustained injuries. I once worked in a gym where a trainer had every client perform the exact same workout every day.  I worked in this facility for a year and this was his practice every day, day after day. His approach was neither personal nor successful, to the chagrin of his clientele. Every program loses its positive effects after a period of time. The average persons program should be re-evaluated every 4-6 weeks.

7. Lack of Continuity.  While diversity is important so is continuity. Let's look at strength to demonstrate this fact.  Improving strength is largely, improving ones motor skills. Look at the sport of Olympic weight lifting. The foundation of their programs is based around two lifts, the snatch and clean and jerk. In order to improve these lifts they must spend quality time on these two lifts for a number of reasons. The body learns movement skills needed to accomplish the lift with more efficiency, which will allow greater loads to be used in the future.  Staying with the Olympic lifters they must have continuity in their support exercises if they simply threw exercises together their progress would be next to nothing which is the sad reality most people are facing with their training programs. If a new stimulus is always thrown at your body there is little ability to learn the skill and improve.  There must always be a balance of diversity and continuity in every training regimen. Only the most highly qualified trainers out there will understand this delicate but essential relationship.

8. Poor Technique.  Look around the gym and notice how many trainers are allowing their clients to lift with the most horrid lifting technique   imaginable.   I've seen trainers watch clients bench press while there clients legs are kicking allover the place. The ultimate example for this type of trainer was one I came across while living in California. I would work with my client at their home gym, which was part of her apartment complex. This particular trainer was also a resident of the complex and would train his clients there, which meant we had the misfortune of sharing space with him on several occasions. What made this guy so entertaining was the fact he would always shout directions across the gym to his client who was trapped under dumbbells while never dropping his cell phone from the side of his head. I admit I did develop a fondness for him after two of his clients decided they would start training with me.

9. Education.  This is a tricky one, on a number of levels.  A trainer can be certified but how many people outside of the training world know which certification means what?   Some certifications sound really impressive, but you'd be surprised that most clever high schoolers could pass the same examinations. Finding an outstanding trainer can be like finding a needle in a haystack. I believe education, respectable certifications and experience are foremost, but also look at the characteristics you want in a trainer (besides great abs)! If they don't conduct themselves like professionals (only you can be the judge of that) then expect ineffective training.

10. Too Much Aerobic Exercise.  I've saved the best for last. The biggest populations of clients a trainer will have are those seeking to lose fat. What is the first thing trainers tell their clients. "You've got to hit the cardio."  So, being eager and willing, you spend hours and hours doing cardio that delivers little to no results. The most cutting edge and current research on fat loss, states that excessive cardio or aerobic exercise is at the bottom of the list for successful fat loss. A major problem that contributes to this is the psychological belief some people hold that they gain fat over night. They eat a brownie so now they have to do an extra two hours of cardio. Never realizing their efforts on the treadmill may ultimately be the greater negative than their beloved brownie when it comes to losing fat. Understand that there is always a positive and a negative that comes with any form of exercise and if you don't understand how to maximize the positive while limiting the negatives you'll just continue spinning your heels on that tread mill.

Hopefully, these pointers help you find the trainer that's right for you.  When you're working with a skilled professional you'll have fun while being guaranteed of getting into the best shape of your life!