Our Guide To Finding A Great Personal Trainer

In the realm of fitness and nutrition, it can be a bit daunting to get started. There’s a ton to learn about exercise, nutrition, and everything in between. As such, it’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed and lost. 

Fortunately, there are professionals out there that are ready to help with this specific situation. If you’re looking for guidance, it may be a good idea to hire a personal trainer. But how do you find one that’s right for you? Well, let’s talk about some of the considerations you should keep in mind.

How to find a personal trainer

The good news is that personal trainers aren’t usually hard to find. In general, the two main categories of personal trainers consist of in person and online. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong, and both come with pros and cons. Again, it fundamentally comes down to what fits you best.

In person trainers can be independent (come to your home), or employed at a local gym. Here, the major advantage lies with the fact that they can work with you in person. This can make things such as checking form, in depth discussions, and workout motivation significantly easier. The main drawback is usually limited interaction time outside of training. And when the trainers are working hands on with other clients, they are likely unavailable.

Online training consists of a coach connecting to you virtually through messages, video, and calls. The positive sides here revolve around convenience and accessibility. Online coaches can respond to questions outside of training sessions, and are easy to reach. The main negative is the inherent lack of in-person interaction. This can potentially complicate things such as form checks and training adjustments.

How much does a personal trainer usually cost?

Currently, the average cost of a personal trainer is around $65 per hour. However, prices can vary widely for a multitude of reasons. Factors such as geographic location, trainer specialization, and session frequency can contribute to a significantly lower or higher hourly rate. For example, a trainer in a large city may have a potentially higher rate than one in a more rural area. Additionally, rates can sometimes be negotiable, or include a trial period to see if it’s a good fit.

Now that we have the basics, let’s explore how to narrow down your search to best fit your lifestyle.

What are your goals?

First off, what are you looking to accomplish? Are you looking to drop 20 pounds? Compete in powerlifting? Or just to simply get in better shape?

Your personal goals are going to have a huge influence on who you will best work with. Trainers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and proficiencies, and many are adept in several areas. In general, the more specific and specialized your goals are, the more difficult it will be to find someone who fits the bill. For most general intents and purposes, though, there are plenty to choose from.

What do you need?

Ideally, your trainer should fill in something that you feel is lacking when you do things solo. After all, you’re paying them to help you out. If they’re only doing what you can already do, you likely aren’t going to receive the full benefit. Potential benefits include, but are not restricted to, the following: 

-Information. There is often a large discrepancy between what the media latches on to vs. the actual science. A personal trainer can assist with explaining the nuances of otherwise potentially misleading claims.

-A balanced workout routine. It can be rather overwhelming to figure out how to best structure your training, especially early on. A personal trainer can provide a regimen that best fits your needs. Additionally, they can also check form, log progression, and give feedback.

-Accountability. It’s very common to need an additional little “push” here and there to keep you on track. A trainer can help motivate you to work out more consistently, generally improve your diet, and stick to your guns. At the very least, people feel compelled to remain accountable for the simple fact that they’re invested monetarily.   

Are they a good match for you?

One additional major factor is personality. Most trainers are friendly, engaging people, but everyone has different traits that best describe them.

Are you looking for a drill sergeant, i.e. someone who is going to rigidly hold you to your goals? Or someone who is more flexible with their approach?

Are you more of the no nonsense type, or do you like keeping things light with humor?

None of these are inherent deal breakers for a trainer-client relationship, but the better you click, the more productive things tend to be.

Additional things to look for to find a good PT

Aside from the above, here are a couple additional positive points to look for when you begin reaching out to potential trainers:

1) A detailed interview.

During your first meeting, a good personal trainer will take the time to get to know you and your needs. They should take a detailed overview of your specific goals, background, occupation, activity levels, and much more.

The more detail the trainer has, the likelier it is that they’ll be able to create a specialized, custom plan for you. The more tailored things are to your individual needs, the greater the chance of success in your goals moving forward.

2) Certification and accreditation. 

There are several governing bodies that test and certify personal trainers. Examples of these include the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), and the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF).

Not only do these agencies provide certification for personal trainers, they also provide specialization courses for trainers to further branch out their proficiencies.

However, certifications are not necessarily an absolute for determining how good a trainer is. Some of the best trainers out there are uncertified, and some certified trainers leave a lot to be desired. So while certification can be a potential positive, it shouldn’t be the major consideration in your decision.

3) Open to feedback and questions.

A good personal trainer will welcome questions regarding what they tell you. You don’t have to take the information they give at face value. Instead, the better that they can break things down for you, the more informed they likely are on the subject.  If anything, they should be encouraging of your desire to learn more. Think like that old saying – “give someone a fish, and they’ll be full for a meal. Teach a man to fish, and they’ll be full forever.”

4) Proper communication.

Most troubles I have seen between clients and coaches stem from a lack of communication. In these cases, neither the coach nor the client are fundamentally in the wrong. There is simply a misunderstanding or disparity between coach and client expectations. The clearer and more detailed you can communicate with your coach (and vice versa), the greater the chance of a productive relationship moving forward.

Macros Inc. Coaching

Here at Macros Inc., it is our goal to provide the best means for success for your fitness and nutritional endeavors. Our coaches are certified personal trainers and nutrition coaches, accredited through NASM. We work with clients from all walks of life, and provide personalized coaching for nutrition, training, or both, depending on your goals  and needs.

When you enroll with us, we schedule a detailed face to face interview with you and your new coach. Here, you will not only meet your new coach, but also formulate a specific set of goals, and the plan for how they will be met moving forward.

By the end of the meeting, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running. Nutrition clients receive a custom set of macro and calorie goals tailored just for their needs. Fitness clients receive a custom workout routine, broken down day by day, and exercise by exercise. If you sign up for full coaching, you get both.

Regardless of your plan, you will always have complete access to your coach, and can message them anytime through our website or our app, available for both Android and iOS. You are also always welcome to visit our public Facebook group and client Facebook group for collaboration and discourse with fellow members.  

Conclusion

Hiring a personal trainer can be a daunting process, but it can also be one of the most rewarding decisions you can make toward your personal health and fitness goals. Whether you’re looking for guidance, knowledge, or simply someone to hold you accountable, there’s a trainer out there waiting for you. 

There’s no better time than now to get started. Now get out there!