How to Find a Good Personal Trainer or Coach: 5 Mistakes to Avoid!
When you go to the gym, you expect results. You pay a lot of money to get into shape or lose some weight. However, as time goes on, you start to feel that your time at the gym is not doing you any good. You might feel your body getting ripped from inside, but the physique stays the same.
You then start to wonder, 'what am I doing wrong?'. The reason could be your unguided routine at the gym. Some people do not bother to ask for help when they first join a gym. Either they are too shy to ask for guidance, or their big fat ego gets in the way. Most gyms have hired trainers who assist new individuals in performing exercises and using gym equipment properly.
Nevertheless, not all trainers are perfect. There are chances of them misguiding you. Even if you can afford to hire a personal coach to get you into good shape, you are not completely safe either way. The trainers can do more harm than good if they are not professionally trained. They may con you into giving them hefty sums for mere basic exercises which you do not even need to perform. You are likely to fall into their trap if you have no basic knowledge about working out.
No worries, though; we have got you covered. We have outlined five major mistakes to avoid when finding a trainer in the following paragraphs. Also, we have chalked out some guidelines on what to look for when hiring a coach and how to find a personal trainer. Let's get into it.
5 Mistakes to Avoid While Hiring a Fitness Trainer
Before you foot the bill for a full-time personal trainer, it is important to realize that all private fitness coaches are not the same. The goal must align with their area of expertise so that you can get the most of your money.
However, one very important question often asked is how much does a personal trainer cost? The answer lies in the value offered and how effectively and quickly you achieve your fitness targets.
Mistake 1: Hiring an Inexperienced or Irrelevant Trainer
Make sure your personal trainer is an expert and experienced in what you want to achieve in the gym. It is important to know your fitness goals before reaching out to a personal trainer. Look at the testimonials and see the trainer's physique to understand how they fares.
Finding a personal trainer is not an easy task for someone who matches your fitness requirements. Please do not fall for their life achievements and expect great results. It is a different story to win medals in competitions 15 years before entering the trainer field.
A coach is someone who can guide with appropriate exercises at the gym and in the right order. It is not necessary what worked for him, or her would also work for you. Therefore, always look for a trainer who has worked on similar fitness goals as yours.
Mistake 2: Hiring a Personal Trainer at Face Value
It is very important that you and your personal trainer are a good fit for what you want to achieve. Are you looking to lose weight? Or train for a marathon? Your coach must know your physique and have enough experience to train you for your goal.
The only way to find out if you and your personal trainer are compatible is through in-depth conversation. Take your time and discuss with the coach what you have been doing and what you plan to do in the future.
The more your trainer listens and understands, the better your experience will be. While you ask away questions, expect a few questions yourself from the trainer. Your potential coach will ask about your nutrition and past injuries. They will also ask if you have worked with any coach before.
You can also ask at this stage if he or she would prefer to be your personal trainer at your home. Another option is asking if they would rather be a full-time personal trainer. Ask all other questions for a better start, and it is always better to be on the same page before the training begins.
Mistake 3: Believing that Complex Workouts are More Effective
A big no is when you feel exhausted at the end of a workout and see no great results. These personal trainers believe that you will stay if they appear knowledgeable about the gym equipment and keep you busy. They are more concerned about bagging your money without any real concern about your fitness goals.
Always remember that fitness goals are reached gradually without overexertion. A good trainer will not only help you with appropriate exercises but also with a balanced diet. The mix of a gym workout and diet will depend on your fitness goals. If you wish to shed those extra pounds, you will start to see results within a few weeks.
On the other hand, the results will start showing after a few months if you want to bulk up. Your diet will also consist of high proteins that can help you build muscles quickly. Remember that every exercise and workout session should benefit your fitness goals. Do not forget that you have hired them and not the other way around.
Mistake 4: Focusing on Certifications
A personal trainer with a handful of certifications should never be your focus when hiring. Alternatively, you must also never ask for a discount straight away because of his or her lack of it. Personal training is more about the experience, and when it comes to credentials, they can mean very little.
Your focus should be on personal trainers who have helped achieve people's fitness goals similar to yours. Another factor that determines a successful trainer is that he or she should be highly enthusiastic about helping you achieve your goals.
Mistake 5: Believing that an Expensive Trainer is Better
Although a personal trainer cost is sure to put a dent in your pocket, the value you receive should be worth it! A coach that costs around $35 per session and provides no effective results is just you wasting your money.
However, a private fitness coach that charges double that but ticks off all boxes can be a stealer deal. Make sure that your coach properly monitors your progress and motivates you to overcome the obstacles in your fitness journey. Additionally, your coach will also keep an eye on your diet to ensure the effects of every session are worth every penny.
Avoid the Mistakes & Choose Wisely!
Coming back to choosing the right personal trainer or coach, it is important to know your own fitness goals. Once you are sure about what you want, you need to clearly communicate this with the potential coach before you seal the deal.
A good way to begin your search is by Google-ing "personal trainer near me" and checking out their profiles. Testimonials are your first choice in figuring out who to choose that fits your fitness goals best. A personal trainer does not come at easy money, but the impact it can have on your mental and physical health is unmatched.
