- Determine your goals and provide you with a strategic plan to help you reach the goals in a specific amount of time
- Assess your current condition and provide a safe and effective program
- Monitor progress, provide feedback and motivation
- Act as your personal resource for all of your health and wellness questions
- Guide you through safe and effective workouts, use of weight machines, free weights and cardio machines
Remember, when meeting with a trainer to ask some important questions.
1. Ask for references.
The best way to get an honest answer. Ask previous clients if they reached their goals, were satisfied with their sessions and what they liked most about the trainer. Most trainers should be happy to do this for you.
2. What are their certifications?
While trainers differ in experience and competence even with the same certifications, it is important to know that they are keeping up-to-date with their fitness education, and that they have invested in themselves in order to better serve you. Having a working knowledge of certifications will give you a better understanding of just how important a trainer's education is to them. Some organizations require classwork, practical and theory exams, while others just sell a certification. A Kinesiology degree + a personal training certification or kinesiologist designation (OKA) shows 4+ years of study of the human body. Reputable PT certifications are with the NSCA, CSEP (canadian), CPT and ACSM are designations to look for.
3. How does the trainer look?
While judging appearances is not something I promote, I do believe in "practising what you preach." Education and experience are certainly most important in this regard, however, if you are in better shape than your trainer it is probably best to look elsewhere.
4. Payment
Some fitness facilities are notorious for being difficult to cancel membership. Make sure you are clear on cost per session, cancellation policies and packages that are available to you.
A trainer who has your fitness in mind will give you specifics. It is up to you to weigh the dollar value against the value of your health, wellness and personal goals.
5. What is your availability?
There is nothing worse than getting yourself motivated to work towards a goal, and then to have the obstacle of someone elses time hinder that goal. Make sure to be aware of the hours the trainer is available, and whether you can set up regular meeting times over the next few weeks. Consistency is the secret to success, and your trainer should allow you to flourish by making you aware of their availability.
Fitness Tip: Do not underestimate the importance of sleep, rest and recovery.
Create a healthy sleep environment for yourself in order to replenish and reenergize yourself after a tough workout.
- make your room as dark as possible. Light increases the production of melatonin and can hinder sleep
- keep digital devices away from the bed as they can impact your sleep quality
- use a quality mattress and pillow to support your neck and spine alignment.
(adapted from Canadian Health & Lifestyle Fall 2010)
Nutrition Tip: A multivitamin helps you to meet the recommended daily requirements for a wide variety of vitamins and minerals each and every day. Food alone rarely is sufficient enough to provide your body (especially when training) with adequate nutrient levels for proper function. Some vitamins and minerals play a vital role in reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease and other conditions. Look for a multi-vitamin formulated for you - sport, age-related, gender-related etc.
Song: Let the Bodies Hit the Floor - Drowning Pool
(This would be my entrance music if I wa a UFC fighter! haha)
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