What would influence you to get a Personal trainer?

I'm a Personal Trainer with A-Firmative Health Ltd and I would like to make sure my company stays focused on customer wants and needs.

I would like to know where you would look for a Personal Trainer, what would make you choose one over another, what would make you want one even more, what would you expect to get from one?

Any feedback is greatly welcomed from either questions asked or for our website!

Many thanks

I might get a PT if I won the lottery.

That is what stops me. The cost.

Hmmm, I met with a personal trainer a week or so ago.  I wanted to have my body fat tested, and I wanted some pointers. I work out at home and I like the routine I am doing (NROL currently) but wanted someone to make sure my form was good.

I called a local gyn and let them know what I was interested in.  I made sure to tell them I was not interested in joining the gym and that this was likely a one-time deal. 

A trainer called me a few days later and after talking with him a bit I made an appointment.  He tested my bodyfat, looked over my workouts, talked about my goals, and then went into the gym where he checked my form on a number of exercises.  He also suggested some alternative exercises to ones that required equipment I don't own and also variations to focus more on certain areas.

It was a good session, and likely I will go back to him in a few months for another body fat analysis and maybe some more suggestions. 

As for having one on a permanent basis???  Yeah, winning the lottery would be nice, and having them come to my house (where I would of course have a full gym setup) would be awesome. 

The trainer I had wasn't trying to sell me anything.  That would have been an immediate red flag.  His ideas on training seemed similar to mine (women should lift heavy and be strong) and he seemed to be on-board with a lot of the information I have learned on here and on the wieght-lifting forums.  He was knowledgable(sp?) and fun to be around. 

I am a personal trainer and fitness facility owner. I clicked on your link..I have a few questions...what kind of certs do you have and what type of schooling?

Every trainer here in my gym are college educated holding degrees in sports medicine and nutrition as well as all are certified dieticians and each hold numerous certs....

Here in the states, many trainers that are employed by the commercial big mama gyms got their certs online...a lot don't have college degrees let alone specefic towards their profession. Many give out nutritional advice which they really should not do since they are not licensed to do that. I could go on and on...

So, in deciding on a trainer, do a lot of research...and ask a lot of questions - including present and past clients...and most trainers will give you a FREE/complimentary session.

I currently have a trainer through my gym. When I signed up, they offer 2 free sessions and I took advantage of that. I was completely new to the whole gym/working out experience and after I told him what I was looking for, he put me through a workout that made me sore in all the right places. I stuck with him because he did what I was looking for - built muscle and endurance. I still have fond/hate memories of him making me run sprints, lol. He left my gym a few months ago and I was passed off to another trainer who kicks my butt even more.

Basically I keep my trainer because I need someone to push me to that next level that I know I can achieve, yet my own lack of self discipline or motivation prevents me from reaching. Having someone to be accountable to has totally changed my body and I love it. I don't really need a trainer anymore, I know enough exercises and am rather fit and strong to do it on my own but to keep progressing I do like to have him. Plus I am big into lifting weights and I like to have someone there to always check my form and make sure I am doing it properly. Even now, occasionally I will not be paying attention and will be squatting improperly or something and he has to remind me to do it right.

Honestly, I got my first trainer all the wrong ways. I didn't ask about certifications/degrees, his experience, anything simply because I didn't know. I got lucky in that, while he was rather new, there were people there teaching him what he needed to do and he also was a lifter himself so he knew how to build my muscles.

If they were extremely attractive of course!

If I could buy sessions and not have to join the gym at the same time.  I would pay money today for a trainer, but I know I won't go to the gym any other time. 

I like to pick someone that has experience, and is willing to push me.  If they start the small talk and want to be my friends I won't focus on working out.

I like someone who does new exercises and mixes it up. Don't ask me to do the same boring routine every week.

I like someone that does the exercises along side me, sort of challenges me to go at the same pace as them (for a bit).

I like someone who is fit themselves and offers nutritional advice.

I like someone who maybe will take the class outside of the gym and run outside, bike outside ect.

They money is a big issue - it costs as much to train as it does to get a fancy haircut (upwards of $100 in the States.) I might buy a fancy haircut every six weeks, but I couldn't afford to do it bi-weekly (or more - I like to weight train 3 days a week.)

So, money is an issue, as is the fact that when I have gotten a trainer, they're either terrible - like some twee anorexic 20-year ols who leads me through the weakest routine known to womankind - or wonderful trainers who are told by their gym to try and sell me packages of 8 sessions, at a discounted price of only $800! Dude, that is rent money. I cannot afford two rents, nor can I afford to both rent an appartment and have a trainer.

I would get a trainer if I suddenly lost access to the internet, books, magazines, and television or lost the ability to read.  Every time I've significantly changed up my workouts I've researched multiple sources, spoke to others that are into fitness, and figured it out.  Its not really too hard.

Edit: fitnessgirl hit in on the head. Most trainers in gyms have their "knowledge" from the internet - which I can use on my own - and from the 3 cookie cutter routines that gym has set up that they show every single person.  I would laugh if it wasn't so sad.  I see "trainers" at my gym doing the same exact workouts with 5'8" 250 pound dudes in their 30's as they do with 5'3" 150 women in their 50's.  I am yet to see anyone show any person anything other than one of the two standard workouts.  And all but about 2 of them are talking on their cell phones while the person paying a **** load of money is doing 3 sets of 20 reps on a chest press machine with about 5 lbs on it. 

So yeah, I guess don't do the things I just mentioned and people might find your services appealing.

I would love to have a personal trainer, but there are a variety of obstacles at the current time.  The first is cost.  The second is that I have lupus and RA, and any potential trainer would need to understand that I can not work out at the same intensity all the time, some days getting out of bed is painful enough.  The third is location.  I live in the mountains of NC and the closest gym is 45 minutes away.  I would like to try doing weight training at home, but given my health situations, I am afraid that poor form would aggravate joint inflammation.  I have asked several questions in this forum, and have always gotten the advice to see a doctor prior to undertaking any exercise program, but I won't have insurance until the end of next month.

fitness girl - I wish I lived near your facility, it sounds great.

Hi Fitnessgirl,

Thankyou for your comments, however, this post was moreso aimed at people wanting / needing / using personal trainers, moreso than personal trainers themselves.

In response to your query on qualifications - not sure what this has to do with the main post, but... Yes, all trainers within A-Firmative Health have to have a minimum requirement in order to work for A-FH. All trainers also HAVE to be registered with REPS (a qualification-based registration for exercise professionals in the UK).
...Whilst we're on the subject of requirements, ALL A-FH trainers are also insured and attend regular annual compulsory CPR training courses. A-FH suffer no fools on the education side of things. Additionally, trainers are sent on training courses to support additional requirements ensuring that our clients get exactly what they need, when they need it.

Potential trainers have to spend around 3 years studying to become an A-FH personal trainer - this is not just a simple and easy on-line course, trust me. Oh, and on the nutritional side we also have to spend a further year studying nutrition & weight management, alongside sports-specific appiled nutrition so I think we're more than qualified to give out the advice we provide.

Now, outside of A-FH (or other fitness facilities) - if anyone out there has good or bad experiences about personal training, hints and tips then I'd love to hear about them. My goal is to generate a kind of comprehensive Q&A forum for the general public to ask questions, get an understanding of the personal training concept etc from first-hand, unbias experiences, highlighting pitfalls, good points things to look out for etc.

So, if any one out there is interested in viewing this forum when it is up and running (hopefully with lots of interesting / helpful topics) then please feel free to send me your email address  and I'll let you know when becomes available.

All comments are welcome, thankyou for your time and efforts.

Clair.

Original Post by crazydiamondchrysalis:

I might get a PT if I won the lottery.

That is what stops me. The cost.

 Yeah! Money is what keeps me from getting one, too.

What I'd look for in one? Credentials... Certification, recommendation from other clients.

Expectations? I'd want personalized and varied workouts. I get bored if I do the same thing all the time. Also diet advice and motivation to work on my weaknesses. And last but not least... RESULTS!

i can't see ever getting one. im too independent and im not that high maintenance.

my personal trainer is cathe friedrich. i have about 20 of her dvds and do them about 4-5 days a week, and i will throw in someone else 1-2 days to change it up.

cathe rocks!

Thanks for answering my question, Clairafh, with you being in the UK as I know just as in the states, there is a 'sliding scale' of required qualifications when it comes to trainers over there - I have met a few - and their qualifications were poor... I have another question, what do you charge your clients? I am truly just curious...with what appears to be a general consensus that price seems to be a big obstacle for many people.  I will honestly say that I -and my trainers- are on the pricey end for training here in the States..but we are well worth it. ;)