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HIRING A PERSONAL TRAINER
Some Frequently Asked Questions - and Answers
"Do I need a Personal Trainer?"
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced athlete, whether you want to change your routine to jump
start improvements, even if you know nothing about training and aren't sure where to start, A Personal
Trainer can help. A good Trainer will listen to your physical and fitness history and plans, help you
develop realistic fitness goals, design a balanced workout or modify your current one, and provide
motivation before and during your training sessions to help you stick to your routine. If that's the type of
support and encouragement you're looking for, you may want to hire a Personal Trainer.
"How do I choose a Trainer?"
Ask questions - of yourself and the Trainers you interview. Set a few goals before you start looking.
What is your body type and what (realistically) do you want to look like and/or be able to accomplish
physically? Are you trying to be thinner, more muscular, more defined, a better skier, a faster runner, a
stronger lifter, etc.? Where do you want to train? Your home, office, health club, the park near your
home. What physical activities interest you? Consider weight training, walking, biking, running, boxing,
martial arts, etc. What motivates you? Do you need a Drill Instructor or a babysitter?
Once you define your goals, find a Trainer who fits them. Look for a Trainer who will reliably meet
with you at your convenience at the location of your choice (if you're training at a health club
and hiring an independent Trainer, be sure the club allows him/her to work with you there). Find a
Trainer with experience (playing or coaching) in the activities you enjoy and who can design an
effective, enjoyable routine for you.
Then, be subjective. Choose a Trainer who fits your ideal. Does he/she (or do his/her clients) look the
way you'd like to? Can he/she perform athletically the way you'd like to? What is his/her personality
like? Can he/she inspire you to stay consistent? Remember that while certification usually indicates how
well a Trainer has performed on a standardized test, you're hiring someone for practical
application. Find out what the Trainer can do for you?
"How many sessions with a Trainer should I plan?"
The answer really depends on how much supervision you require to show up and work hard at your
training and on your budget. If you're a beginner or just returning to exercise but are confident you'll
train consistently and give your best effort at all times, you might work with a Trainer for several
sessions (perhaps 3-10) at first and then work on your own. You can always schedule additional
sessions periodically to tune-up your routine or check your technique. If you train consistently now, you
might schedule a few (1-4) sessions to revive your workout, improve technique, or just change gears. If
you have little or no positive training experience or have trouble staying motivated, you might plan to
work with a Trainer for every workout for at least a few months.
"How often should I work out?"
Bottom line - and media sound bites notwithstanding - you need to exercise at a challenging level for
at least 30 consecutive minutes, three times a week just to maintain health (i.e., prevent
unnatural early death). If you're looking to moderately improve your physique and overall fitness level,
you'll need to exercise at that level for at least 60 minutes, at least 3 times weekly. If you have
significant improvements to make - weight loss, conditioning work, rehabilitation, etc. - you should plan
to incorporate 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise into your daily schedule.
"When will I see results?"
A Trainer should have you set intermediate goal dates for fully implementing your diet and exercise
lifestyle changes, for example at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months and at 1 year. But once you start training
consistently for at least the minimum recommended amount of time each week, you'll feel better within
the first 30 days. Depending on your nutrition and training intensity, you should begin to see and feel
positive physical changes within 2-4 weeks.
"What if I've had prior injuries or illnesses?"
First, be sure you give your Trainer a complete history of any past or pre-existing injuries or illnesses
so he/she can design the safest, most effective workout possible. A responsible Trainer will have you
complete a health history and risk factors questionnaire before your first session and will conduct a
physical evaluation to gauge your current performance and skill level .Even if an injury occurred long
ago, your Trainer will want to consider any physical therapy you may have completed, how the
condition has healed, and what exercises or training intensity will best keep you injury free and training
regularly. No injury or illness should prevent you from training and making significant physical
improvements, you may just need some guidance about the best approach to working out.
"How old do I need to be to work out?" ("When am I too young/too old to train?")
You're never too old or too young to exercise. A recent study done at Mass. General Hospital with
seriously debilitated geriatric patients found that all of them benefitted from a simple strength training
program (those in wheel chairs walked with walkers, those with walkers walked with canes, etc.). And
experts agree that beginning regular exercise in infancy and early childhood will likely help ensure better
health and fitness in adulthood. As long as you're in good health, your Trainer can design an effective,
balanced training program that will help you attain your fitness goals.
Some special populations should seek specific guidance. For example: children should begin training
with weights no sooner than age 13 or the first signs of puberty, whichever comes earlier; most adults
over age 55 should seek the guidance of a Trainer who works extensively with that age group; and
individuals with chronic problems such as injuries, certain disabilities, or obesity should seek the advice
of their physician, physical therapist, and/or nutritionist, as appropriate, before and throughout the
Trainer supervised workout period.
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For information or comments on this web page, to schedule an appointment with Charla
in Alameda, the East Bay or downtown San Francisco, or to sign up for FitbyFone long distance
coaching worldwide: email us at: fitboot@fitboot.com
or call: 1-877-FITBOOT
All text, FitBoot, and FitBasic, ©1998 and the FitBoot logo ©2000 by
Charla T.-McMillian. You may neither reprint nor distribute any text from this website, in part or in its
entirety, without the author's express permission. The information contained on this website is not
intended to substitute for medical advice or for the advice of a qualified nutritionist. Individual needs and
results may vary. You should seek the advice of your physician or a qualified trainer before starting or
significantly modifying any exercise or diet program.
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