Brad Pitt plays a personal trainer in the movie Burn After Reading, also starring George Clooney. His comic portrayal of a personal trainer in a commercial gym was downright hilarious. Though, he did have some good qualities that I would look for if I were to have interviewed him for a position as a personal trainer in my gym. So what makes a trainer good? Does more money paid out mean that you get a better trainer? How can you find the best trainer in your area?

Well, I wish this was an easy task, but it is not. You will have to accept the fact that you will need to take some time to evaluate the potential trainers that you will be choosing from. If you fail to do this, you may just be throwing away hundreds or thousands of dollars over the course of time. And, you may even get hurt which is the worst case scenario. Failing to evaluate a trainer is like going blindly into a Supercuts and being the next in line for a haircut with a new stylist who you’ve never had before. It is gambling. I implore you to take your body and your health seriously and do not waste your money unnecessarily. Your body is your most valuable asset, why leave it to chance?

Personal training is a sales business. You, as the consumer, should be aware of this. Yes, most trainers, when asked, will say that they became a trainer because they want to help people, that they care about people, or that they are passionate about fitness. There are many stand up trainers and there are many really good trainers out there, you just have to find them.

Here are some important factors to consider when employing a trainer:

• 1) Certifications/Degrees (What certifications or degrees does the trainer have? When did they get them? Are they expired?)

There are four different basic types of personal trainers: A) Certified, B) Uncertified, C) Formerly certified, and D) Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) in exercise science or Physiology.

• A) Certified trainers will have a nationally recognized certification by one of about 15 different recognized fitness entities. Seven of the most commonly recognized certifications are from: 1) American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), 2) American Council on Exercise (ACE), 3) National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), 4) International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), 5) Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFFA), 6) National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) and 7) American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA).

You can also visit this Website for a nice list of contact numbers and emails for these and other certifying entities.

• B) Uncertified trainers usually have the blessing from a local gym owner or manager that says they are “certified” as they went through that gym’s certification program. Do not be fooled, this is not a certification, but it will be portrayed as one. Otherwise the trainer will most likely just have worked out for several years and “helped” his friends and so now he calls himself a trainer, and gyms need personal trainers all of the time so guess what, this guy/gal gets hired.
• C) Formerly certified trainers have held one of the nationally recognized training certifications named above. To keep a certification “current’, a certified trainer typically has to do Continued Education Credits (CEC’s) on an annual basis (or every two years) to keep their certification current (with a fee involved, of course.) Corporate gyms are usually initially concerned that a trainer be certified when they get hired, or if not, that they get certified within a grace period after employment. Small gyms normally do not have these strict policies. With that in mind, the Personal Training Manager (or Fitness Director) of a corporate gym can bend the gym’s policies for current certifications of their trainers that have been employed for a while. Many times the upkeep of a trainers certification is done on the honor system or is just simply overlooked after the hiring process.

Formerly certified trainers typically do not work inside of a corporate gym, but at one point in their career, they did work for one of the “big boys.” These trainers have their own studios or do in home or at site training for you. Or, if they do work for a corporate gym, they are probably the top trainer at that club, or definitely one of the top trainers there, and their schedule will most likely be full. You can get on their waiting list.

• D) College degreed professionals know their science, which is huge. They also are very articulate and generally very knowledgeable. I’m sure most are really great individuals and I’m sure that most have great personalities and I’m sure that most are really good trainers. However, that has NOT always been my experience. The general BS Exercise Science Degreed individuals that I’ve known, hired, interviewed, or otherwise trained, typically have a wonderful grasp on what to do, but they don’t know how to apply that knowledge to working out and, more importantly, to their clients. These individuals have all been very receptive and most go and get certified once that they realize the importance of a national certification.

Exercise Physiologists with Masters Degrees, on the other hand, have been in school a long time and perhaps because of this, because of their title or because of their time spent in research, they tend to be very clinical. Sometimes this attention to detail takes away from their personality and their charisma. If a trainer has only education and book smarts with no hands on experience, and a total lack of personality and/or charisma, I will not hire them. Why? Well because you will not like working with them, usually. There is always an exception. From a sales business perspective, if this individual can charge a high rate but not keep clients, my trainer will not be getting word of mouth business which is arguably the biggest resource for trainers to obtain more clients. My revenue will suffer and it’s bad business. Exercise Physiologists, though, tend to have their own studios or they work for someone where they get referrals and their clients usually don’t have a selection to choose from. Unless you specifically seek out an Exercise Physiologist, my money is on the fact that you will not run into one on your quest to find a personal trainer.

I would choose a brand new Exercise Physiologist over a brand new Nationally Certified Trainer, every time, however. It’s much more difficult to become an Exercise Physiologist than it is to become a Nationally Certified Trainer. It’s really the hands-on experience, though, accompanied by the application of the science that is most important (along with personality/charisma.)

• 2) Personality (Is the trainer charismatic? What is your first impression? Is he/she upbeat and positive?)

If you do not have a basic chemistry with your potential trainer, move on. If there are little red flags that you feel for any reason, move on. Like a rock in your shoe, these elements will grow in their nuisance until you go crazy. If your first impression is not favorable, move on. Do not wait. Working out should be something that you look forward to. If you do not have a chemistry with your trainer, or if you feel funny about working with this person, your training will suffer and your desire will wane. It’s also much more important to have a certified trainer with a positive outlook than one that can randomly give you the algebra behind movement (ideally you will have both.) The trainer doesn’t have to be like Brad Pitt as described earlier, but it certainly helps more to have an upbeat trainer than one that doesn’t want to be there.

If you are working with a trainer in a corporate gym, you will have the opportunity to change trainers, or try a few out, by simply talking with the Fitness Director or Manager. If you go to a private facility, buy two or three sessions to see how they go, if, of course, they pass your initial screening during the consultation phase. Do this instead of buying a whole package, regardless of the savings. Remember, you are not obligated to stay with a trainer once you choose one. It is better to take a money loss than stay with a bad trainer.

• 3) Scheduling (Is the trainer overbooked? What time of day is best for the trainer (not you!)? What time of day do you want to train?)

If the trainers schedule is heavy, if his schedule is full day in and day out, how will that affect your scheduling? If the trainers schedule is busy, go for an early time slot. Many good trainers are busy and by the end of the day, they are just tired. Early training will give you a more energized trainer. Now, once you have determined what time is best for the trainer, figure out what time you can go. Remember earlier appointments on the trainers schedule book will typically get you a more upbeat trainer.

• 4) Affordability (Is the pricing what you expected? Is the pricing fair for what you are getting? Can you pay in installments or by credit card?)
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• Corporate gyms: Depending on the state that you live in, the pricing will reflect that city and states income expectations. If you have a national gym membership, you can simply call around to facilities in other states and find out how much a certain package is and if there is tax. In Phoenix, I was required to charge a city tax at one gym, and at another there was no tax, yet the training was the same. And, if a client bought the training at the gym without tax, they still could use those sessions at the other gym. This will be the case, too, for your national gym membership and your purchased sessions.
• Private Studios: Private gyms usually have specials online, in coupon books, or posted on a sign at their place of business. In the rare instance that they don’t, simply inquire to the gym owner (probably also the trainer that you will work with) as to an introductory special to try them out. They want your business and even though they may not come right out and tell you that they have a discount or special, if you ask, they will let you know what it is.

Personal training costs can vary greatly depending on your trainers experience and/or the gyms requirements for the trainer. Prices from $40-150 per hour can be expected. You will almost always get a better deal at a private training studio, both with the type of trainer that you get and with the pricing, simply because the trainer is making a lot more money in his own studio than what he would make in a corporate gym.

Each corporate gym is different, but you can expect that whatever you pay, your trainer is getting less than half of what you pay for the training, in his/her paycheck. Personal training sales is the largest direct cash source for any corporate gym. Membership sales are the backbone that pay the bills at the big box gyms, but the personal training revenue is free and clear and all profit.

Look for the specials on personal training at the gyms. Usually, the trainer will get paid the same, but you get a better deal. You can check online, or wait until the last week of the month (any month) to see what training specials are available. Training departments have $ quotas and they want your business badly, especially at the end of the month. Their bonus’ and paychecks depend on it. You can use this leverage for freebies such as T-shirts, towels, or giveaway promotional items that they may have on hand. Ask the manager what promotional items that they have to offer if you buy a personal training package. They will usually have a workout bag or something in the back that they will give to you.

These days you can pay in installments in most gyms. You will have a monthly, quarterly or other type of installment arrangement, based on what they offer. In small gyms, this may not be the case. But in a trainer owned and operated facility, you have bargaining power that you will not have in bigger gyms and you will usually get a better deal. Finance charges used to not be added to these installment arrangements based on law and the fact that training is a service, not an item. Check your states laws to be sure.

• 5) Venue (Where is your training going to be done at? Is it convenient or is it a chore to get there?)

Decide when you will be training and if it is going to be before, during mid-day or after work. Then decide where you will look for your trainer. If you choose to take a trainer at your gym, which isn’t in a convenient location, you are setting yourself up for potential excuses to get in the way of your results. Eliminate these excuses now by deciding when you will train and then deciding where would be most convenient for you. It must be convenient for ultimate efficiency. Do not exclude this step. You will be glad you did it.

• 6) Training Philosophy (What is their philosophy in training? How will they train you?)

Your trainers life experience, hands-on training experience, and their education or national certifications will mold how they treat you and how they train you. If they love the Biggest Loser and that type of training approach, you may be set up for a cookie cutter approach for your training. This style is to essentially work everyone out like a professional athlete with dynamic movements and joint taxing exercises that come with a high risk and potential for injury. This training style does have a lot of benefit, but should be reserved for those that already have a moderate to high level of fitness, not the beginner. The NASM national certification is one of the certifications that 24 hour fitness and the Biggest Loser love to use as their approach to fitness in general. I caution against going high impact, high dynamic and high stress on your joints, ligaments and tendons, as a beginner. It may look cool, but getting hurt is not worth the risk.

Be informed, ask your potential new trainer how they will approach your training based on your goals, abilities, and limitations.

• 7) Listening Skills (During your consultation, does your trainer hear what you are saying, or does he/she simply pay you lip service?)

There you are, you just told your potential new trainer that you don’t like the treadmill. So, what do they do? For your warm-up they put you on the treadmill. Just an oversight? Maybe, but keep an eye on what you tell your trainer, and what actions he takes. If you do not like lunges, and they insist that you do them, fire that trainer and get another. You will be better off getting a trainer that not only hears what you say, but also applies what you told him to your workouts. Yes, the trainer is the professional and is responsible for giving you a workout plan to get you the results that you want or need. But there are many approaches to working muscles that get the same or similar benefit. If you absolutely do not like a certain exercise, you should not be made to do it. It’s that simple.

• 8) Background (Where are they from? What other jobs have they had? How long have they been a certified trainer?)

New Yorker’s move quickly and expect things to move along, especially when compared to someone who is from the West Coast. And, we all know how accents vary greatly from coast to coast, too. This may be a minor consideration, but it should be a part of your total selection process. If you are not at an identifying level with this trainer, you may fail to grasp science, technique, ideas or simple communication that can be devastating to your training program.

Knowing the types of previous jobs that the trainer has had will give you an idea of where they are coming from and where their perspective may be. This will aide you in your absorption and communication with your trainer. This will also give you an idea of their experience related to physical fitness.

The length of time that this trainer has been a trainer, in addition to how long they have been a certified trainer, will also allow you to decide on their experience level. If you have a particular condition or ailment, be sure to ask the trainer how many clients they have worked with that had a similar condition. Then ask what their knowledge is on that issue. This way you don’t just get a coined book response, but you also get a hands-on outlook, if they have one.

• 9) Experience (How many clients have they trained? Where?)

Many trainers became certified long after they had begun training clients. It is good to know what their total time training clients is. This is best measured, not only in a typical calendar year but also by taking into consideration how many clients they have served (approximately) since they became a trainer.

A full-time trainer will service 30-50 sessions in a week. This will mean that the trainer has roughly 15-40 clients. People travel, work, get ill, etc. so the trainers calendar, though mostly constant, will always be alive and fluctuating to some degree. Though they may serve the same clients week in and week out, to get to this level of training, they have likely serviced thousands of clients to perfect their skills enough to be able to train full-time for a living.

If they’ve trained less than a hundred clients, these trainers are brand new and learning everyday, with you too. If they’ve trained hundreds of clients, you know that they have skills and are still in their first year or two of training. If they have trained thousands of clients throughout their career, you know that you have a trainer that should be able to detect your progress and make adjustments to your days workout session on a per session basis. The subtleties that are observed by your experienced trainer in your gains, or any deficiencies noted, will stand out. The adept trainer will ask you questions about their observations from time to time and based on their observations and your responses they can further make adjustments to your workout plan as needed.

It is also good to know where these trainers have trained these clients. Was it in the gym they are now? Probably not. Was it in a variety of gyms? Where? Were there house calls or was the training done outside in parks?

These questions will allow you to know your trainers ability to adapt to a changing environment and know if they are creative or not. Knowing these traits will help you determine if your sessions will be not just work, but also fun. Gee there is a concept!

• 10) Stability (Will they be here a year from now?)

If your trainer has moved around from gym to gym, the odds are that he will move again. Just be prepared that this day may come. And, if you decide to stay with that trainer, you will end up potentially driving to an inconvenient location to stay with that trainer. When great trainers leave busy corporate gyms to start their own businesses, that is exactly what happens. Most of the clients leave the gym to stay with their trainer, it is a phenomenon.

• 11) Duration of training (How long do you expect to pay a trainer for their services? How long does the trainer recommend training for you to achieve your goals?)

Having a personal trainer is a luxury. I tell this to anyone I train right out the gate. You can learn the principles and science that relate to exercise and apply them yourself. You can, it is true. But, like most people, you probably don’t have the time or the desire to do this. And, even if you do, most people do not have the personal motivation to make themselves stick with a plan. This is where the trainer is best inserted into your exercise plan to help you achieve your goals. Allow the trainer to be the catalyst to get you exercising, motivated and accountable, for at least three months.

After three months, if you are actually going to your sessions and doing the “homework” that the trainer is recommending for you, you will start to notice significant changes to your body, regardless of your level of fitness. You can be a novice having never been in a gym, or you can be a professional athlete. If you follow your trainers recommendations for your goals, most times, you will achieve much more than you ever thought you could. I know it requires you to have a little faith, or a lot, but it is part of the process. Just remember, the trainer is there because he/she has decided to make Health their profession and they will put time and effort into you and your exercise plan (as long as you show up and give of your energy instead of whining.) People will begin to give you comments too such as, “Wow did you dye your hair? Did you get a new shirt? Did you get a tan? You look great, what are you doing? Are you working out?” All of the little things that can make a big difference in most of our attitudes towards working out.

You are not your own dentist, are you? How about your own tax accountant or car mechanic? Probably not, then why would you put your most valuable asset into the hands of someone that is not a professional in the field of exercise, namely you? Learn the correct way to lift weights during these three months, develop some good habits, allow yourself to derive the high you get from working out, and then decide if you wish to keep training or to go it alone. At least give it the three months to have the proper instruction prior to venturing out into the sea’s by yourself, otherwise, you may be sidelined by an injury.

• 12) Supplements (What is the trainers philosophy on recommending supplements?)

What does the trainer push when it comes to supplements? Many trainers like to recommend a variety of supplements that are not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA.) Either because it is a part of their philosophy or because they make commissions on these supplements and/or there is a quota for the gym to sell a certain amount of supplements. Yes, again there is a financial motivator most times. Remember, the supplement industry is a Billion dollar a year industry.

If you choose to use supplements, do your research because you are the guinea pig and you will be part of the statistics for the science 10-30 years from now that will either promote or destroy the products of today, based on safety and effect.

Most people have never eaten nutritionally and in a balanced manner. Look at the obesity in our country for an easy example. The least expensive, most healthy way for you to experiment with your food intake, instead of supplementation, is through natural foods and eliminating the junk. You can consult with your doctor, a nutritionist, or a registered dietician for their view and recommendations on your supplementation. If you take any medications, it is critical that you discuss any supplement that you plan on taking with your doctor.

• 13) Focus (Does the trainer give you their full attention? Or are they talking to other trainers or clients while they train you? What is your focus? Why are you there?)

You are paying a lot of money for your training session. Discounted or not, you deserve to have the attention of your trainer. If he/she is busy looking at members of the opposite sex, or if he is talking to other people while he is training you, that should be a giant red flag telling you that you need a new trainer. How is the trainer going to see how your body is responding to your workload if they are not paying attention? How are they going to know if you are holding your breath at the peak of the movement if they are talking to someone else? These are job duties of your trainer and you are paying them to pay attention, if they are not, get rid of them. This was one of my biggest pet peeves as a gym manager. It is also one of the complaints that I’ve heard many times from clients during my consultation phase. When I asked them if they had worked with a trainer before and what positive/negative things they liked/disliked about the training, many times the response for the negative portion of the question was, “He was busy talking to people while he was training me,” or “He would lean up against the machine and check out the other members.” I can’t even imagine that happening, but it does.

What is your focus? Are you daydreaming and not giving the right attention to your workout, the one that you are paying for? If you are not paying attention and you are just there to say that you did it, you might as well go home. Weight bearing exercise should not be performed carelessly, that is how you get hurt. What about the trainer? Are you smitten with the trainer? Are their charisma and looks the reasons that you picked that trainer and decided to train in the first place? If so, ok, but at least give your trainer 100% of your effort instead of whining. You can be fired too, as the client.

Honesty with yourself as to your reasons to train are important. Share these reasons with the trainer that you are choosing. The trainer needs to know, really know, what is motivating you. I understand that many of you are shy and/or embarrassed about your weight or health condition. Believe me, your trainer has seen and heard just about everything, probably as much as a paid therapist, so no matter what your motivation or apprehension is to working out, share these important tidbits with your trainer. It really is for your benefit. If you don’t share your motivation, the passion given by your trainer will be less and you will not get full value out of your hard earned money.

Whether you shell out $40 for an in-home personal training session or $80 for a gym personal training session, you can get burned if you do not do your research. I can walk into any gym, look at any ads on Craigslist or in the newspaper and find a really excellent trainer for $40 hour. Or, in contrast, I can also find a really crummy trainer for $60 hour. It’s not how much you pay that determines the quality of a trainer, unfortunately. So, do your research. Ask questions, take notes, make files if necessary, but be informed and make the best judgment that you can for your most valuable asset, you!

Where can you go to find certified trainers? Any corporate gym will have nationally certified trainers. You can employ these trainers, most times, without actually getting a membership but you will have to inquire about this specifically. You can drive down your city streets and look for “Personal Training” on the side of the buildings. Most independent trainers will have this title somewhere on their glass or outside signage. You can also do a blind search via Craigslist and the newspapers or coupon books. Most all of the national certifications have Website's with links to their currently certified trainers that you can pull up with a simple entry of the city or zip code of where you are searching--here is ONE example. Sometimes you can find some great trainers at health fairs with their own booths. If a trainer goes through this much effort to promote themselves, you can bet that they have professional skills and a great personality. But really, the best way to find a great trainer, is to ask your friends or coworkers. If they are happy with their trainer, they will tell you. If not, they won’t say anything at all or they will give a bad report and you can just move on.

No matter which route you take for choosing a personal trainer, you are now better prepared to begin your search for a personal trainer. Choose wisely, not blindly.

Happy hunting and best of fortune to you in your path to better health! Thank you for your time and your attention! Your votes are also appreciated!