If you have tried to lose weight or improve your health habits in the past only to become frustrated and ultimately give up, then one of the best things you can do to see real results is to start working with a personal trainer. Having someone to provide structure and motivation for your fitness journey is invaluable and makes a big difference in your ability to achieve your goals*. However, there are many personal trainers out there, and not all of them will be right for you. To help you make the decision process easier, here are three qualities that I recommend looking for in a personal trainer:
- Communication Skills. One of the keys to a great personal trainer and client relationship is excellent communication skills. For starters, a big part of a trainer’s job is to explain the steps of different exercises and the rationale behind different meal plans, so you need someone who can convey that information in an accessible way. In addition, personal training is often a vulnerable process, so you need a candidate who can give useful feedback while still being considerate and sensitive to your feelings.
- Another essential quality in a personal trainer is patience. Improving your fitness is an ongoing process—learning to exercise effectively takes time, and seeing results takes even longer. Look for someone who is willing to explain things as many times as you need to understand what you’re supposed to do and why. You also want someone who is willing to adjust their approach to work better for you.
- Lastly, remember that a personal trainer is someone you hired to do a job. While it’s important to find someone you can get along with, don’t let your sessions together get sidetracked by friendly gossip. You are there to work, so your trainer shouldn’t use up your time with storytelling or go easy on you because you’re now friends. In my personal training practice, I always focus on making sure that you get the most from each of our sessions.
*Individual results will vary.