You're ready to get serious about your fitness, and you've decided a personal trainer is the best way to get started. But what's next? How do you choose a trainer? How do you know your trainer is qualified? Ask plenty of questions, and make sure you're satisfied with the answers before you decide which trainer is right for you.
Utahann, Rob Henrie echoes that advice. When Rob, 51, decided to hire a personal trainer, he did his homework first. Rob began reading about fitness, seeking advice through books and the Internet, when he began a weight loss program in the spring of 1996.
Rob, started off working out at home, but he soon realized he had questions he couldn't answer. He decided he needed a professional. Rob, who is a Judge, joined FULLBODYFITNESS and hired a personal trainer, Jeff Jensen. So far he has lost about 20 pounds of fat, and has gained 15 pounds of lean muscle mass.
"I didn't want to waste time and money," Rob says. "I wanted to make the most of my time there."
QUALIFICATIONS
When you glance at the many acronym-heavy organizations that certify trainers and realize many of those organizations have levels within the organization itself, it can be overwhelming. "For the consumer, it can be horribly confusing," Jeff Jensen, says.
Trainers have options when it comes to certification and education because they aren't bound by rigid qualifications established by a governing body. Those options range from do-it-yourself educational programs through the Internet to masters-level programs available at higher learning institutions and everything in between. Organizations that certify trainers range from non-profit companies that offer accredited certifications to for-profit companies and other groups that are nationally recognized. HealthPlex has stayed the course and has only hired personal trainers that are certified through nationally accredited organizations. Many of HealthPlex’s certified personal trainers also carry under graduate degrees in Exercise and Sports Sciences or Exercise Physiology.
Jeff, for instance, is a certified member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is a member of the National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT). He received his BS Degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Utah. Has owned a private personal training studio for over 10 years and has over 50,000 training hours of experience. Don't just ask your potential trainer where they were educated and certified. Also ask about continuing education. "It's a fair question to ask so you know what drives your trainer," Jeff, says. "It gives the consumer an idea of how their trainer stays current."
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU
Your trainer should be a good listener and understand your fitness goals, medical background and other needs, Jeff, says. This information will help your trainer develop a plan tailor-made for you rather than a one-size-fits-all program. Look for someone who focuses on what you are saying when you talk and understands what you want from a training program. "It's not about the trainer, it's about the client," he says.
Rob’s trainer made sure his exercise routine shifted as his fitness level increased. A good trainer will make sure you are being challenged, without risking injury. Rob's trainer recently advised him to move off the now-easy elliptical machine. He now gets his cardiovascular work on the stair climber and the treadmill because those machines are new challenges for his body.
CAN I AFFORD IT?
Prices for a personal training session in the Saratoga area typically range from $70 to $90 an hour, Jensen, says. Those prices also can be slightly higher or lower based on where you go. And some training sessions are only sold as a package. Here at the HealthPlex, we have created a unique approach to personal training and offer ½ hour sessions to take away the “time” excuse.
Personal training is not just for the wealthy, he says. Some of Jeff’s clients limit their sessions to what they can afford, and although "it's not as much as either of us would like, we make it work," he says.
For some folks, personal training is worth the investment because it could prevent expensive medical and health problems in the future. Again, you lose your health, you will lose everything and bottom line exercise is about increasing your quality of life.
"It's great to be with someone who knows what they're doing," Rob says. "He gives me tips on form, diet, function and everything." To be frank, it is about perceived value and no one in the greater Saratoga area has greater value than the HealthPlex certified personal training programs.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
Everyone has the potential to be an ideal client, in Jeff’s eyes. But success is in your hands. Jeff does a functional integrated assessment and testing, and what happens next depends on you. "They have to own the goal," he says. "I can encourage them, but they have to claim it. They'll be successful if they claim their own goals."
KEY TO SUCCESS
Rob quotes his trainer in daily life now. He uses phrases such as "mindful eating" and understands one of the great secrets to long-term success: It's a lifestyle change, and exercise alone won't do it. Change your behavior and all things will become possible. "If you want to be different you have to live differently. You have to change your habits," he says. This is true when it comes to eating and when it comes to how you live each day, according to Jeff.
“If you're already fit, think about how you can vary your routine. Don't limit yourself to one form of exercise. You'll be fit for the rest of your life if you stop thinking about exercise as a one-hour chore,” Jeff says.
