When you sit down for your initial personal training consult you will discuss your goals, fitness background, and get a general sense of what type of training would be a good fit for you. If you don’t know much about personal training it can be hard to know what questions you should ask during that process. Here are a few suggestions that we think everyone should ask their potential personal trainer before they start.
1. Qualifications
Always find out what qualifications the personal trainer has before signing up to work with them. There is a certification process that every trainer has to go through before they can legally train you. Ensure that they are specifically certified as a personal trainer because there are certifications in group exercise instruction and they are not the same thing. There are tons of certification programs out there but the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) are two of the most popular reputable personal trainer programs.
2. Fitness Philosophy
This is important because the same certification does not mean the same fitness philosophy. Ask why they became a personal trainer and how they approach fitness. Some trainers have a whole person approach while others are solely about the workout and don’t put much into developing a relationship with their clients. Determine what type of personal trainer would work best for you because this is all about you reaching your goals.
3. Experience
Make sure to ask your potential personal trainer how long they have been training and how many clients they have trained. Generally the longer the personal trainer has been working in the field the more experience they will have to offer. Experience is always a plus but it is not always necessary to be great. Some personal trainers are naturals at it and have a lot to offer without having been in the field for very long. So it is best to combine this with their qualifications and philosophy to decide whether they are the right choice for you.
4. CPR/AED certified
Nationally accredited personal training programs offer a CPR/AED certification as part of their program. You cannot be a certified personal trainer without being CPR/AED certified. So if they don’t have it they aren’t certified in personal training. The expert personal trainers at SRQ Health and Fitness are all nationally certified fitness trainers and are knowledgable on how to best meet your fitness goals safely.
5. Cancellation Policy
Every personal trainer and facility has different cancelation policies. A late cancellation could mean you pay for the missed session. So if your job or life is unpredictable and canceling last minute could be a reality on occasion, find out if you can schedule session by session instead of committing to the same day and time each week.
6. Specializations
Many personal trainers have additional specialized certifications. For example, they could be certified in nutrition or special populations. By asking if they have additional certifications you can get a better picture of what else they could offer you. For example, SRQ Health & Fitness Studio specializes in sports conditioning, post-rehabilitation, functional training, strength training, and active aging.
7. Duration
Make sure to inform your potential personal trainer of your fitness goals. Find out what they would recommend as far as how often you should come in for training and how long your sessions would be. Everyone person is different, some need a personal trainer for a short period in time and others need one for a long term investment. Beginners usually have success starting at two sessions per week. Whereas someone who has specific goals in mind may need to have 3 or more sessions a week.
8. What should I eat before/after/at all
Diet is a crucial part of achieving your fitness goals. Make sure to ask what your potential personal trainer would recommend you eat before and after you work out and how you should be eating on a regular basis. Unless additional certified, a personal trainer is not a nutritionist. However, their certification program should have offered them an educational background to be able to provide you with helpful guidelines to follow.
We would love to schedule an initial consultation with you and see how we can help you meet your fitness goals. Being a boutique gym we pride ourselves on working closely with our clients and providing the best possible custom workouts tailored to each client's needs.