Why finding a personal trainer is just like dating. How to know when they’re not ‘the one’.
Something I’ve realised in my time in the fitness space is that finding the right personal trainer, is just like dating. You’re not likely to find ‘the one’ after your first meeting nor will you know if they are ‘the one’ after just one meeting.
Similar to a new romance, there can be a fine line between giving a PT enough time to know they’re The One and knowing when it’s time to say goodbye. If you apply the same standards (in both romantic dating and plutonic Personal Trainer dating!), it’s crucial to make sure:
They listen – It’s key that your PT doesn’t ignore you when you express discomfort, pain or even a desire to try something specific. Communication should always be a two-way street!
They’re invested in your goals and willing to support you – Your PT should be aligned with your values, beliefs and goals, and willing to assist you in achieving them.
You have good chemistry (plutonic of course!) – It’s important to get along well with your PT. This will help you actually look forward to workouts, not dread them!
They respect you and make you feel safe – You should feel like you’re in good hands with your PT and should never make you feel uncomfortable in any way.
Now, ensuring that you have the above locked down, here are some of the most common red flags I’ve seen that you should avoid at all costs. If any of these resonate with you – I have three words: Run! For! Cover!
They skip the initial consultation.
It sounds obvious, but an initial consultation is a must, that way your PT can guide and direct personalised workouts for you.
In your initial consultation, you should be asked:
Health and fitness history: any past or existing injuries, any current health concerns?
Long-term goals for your workout sessions: weight loss, muscle gain, toning etc.
Your diet and hydration habits: Ensuring you are fuelling your body enough for the kind of workout you are doing, to avoid things like muscle atrophy.
If your PT doesn’t seek this information from you before you jump into your first workout, this is a major tell-tale sign that they aren’t the trainer for you (or anyone else!).
They don’t have the correct qualifications or insurances.
This also sounds like a no-brainer, but often we forget to check the basics when signing up with a PT. Making sure they have the correct qualifications is a non-negotiable. Qualifications to look for include; Cert. IV in fitness, Complete Personal Trainer Certificate or Diploma in Fitness. It’s helpful to ask what they specialise in too, to ensure their speciality aligns with your needs.
They’re hyper-focussed on aesthetic results.
A PT that is solely focussed on body aesthetics, likely doesn’t have your best interest at heart. Your PT should also be concerned with how you feel and if YOUR specific goals are being kept in mind throughout your time training together.
Something else to keep top of mind here is that no matter your goals; stronger abs, arms etc., your PT should be mixing up the muscle groups you are working out, never training the same muscles without giving them time to rest in between workouts.
They don’t correct your form.
Depending on your workout experience, it is likely that your PT will often need to correct your form. The correct form can be the difference between a valuable workout and a recipe for injury. If your PT doesn’t consistently check in with how exercises are feeling, making sure you’re not feeling pain in certain areas and offering regressions and progressions where required, they likely aren’t paying enough attention to your workout.
They come to each workout with no plan. Instead, they ad-lib.
They come to your session with no workout plan, instead they begin the workout session and make it up as they go. This is a sign of poor management and lack of care - beyond all, this is just unprofessional! We pay PTs for their expertise and planning as well as their in-person workout guidance, so it is key that they are well-prepared for your personalised session. Your PT should also be keeping track of and measuring your progress, with notes on weight-used, reps completed, past workouts and so on.
Hope this helps,
Much love!