How Good Is Your Trainer?

When I first started training, it was out of complete desperation. I had moved to San Diego with no friends, no job, no money. I was told to apply for a personal trainer position at a corporate gym down the street. 

"They hire anyone," I was told. 

Nice.  That's makes me feel good.

I got the job with zero experience, but they, of course, were willing to train me. 

After six weeks of answering phones and four days of "training," I was supposedly ready for my first client—a woman who had paid $1,200 in personal training sessions in order to properly prepare for a body-building competition. Instead of working with someone who had experience in specific body-building techniques, the poor thing got me. Don't get me wrong, I did the best I could and we had fun.  Retrospectively speaking, it was a waste of her money. Yes, I'll be the first to admit it—I was not the best trainer for her needs.

The point of the story? Gyms pump personal trainers out like hot cakes. Just because they wear a shiny red shirt and have a trainer badge on does not make them good or appropriate for your specific needs. So what does? What are the characteristics or the basics of a good trainer?

Your trainer should be: P.E.P.E.  A.T.  W.O.R.K.

P - PROFESSIONAL: Your trainer should be fun, but appropriate. Do they make rude comments? Talk about others? Discuss their personal issues? Dress like they just woke up—wait, I do that :) Swear, yell, etc.?

E - ENTHUSIASM: You may not love everything your trainer is having you do, but there is nothing worse than watching trainers look bored while they stand there counting the remaining minutes in the session. Ugh!!! If your trainer isn't making the session fun (for you) and somewhat interactive and entertaining, find someone who will. 

P- PUNCTUAL: Things come up, but you are their priority. If they are late more than once or twice, kick 'em to the curb.

E - EMPATHY: Trainers need to do more than create programs and tell you what to do. If they don't understand what makes you tick and why you're there, how can they motivate you and help you reach your goals?

A - ACCOMMODATE: Not all programs or exercises are suitable for everyone. Eighty-seven-year-old Mable, who just had heart surgery, doesn't necessarily need to learn how to swing a 40-pound kettle-bell. It's funny, but I see trainers do this. Yikes! Make sure your trainer is there to suit your needs specifically. 

T-  TIME EFFICIENT: Are you getting the most out of your session or is your trainer dragging along, wasting your time and money? The only down time should be when you need to rest. 

 W- WORTH IT: Personal training can be quite costly. Average sessions run between $50-$100 per hour. It's not exactly chump change. So before you shell out a bunch of cash (like my poor body builder lady), ask yourself what you need and why you need it. Do you need someone to just motivate you or help you with general fitness? Try joining a group class or boot camp. They usually cost less than $150 a month. 

O - ON IT: Your trainer needs to be up to speed with the latest and greatest information related to fitness and health. 

R- RELIABLE: If your trainer says they are going to be somewhere or do something, make sure they follow through. A flaky trainer is a bad trainer.

K - KINESIOLOGY: A personal trainer or fitness coach doesn't have to be an exercise physiologist or even have a college education. However, they better understand the human body—how it functions and how it performs.  

Next time you are shopping for a trainer, keep these things in mind. If you already have a trainer and they aren't P.E.P.E.  A.T.  W.O.R.K, time to re-evaluate. 

Do you have any good stories about crappy (or good) trainers?  Please share in the comment box below.