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Looking for a Little 1-on-1 Attention?

© Mindy Herzog

Personal Training is a popular option for those who are less motivated to exercise, have severe health problems, or are working on specific sport training. Hiring a Personal Trainer comes at a price and at that price is individualized attention and training just for you on a one-on-one basis.

No one person can look at you and say "you need a personal trainer". If they do, I say run, 'cause they're probably in it for the profit, not for you. Only you can decide what kind of attention you need. Here are some tips to decide if hiring a trainer is for you.

How to know if you need a Personal Trainer?

1. Are you unmotivated? Do you need someone to be responsible to so you'll show up and work out?

2. Do you have a health risk that would cause concern for you to be exercising alone? Having someone there who knows your disease and can work with you is a plus.

3. Are you training for a marathon, triathlon, or other sport? A knowledgeable trainer can get you going and save you time and injury.

4. Are you at a plateau in your workout? Have you stopped gaining strength or losing weight despite your continued program? A trainer can look at your program and make adjustments to get you back on track.

As a Health and Fitness Director, I am quite scared of the number of people walking around saying they are "Personal Trainers". I frequently have calls from students saying they lifted in High School and want to be a Personal Trainer. Believe it or not it does take skill, education, and practical experience to be a good trainer.

Look for these when considering hiring a trainer.

1. Do they have a degree in Exercise Science, Health & Fitness, or any other related degree?

2. Do they have a certification from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), or another related field. To see a list of popular certifications go to http://www.mindyfit.com/certification_li...

3. Do they have any experience working with special populations such as older adults, diabetes, heart disease, and others.

4. Did they put you through a health assessment prior to starting your program?

If someone calls themselves a Personal Trainer and hasn't sought out any of the above, I would be wary. Knowledge of the human body and how it responds to exercise is a science and must be studied so that someone is not put at a risk. Exercise is a "risk". Although exercise is proven to have long-term health benefits it is a risk at which we push our bodies to limits that aren't experienced on a regular daily basis.