Choosing the right personal trainer for you..

A Guide to Finding Your Fitness Partner

Finding the right personal trainer can be a game-changer in your fitness journey. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, build muscle, improve your overall health, or just stay motivated, a skilled and supportive trainer can help you reach your goals faster and more effectively. But with so many trainers out there, how do you pick the one that’s right for you?

Here are some essential factors to consider when choosing a personal trainer that matches your fitness needs and personal style.

1. Understand Your Goals

Before you even begin your search, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. Are you focused on weight loss, building strength, improving flexibility, or training for a specific event? Different trainers specialize in different areas, so having specific goals will help you narrow down the right match.

Weight loss: Look for a trainer who specializes in fat loss and has experience designing calorie-burning programs.

Strength training: If you’re aiming to increase muscle mass or strength, seek out a trainer experienced in weightlifting, powerlifting, or bodybuilding.

Functional fitness: If your focus is on injury prevention or overall health, you might want someone with a background in corrective exercise or mobility work.

2. Experience and Specializations

Experience plays a key role in how well a trainer can help you achieve your goals. A trainer with years of experience will be able to adapt to your specific needs, adjust exercises for your fitness level, and keep your workouts engaging and challenging.

Also, consider whether the trainer has experience working with people who have similar goals or fitness levels as you. For example, if you’re new to exercise or have previous injuries, a trainer with experience working with beginners or rehabilitative training may be a better fit.

3. Personality and Communication Style

The best personal trainers are not just knowledgeable ,they also motivate, inspire, and make you feel confident. Your trainer should be someone who makes you feel comfortable, whether that means being encouraging, energetic, or calm, depending on your personal preferences.

When meeting potential trainers, ask yourself:

Do you feel comfortable talking to them?

Are they a good listener when you explain your goals or concerns?

Do they seem genuinely invested in helping you succeed?

A good trainer will adapt their communication style to suit your personality and will be patient and understanding throughout your fitness journey.

4. Availability and Location

Consistency is key to achieving your fitness goals, so choose a trainer who has availability that works with your schedule. Check if their hours align with your availability,whether you prefer morning, afternoon, or evening sessions.

Location also matters. If you’re training in a gym, ensure it’s conveniently located, and if you’re working with a trainer remotely (online training), ensure they have a streamlined system for virtual sessions and are comfortable with your preferred platform (Zoom, Skype, etc.).

5. Approach to Training

Not all personal trainers have the same approach to fitness, and what works for one person might not work for you. Some trainers emphasize high-intensity interval training (HIIT), while others may focus on strength training, yoga, or functional movements.

Ask the trainer about their philosophy and how they structure sessions. Do they tailor workouts to your specific goals, or is it more of a one-size-fits-all approach? Do they focus on gradual progress, or are they more about pushing you to your limits? Make sure their approach aligns with what you’re looking for.

7. Reviews and Referrals

Word of mouth can be incredibly helpful when selecting a trainer. Look for reviews online or ask for referrals from friends, family, or people who have worked with the trainer. Personal recommendations can give you a clearer picture of a trainer’s professionalism, reliability, and how they work with clients.

Additionally, ask the trainer for testimonials or success stories from other clients who had similar goals to yours. Real-life results speak volumes.

8. Price and Packages

Personal training can be a significant investment, so make sure the pricing fits within your budget. Some trainers offer individual sessions, while others may provide package deals that are more cost-effective in the long run. Be sure to ask about any additional fees (for example, for gym access, nutrition consultations, etc.) before committing.

Keep in mind that while a cheaper trainer may seem appealing, you often get what you pay for. Quality, experienced trainers may charge more, but they can offer a higher return on investment by helping you achieve your goals more efficiently.

9. Trial Session

Many trainers offer a free or discounted trial session, which gives you the opportunity to experience their style firsthand. This is the best way to determine if the trainer’s personality, approach, and skills are a good fit for you. Use this time to ask questions about their training methods and to discuss your goals. It’s also a great chance to see if they communicate clearly and create a motivating atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right personal trainer is about finding a professional who understands your goals, works within your fitness level, and is someone you enjoy working with. It’s not just about their knowledge, but about the connection you build, as this can make all the difference in your fitness journey.

Take the time to do your research, ask questions, and trust your instincts. The right trainer can help you push through plateaus, stay accountable, and, most importantly, make your fitness experience more enjoyable and sustainable in the long run.

Your fitness journey starts now!

Every small action adds up

"Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change." - Jim Rohn

Building a body your future self will thank you for doesn't happen by accident. It's great to set the intention…

But the real "magic" happens when you take consistent action. For example:

✅Prepping healthy meals for the week instead of going with the flow and making last minute decisions while hungry that will lead to many empty calories

✅ Scheduling workouts like you would important meetings rather than hoping to feel goo in the morning for a workout or expecting a light day at work and you’ll do your workout after.

✅ Sleep.. this is most important. It sets the tone for your whole day. Have a routine before bed and stick to it best you can.

As we jump into 2025, what’s one small change you’re making towards your goals?

The 5 whys

It’s all about asking yourself “Why!”

This little exercise is a powerful way to help you uncover solutions to problems – both practical AND motivational! Plus your answers might surprise you.

All you need is a notebook and pen (or an empty doc on your computer) and a few uninterrupted minutes. 

⭐First, write down what you want to achieve.  Maybe it’s to fit into an old pair of jeans, get back in shape (or just plain into shape), lose 15 pounds, cut sugar out of your diet, etc. 

Now comes the fun part….Just ask why.  Why do you want to do that? (Write it down!) Then, ask why AGAIN. Continue for a total of 5 times.

Example: I want to lose 15 pounds.

❓ Why do I want to lose 15 pounds? Because I want to fit back into my jeans.

❓ Why do I want to fit back into my jeans? Because I feel self-conscious and my clothes aren’t fitting the way they used to, and I’ll feel more confident if I’m comfortable in my clothes 

❓ Why do I want to feel more confident? Because right now, I hold myself back from being more social. If I feel more confident, I’ll be more outgoing and will go out with friends more often.

❓ Why do I want to be more social? It’s scary but I want to feel good about myself when I’m out with friends.  I want to have more FUN in my life and develop deeper relationships

❓ Why do I want to have more fun and develop deeper relationships? Because I’ve been feeling isolated and a little lonely, and I need a sense of adventure in my life! 

When you dig a little deeper- you eventually get to the REAL underlying motivation for wanting to lose that 15 pounds – which isn’t about weight loss at all. 

It’s about wanting to feel more connected to others and have more fun.  Are you IN for the challenge this week?  Let me know in a comment below... and if you’re feeling brave, let us know what your main goal is! 

How stress is killing your progress

You know, the arcade game where a mole keeps popping up in unpredictable spots and it’s your job to smack it on the head?

Well, that’s kind of like how stress works. Except you are the mole … and when stress gets out of control, every time you make a move, it keeps bopping YOU on the head.

Not only do you feel out of control, but it can also make you feel too tired or distracted to get in a solid workout.

Even worse, it can derail your workouts entirely (which sucks, because working out is a great stress reliever).

This is why it’s SO IMPORTANT to have a plan to manage stress before it manages you. I came across this list of 6 different kinds of stress a while ago and thought it was eye-opening. 

Since most of us deal with more than one kind of stress at a time, you can see how it really adds up!

1. Physical stress: bad night of sleep, being sick, hungry, or injured

2. Mental stress: rough day at work, too many decisions to make, overwhelmed

3. Emotional stress: feeling guilty, grief, anger, hate, frustration

4. Social stress: disagreements with others, feeling lonely, etc.

5. Existential stress: feeling hopeless, wondering what it all means, etc.

6. Environmental stress: loud noises, unsafe surroundings, hot or cold temperatures, stuck in traffic, etc.

Creating a lifestyle that helps you prevent and manage those stresses will help you become more resilient – and can stop stress from getting in the way of your goals.

PLUS: the same steps that help you manage stress will also move you CLOSER to your fitness goals.

Getting enough sleep

• Exercise and being active

• Eating a healthy diet

• Practicing stress management techniques that work with you (yoga, breathing exercises, etc.)

Are you over-complicating it?

What would your fitness routine look like if it were easy?

Fact: Most of us LOVE to make things complicated.

There’s even a term for it: “complexity bias.” 

Complexity bias is when you decide to make a change in almost any area of your life … and all of a sudden you start thinking about ways to make that change even BETTER or MORE EFFECTIVE.

So you start layering in new rules or extra guidelines to add “juice” to your results. Have you ever done that? I know I used to. 

Here’s an example:

The simple way: I’m going to work out 4 days a week for the next 30 days …

versus: 

The complex way: I’m going to do fasted cardio in the morning, do strength training after work, change up my diet completely, start meditating, drink more water, and only eat with my left hand. 

If we have to choose between two things – one that’s clear and simple, or one that’s more complex with more steps – we usually choose the complex option.

The problem with that is it can be REALLY hard to keep up with over time.

Don’t get me wrong. Complex choices aren’t BAD, especially if they make you feel more accomplished or if you’re training for a big event.But if they make you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or get in the way of being consistent, then it’s time to streamline and get SIMPLE.

Focus on the thing(s) that work FOR you.

Here are some ways to make your routine simple:

1. Choose the simplest results-getting actions, 

2. Make sure those actions work with your lifestyle & schedule,

3. Include activities and/or food you enjoy, and

4. Consider working with an expert to keep you focused & accountable, and 

5. That also has a streamlined program for PROVEN RESULTS.

The most important thing is that you choose actions that help you stay CONSISTENT!