Hiring a coach or a personal trainer is an exciting process. When you hire a trainer or a coach you are making an investment in yourself. If you have the right coach it can make your investment worth wild.
Usually, the longer someone has been in the fitness industry, the better a coach they are. While it is not always the case, you want someone with experience. They will know how to adjust on the fly and better explain proper form. While someone who is newly certified might be great, they still might lack the wisdom that a more experienced trainer has.
2 of 9
franckreporter / Getty
No. 2: What’s included in your program?
This is a loaded question. You want to know right off the bat what is included in the program. Is nutrition part of it? Will you be getting weighed and have measurements taken every week? How many sessions per week? How long is each session? You want to be on the same page as your trainer and find out what you’re getting for your money. You don’t want to assume anything because you may be paying one price thinking everything is included, only to find out nothing is included.
3 of 9
Tim Robberts / Getty
No. 3: Do you have any client pictures or videos?
The proof is in the pudding. Does the trainer you are thinking about hiring have a good track record with getting people results? Before and after pictures can show you how serious the trainer is and can give you a glimpse of what you might be able to achieve. The more testimonials, the better.
4 of 9
Phillip Waterman / Getty
No. 4: What’s Your Style?
Every trainer or coach has a different way of teaching. Some are in your face and loud, while others are quiet. Certain trainers teach with their hands and by demonstrating, while others teach visually. Which style will work best for you? Do you need someone who is going to scream at you like a boot camp? Or are you looking for someone who will push you without causing a scene?
Â
5 of 9
pixelfit / Getty
No. 5: How Long Does Your Process Take?
Even though this question is hard to answer, you still need to ask it. It’s an especially good question to help weed out the con artists. People get results at a different pace, so it’s nearly impossible to guarantee results to a client. But a con artist will make promises that sound too good to be true just to make a sale. The answer you should look for should be: “Well, it’s hard to say for sure because every person is different but generally my clients lose an average of 10-20lbs in a three-month period. It really just depends on how much effort they put into my program.”
6 of 9
skynesher / Getty
No. 6: What’s Your Cancellation Policy?
Trainers usually work by the hour, so if they don’t have a client, they don’t get paid. This leads most of them to implement a 24-hour cancellation policy. Before you sign any contracts, make sure they explain this policy to you. You want to be sure you agree with their policy and make sure you can abide by it.
7 of 9
Westend61 / Getty
No. 7: Do You Have a Nutrition Background?
Eighty percent of your results will come from your nutritional habits. I feel it’s extremely important for you to invest in a trainer that has a sound nutrition background. Your eating is everything, and you want to have a good coach that can explain to you how to eat to get to your goals.
8 of 9
Tom Merton / Getty
No. 8: Will I Need Any Supplements or Equipment Before We Start?
Supplements are only one part of the equation, and you really don’t want to hire someone who will recommend you spend a fortune on them. And you definitely don’t want them to make up the majority of your transformation protocol. In addition to supplements, does your trainer need you to purchase any type of equipment such as a training journal, heart rate monitor, or food scale? You want to start off on the right foot and make sure you have the right stuff.Â
9 of 9
EmirMemedovski / Getty
No. 9: What If I Don’t See Results?
This is an important question to ask because you want to know what would happen if you weren’t getting results. How would the trainer alter your training or diet to keep you on the right path? Ask this question so you can understand the trainer’s methodology. If you plateau, will they be altering your diet, increasing your cardio, or upping your overall volume?
