Patricia Sims’ decision to hire a personal trainer was more than simply finding someone to help achieve her ambitious goal of losing 80 pounds.
It also appealed to her logic.
“First, I have to be accountable to that person; he expects me to be there,” says Sims, who hired a trainer from Club Fitness in St. Charles in September. “Second, I don’t know enough about fitness. Say you have a problem with your plumbing, you wouldn’t call an electrician, right? So, I wanted to hire a fitness expert.”
The move continues to pay dividends for Sims, who has struggled to lose weight in the past. Thus far, she has shed 11 pounds and several inches from her waist. Along with dietary and lifestyle changes, Sims credits her success to her twice-weekly appointments with her personal trainer Mark.
“He’s very patient and very efficient and he’s responsible for me achieving my goal. That’s his focus,” she explains. “I feel that when I train with him.”
Trust is just one of several factors that go into a successful client-personal trainer relationship. Experts say a top-notch personal trainer possesses a bachelor’s degree in an exercise-science field and certification through the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, or another reputable national organization.
The next step is finding a trainer who specializes in the client’s fitness goal like weight loss, training for a marathon or strength training, says Dan Fitzpatrick, personal trainer, Wildwood Family YMCA.
“I would also make sure they are CPR-certified and AED-certified (automated external defibrillator),” he adds.
Jeremy Koerber, fitness center manager for BJC WellAware Center, says clients should ask how long the trainer has been working in the field. “Some people want individuals who have been in the game for a long time,” he says. “Also, the trainer should be able to clearly tell the client where he or she should be 8 to 10 weeks from the initial appointment.”
Personal trainers should be well-versed with the proper techniques for various exercises and weight-lifting drills, says Nic Hays, assistant director of personal trainers for the Lemay Ferry branch of Dynamic Fitness Management, which offers its services through Club Fitness.
Additionally, arranging for a personality match between the client and personal trainer is crucial to a successful partnership, Hays explains.
“The director and myself set up a complimentary session with the client and find out a little about them,” he adds. “From there, we try to match them with our trainers, who we know really well. Sometimes, our matches don’t work and we’ll find them another trainer.
“Plus, when I set up a new member, I always ask him if they are comfortable with a male or female, or if it even matters.”
As the client-trainer relationship evolves, the trainer should serve as a consistent motivational force.
“The clients are usually coming in from a rough day of work,” Hays explains. “We’re there to be their positive influence to help them stay motivated and keep their eyes on their goals.
“A lot of people leave work tired. In fact, a lot of clients say that if it wasn’t for their appointment, they wouldn’t even come in. The accountability, the motivation we bring to them, and the positive attitudes and results, is where we come in.”
Ultimately, Sims learned that her personal trainer is someone she can trust.
“Because he knows intimate details of my body, it has to be someone I can trust,” she says. “If I couldn’t trust him, there’s no way I could continue with him.”
