Are You Ready To Hire A Personal Trainer?

So, you're thinking you need to "get in shape", "get back in shape", or "lose some weight", and you think hiring a personal trainer to "kick your butt" is the way to go.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before making the leap:

1. Am I willing to commit the time to working with someone 2-3 times per week for 2-3 months minimum?‎

‎

Real change and habit development takes time and repetition. A good personal trainer looks at your long term goals and develops a health strategy for you accordingly. At ConnectedBody Strength we also offer the Plan program for those who already have solid habits in place and simply need a push in the right direction with a properly built training plan.

2. Are you prepared for the financial commitment?

Trainer fees run $50-200 per session depending on the education and experience of the trainer, and most only sell on a package basis. You get what you pay for.

3. Are you prepared to trust and follow their recommendations for you in terms of nutrition, off-days movement "homework", and physical therapy/rehabilitation?‎

I can only do so much in 2-3 hours per week. There's a responsibility for the client to do their off-days work in order to see results.

4. Are you able to be somewhat flexible in when you can meet with your trainer?

EVERYONE wants Wednesday at 5:30 pm. Keep in mind that your trainer has other clients, other commitments, and a life outside of you. They also need sleep as much as the next person, so don't be alarmed or offended if your trainer is not available at 5 am, or isn't free at the exact time you want to meet with them. Be willing to be flexible on your training times for the duration of your sessions.

5. Are you free of physical limitations to work out OR have written medical clearance?

Most trainers can and will train you if you have a health consideration, however, they usually need a signed doctor's note so that their insurance covers them in the unlikely event something goes wrong.

6. Do you know what you want and why you want it?

"I just want to lose weight" isn't a well defined goal and most people who go in with that attitude overtrain and don't eat properly. Part of my intake process before we decide to work together is to go through some of these goals with you to help make sure I can offer the best programming for what you want to achieve.

7. Do you know when you want to achieve your goal and if it is reasonable?

Losing 30 lbs in one month for most of the population is neither safe nor sustainable.‎

‎

8. Are you prepared to have someone push you past your comfort zone?

Results and change don't happen when you're comfortable.

If you can answer YES to most of these questions, congratulations! You're ready to take the next step and work with a trainer. Contact me and let's start the conversation.

Other Questions

How much do you cost?

I can't answer that question without having a detailed conversation with you about your goals, current habits, and type of training you are looking for. I don't charge based on an hourly rate, but rather on a package basis, often a custom created plan. Some clients need a custom program that runs upwards of $4500 for a multi-month training investment. Some clients only need a short term plan to get them started, which is a significantly lower investment. That said, I am more than happy to spend a couple of phone calls with you to determine if we're a good fit for working together.

But I've been working out for years. I know how to do a [insert movement here].

My overwhelming observation after 15 years in this industry, is that those who have lifted for years (me included) still have things they could learn or improve upon even if they are familiar with the movement. And in some cases, the movement has been learned wrong and needs to be corrected to avoid injury and ensure the best progress. This is why I do a movement assessment as part of the first training session with EVERY client.

Why can't I hire you for just one session?

Personal training is different than an exercise class. I am here to teach you how to train, lift, exercise, develop healthy physical and mental habits, and move your body safely under load. If you are just looking to "sweat" and get your "butt kicked", a boot camp or a trainer with different values is probably a better fit for you.

Can you come to the gym I have a membership at and train me there?

No. Commercial gyms have strict liability rules around who can and can't train their customers. I would have to be an employee of the gym in order to do so. Without getting into WHY I don't work for those gyms, the short version is, no. I have a lovely, private studio in the basement of my house that I have been welcoming clients to for several years, and I am legally insured to deliver virtual training (many trainers are not, and many do not know their insurance does not cover online/virtual training).

Do you do couples/group training sessions?

As a rule, no. I will only consider it if you and your training partner have the exact same goals, the exact same abilities, are the same age, and neither have a history of injuries that may have to be accommodated. If there is more than one person in the session, I'm unable to devote my full attention to either person for the duration, which as far as I'm concerned, negates the "personal" in "personal training". If you are looking for a small group class, I would be more than happy to recommend a colleague with similar training as I have whose business model is different.