Before you fork out some cash for a personal trainer, read this guide!
Itβll help you spot the difference between a bad personal trainer and an AMAZING trainer.Β
And trust us, having the right trainer can make ALL the difference in the world.
Thereβs nothing worse than spending 6+ months in a gym (and thousands of dollars) with a trainer, only to realize that you havenβt made any progress on the goals you have β building muscle, losing weight, etc.
Itβsβ¦
Iβve worked with good trainers and bad trainers over the past 16 years, have worked with the same online personal trainer since 2014, and we have a team of 15 personal trainers on Team Nerd Fitness who have trained 15,000 1-on-1 clients.
Long story short, we know our stuff, and weβll give it to you straight.
Whether or not you want to check out our 1-on-1 Online Training Program, this guide is going to help you with all the details.
In this guide weβll cover the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to personal trainers β both in-person and online:
What do you need from a personal trainer
As Coach Matt explains in the video above, the first question you need to ask when hiring a personal trainer: do they match up with your goals?
And yep, that means weβre going to have to pick some goals in the first place!
So start by picking your goals and then determine if the trainer youβre paired up with is the right fit for you. Like dating, you can meet somebody whoβs amazing but not right for you.
If somebody is a competitive marathon runner, they might not be a great powerlifting coach, and vice versa.
So, start with your goals for finding a personal trainer:
- Are you trying to lose 300 pounds? 20 pounds? Get to 10% body fat?
- Are you trying to get stronger or hold your first handstand?
- Do you want to become a competitive powerlifter?
- Are you looking to run your first 5k?
- Do you just want to get in shape, feel better, and enjoy exercise?
These goals will largely determine the type of trainer youβre looking for.
MISTAKE #1: Not making sure your trainer has expertise in the area you want to train in.
Expertise in one area does not necessarily make them a good fit in another!
After that, youβll want to think about what you NEED from your personal trainer:
- Are you looking for a powerlifting coach to show you the basics (squat, deadlift, bench) so your form is right? Just a few sessions up front and a few later down the line to confirm youβre on the right path might suffice.
- Are you new to working out or looking to kick start your first 2 months of training with 2 sessions per week to keep you disciplined?
- What type of person are you? Do you need more hands-on guidance throughout your workouts, or more space to take ownership and thrive on your own? Do you need somebody who will cheer you on or do you need tough love from somebody to call you on your bullshit?
Once you set proper expectations with what you want and how long you need a trainer for, then you can pick out one that hopefully will work for you.
How to find a good personal trainer
Once you find a trainer you are considering working with, the next step should always be an in-depth conversation.
MISTAKE #2: Blindly accepting what your trainer tells you without making sure you fit together!Β
They SHOULD be listening to you completely and hear your full story.
They SHOULD ask about any past issues with injuries or experience with exercise. If youβre injured or have any deficiencies, they should know this so they can create a great program for you.
They SHOULD ask you about your nutrition. If they donβt ask about your nutrition, youβre going to be wasting your time.
TheyΒ SHOULD practice what they preach. They donβt have to be an Olympian, but should have a healthy lifestyle.
They SHOULD tell you about their expertise and how they can help you. They should be able to share past successes of clients with you or point to their credentials and history of success.
They SHOULD set proper expectations. You wonβt get ripped in a month, but they can let you know it could take many months to get in shape or build the right kind of habits.
Thatβs what to look for. These are the things we specifically focus on with our 1-on-1 online coaching program. We love helping people in a way that fits their lifestyle, at a pace that they feel great about, while actually having fun.
What are the Signs of a bad personal trainer?
Beware the βentertainment exerciseβ trainers with a routine that isnβt catered to your goals.
MISTAKE #3: Thinking a workout is more effective because itβs confusing.
Many trainers just try to confuse you with needlessly complex movements, and put all their clients through roughly the same cookie-cutter plan.
Why? because they know it makes them look knowledgeable without actually needing to do something effectively:
βNow balance on this bosu ball while doing these dumbbell squat lunge curls and standing on one foot with your tongue out! Muscle confusion!
I hope you saved some energy for the row machine.β
Tough workouts are great, but remember that while itβs easy to get someone tired (βgo do 100 burpees!β), itβs harder to help someone slowly improve and build momentum.
Sure, it might elevate your heart rate and tire you out, but if itβs not building towards your goals in a way that you couldnβt do at home, what are you paying for?
They might also have just obtained a basic certification and stopped their education there, relying on βconventional wisdomβ rather than doing the research and building the experience.
If your trainer says any of the following phrases, run for the high hills:
- βYeah you donβt want to squat too low β itβs bad for your knees.β
- βUse this machine; itβs safer for you than free weightsβ (unless you have an injury)
- βYes, you should be using mostly your back. Thatβs why itβs called the back squatβ
- βThese (ab) exercise will burn fat from your stomach in no timeβ (You canβt spot reduce fat.)
I have overheard all of these sound bitesΒ from real trainers in real gyms, and it made me weep like the Native American in the 1970s pollution ad:
Your trainer should be results-focused,Β not focused on scheduling you a new session and keeping you around.
I often see clients working with trainers for months and months and that client never looks any different.
The trainer is just interested in cashing another check.
Remember, your personal trainer works for YOU: Donβt let them build a program that doesnβt actually fit your needs!.
Do they adjust your workout to take care of any pre-existing injuries you may have, or do they just give you a cookie cutter workout?
Are they encouraging or helping you succeed in the way you want to be encouraged, or are they scrolling through Instagram models on their phones while youβre doing your sets?
Are they putting in the time so they can see you get results, or are they putting in the time so they can check the box and collect your money?
Youβre paying money for this personβs expertise and attention β itβs not too much to ask to find somebody whoΒ takes those things seriously.
What certifications should a personal trainer have?
There are a wide variety of personal trainer certifications and other βcredibility indicators.β
The more traditional path β a degree in exercise science or kinesiology may mean the trainer in question is knowledgeable about the human body.
However, that doesnβt speak to any experience they may or may not have coaching in real-world circumstances.
Here are 6 of the most popular personal trainer certifications:
- NSCA: National Strength and Conditioning Association
- ACSM: American College of Sports Medicine
- NASM: National Academy of Sports Medicine
- ACE: American Council on Exercise
- NPTI: National Personal Training Institute
- CrossFit
T-Nation provides a rundown of the pros and cons from a trainerβs perspective that we feel is also useful insight from a clientβs perspective. Be sure to check them out if you want to learn more about whatβs behind your trainerβs certification.
CrossFit certifications are completed in a single weekend. While a CrossFit certification does not make a trainer bad (there are plenty of excellent CrossFit coaches out there!), it does not guarantee excellence either.
Here are our thoughts on CrossFit.
A certification from NPTI β the National Personal Training Institute β is a credential gained from going to a school for personal training (rather than attending a single class or taking a test).
While no certification can fully promise excellence, we believe trainers with NPTI certifications are worth your consideration.
CAVEAT TO ALL OF THIS: Plenty of trainers who have NO certification are incredible, and plenty of other trainers have the most elite certifications and are terrible trainers.
MISTAKE #4: Blindly accepting a trainerβs credentials or discounting a trainer without certain credentials.
Certifications can be a starting point, but they shouldnβt be the determining factor.
One of the most important things to look for in your trainer isnβt a credential or certification at all, but real experience and an enthusiasm for helping you reach your goals.
For example:
Looking to powerlift or get into Olympic lifting? Look for someone who has successfully competed in their fields, or someone who actually coaches athletes who do compete!
Need to lose a lot of weight? Ask a trainer to share with you success stories from people who are like you.
In our view, finding a trainer with proven experience and a track record of performing or coaching (or both) in the area of your goals is the most valuable step you can take to ensure quality.
The credential is only a starting point.
Trainers arenβt cheap, but theΒ benefits can be priceless.
Remember, you arenβt paying simply for their time with you. Youβre paying for the years and years theyβve spent learning, training, and coaching.
Itβs the years behind the certification that makes their time so valuable, so expect the cost of a trainer to be significantly more than the cost of a basic membership at your gym.
How much does a personal trainer cost? Are personal trainers worth it?
The cost of a personal trainer can vary dramatically depending on:
- Where you live (in an expensive city, small town, etc.).
- The quantity and duration of your training sessions.
- What kind of training you are looking for.
But you want specifics.
The average North American trainer charges $55 for an hour session.[1]
Thatβs an βaverageβ so letβs break it down a little.
Here are the prices for working with a trainer in various capacities at my generic commercial gym in the NYC area (definitely on the more expensive end):
- 4 sessions per month: $95 per session = $380/month
- 8 sessions per month: $85 per session = $680/month
- 12 sessions per month: $79 per session = $948/month
Is this pricing more or less than you expected?
Here is how much a personal trainer costs at:
- Global Gyms: Most big box gyms offer personal training:
- LA Fitness: you can expect to pay about $60 per session.
- 24-Hour Fitness: itβll be about $80 per session.
- Anytime Fitness: as little as $35 a session.
- Luxury Gyms: If you go to a more upscale gym like Equinox, expect to pay βluxuryβ prices of $110+ an hour.
- In-Home Personal Training. If you donβt want to head to the gym, you can actually have a personal trainer come to your home. The cost on this could be all over the place, but a rough average would be about $65 for an hour session.
Different trainers will have different qualifications and expertise, leading to vastly different training experiences.
This can be really important.
MISTAKE #5: Thinking βmore expensiveβ automatically means βbetter results.βΒ
Cost is not the right metric. VALUE is the right metric!
Depending on your goals and the results youβre after:
- $30 per session might be overpaying for a crap trainer who gives you a generic workout and doesnβt care about you.Β
- $100 per session might be a STEAL if itβs an amazing trainer that gets to know your life and your personality, motivates you in the way you need to be motivated, and helps you get past a plateau when you stall.
Thatβs why remembering your βget in shapeβ goals is critical when buying a personal trainer.
If youβre looking to do 5 sessions to improve your powerlifting technique, thatβs different than hiring a trainer to be with you in person 3x a week to get you to the gym.
HOW TO THINK ABOUT HIRING A TRAINER:Β
Youβre not just paying for an hour of somebodyβs time.
Youβre paying for their years of experience, schooling, training, and expertise.
Youβre paying to outsource ALL of your fitness questions to somebody who knows what theyβre doing.
Somebody who gives you the confidence youβre training correctly.
So instead of βI am paying this trainer for 1 hour, this is too expensive,β what youβre really paying for is confidence, momentum, and (hopefully) results.
As somebody who has worked with an online trainer since 2014, I would pay any amount of money to my coach (just donβt tell him that) because I love getting results after years of struggle.
How does an in-person trainer compare to our online coaching program?
Our pricing comes in at a less-expensive price than 4 sessions per month with a trainer.
In addition to building you a workout program for the month, we also help you with your nutrition, mindset, and goals, and answer all the questions you have.
There are very real pros and cons to hiring an online personal trainer, so make sure you read that next section.
So a trainer can be AMAZING and worth every penny, IF you have the right one who also takes an active role in your nutrition.
After all, workouts only make up 1-3 hours per week.
What about the other 165? Thatβs where the progress happens! And your coach should be helping you there too!
SHOULD I HIRE AN ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINER? WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF AN ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINER?
Warning: Iβm going to be slightly biased in this area, but Iβll share the honest pros and cons of online training:
As Iβve mentioned, Iβve been working with an online trainer since 2014, and itβs allowed me to prove an internet troll wrongΒ and then lose 22 pounds in 6 months while getting super strong!
Here are the Pros of Online Personal Training:
#1) Freedom to fit your schedule. With an online personal coach, you can train when and where you want to fit your schedule β your coach builds the workout program for you ahead of time, so you can fit it in at your convenience.
Compare this to a traditional coach, and youβre at the mercy of their busy schedule. If they only have time Friday morning at 8am, and youβre not a morning person, conflict ensues.
#2) Persistent worldwide accountability. Iβm borrowing this phrase from a NF Coaching Client, Jeff (his success story is great). No matter where in the globe you are, your online trainer comes with you.
Which means the accountability never stops. If you travel for work, your coach can plan for that and build you a special travel routine. Getting relocated for work? No problem β your coach will still be there.
#3) Nutritional guidance. With most traditional personal trainers, you engage with them only during your scheduled visits: they help you work out and thatβs about it.
With an online personal trainer, youβre connected whenever you have access to the internet. And I would imagine that MOST online coaching programs, work with you on the most important part of the equation: eating healthier!
AKA everything that happens in the 23 hours outside of the gym.
#4) More cost-effective. Most in-person personal trainers are expensive, especially if you work out with them two or three times a week.
Thatβs because if your trainer is working with you, they canβt work with anybody else at the same time.
When you work with an online coach, because you arenβt training with them 1-on-1 in the gym, they can provide more cost-effective guidance.
When you factor in their availability via chat and their help on habits and your nutrition, youβre looking at a life-changing experience if you find a coach that fits your personality.
#5) It might be theΒ only option.Β With so many gyms closing because of the pandemic, you might not even have much of a choice here.Β Hereβs our guide to staying in shape (while staying inside) if you need to train from home.Β
When comparing online coaches versus regular coaches, Iβm going to share the cons as if you have the option between a GREAT online coach and a GREAT in-person coach.
Neither of those is guaranteed.
Here are the cons of an online coach when compared against a real-life equivalent:
#1) Your coach canβt do the work for you. Thereβs nothing stopping you from skipping a workout and lying to your online coach that you did it. Nobody wins in this scenario, but I can totally see it happening.
So yeah, an online coach canβt pick up the weight for you, and they canβt yell at you to put down the donut. You have to do the work!
#2) No real-time feedback and instant form check. If youβre learning how to powerlift, or youβre going for a particular heavy lift, having a coach right there is HUGE.
They can tell you to move your squat slightly wider. They can guide you through the movement and consistently remind you β even when tired β to keep great form.
Although we do form-check videos, where we have coaches and clients send clips back and forth to each other, itβs not the same as having somebody critique you in real-time.
If youβre looking to nail a particularly challenging lift, or learn a dangerous gymnastics move, working with a trained professional in person is invaluable.
#3) The value of sunk cost. If you pay for a month of online coaching, thereβs nothing inherently motivating you to go to the gym when itβs cold and youβre tired β your coach canβt yell at you, and youβre not letting anybody down in the moment when you donβt make it.
Compare this to working with a real coach in person.
You paid $100 for a session, and if you donβt show up, that money is *POOF* gone. So you tell yourself, βI already paid for this, and my coach is gonna be mad, I should probably go.β
And then you go. And youβre so glad that you did.
Although your online coach can notice that you havenβt signed in on your app, and they can ask whatβs going on, this is after the fact compared to an in-person coach getting stood up.
Thereβs a lot to consider when debating in-person training vs. an online personal trainer.
I wouldnβt say one format is clearly better than or superior to another. It really depends on what youβre after and the circumstances of your situation.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Iβve been working with an online trainer since 2014, and itβs truly been life-changing for me.
I had some goals that had evaded me despite a DECADE of effort, and it took a great coach to coax out the right strategy. Itβs how I say (jokingly) that I went from Steve Rogers to Captain America.
And it was my coachβs programming that got me a 420-pound deadlift at a bodyweight of 172 pounds:
Iβm not gonna set any powerlifting records, but Iβm healthier, happier, and stronger each and every month, and Iβm damn proud of that. Β
For somebody that canβt afford a top-of-the-line professional coach for each session, having an online coach to build your programming and guide your food choices is a verrrrry close second.
How to hire a personal trainer
HEREβS MY ADVICE: Give your new personal trainer 5 sessions before making a decision that things arenβt working out (sessions are often sold at a discount in a package).
The first session is often exploratory, explanatory, and introductory, and the trainer needs to test your limits and movements to build upon that.
This isnβt a βget fit quickβ strategy, but rather one that could take months and months for you to find the right personΒ to aid you on your journey.
Donβt expect miracles in a day!
A few words of wisdom if you do hire a trainer:
DO NOT USE YOUR TRAINER AS AN EXCUSE: Too many people will hire up a trainer and give no effort in the gym or the kitchen.
Then, when they fail to see results they can turn to their friends and say βman, my trainer is terrible, THATβS why Iβm not losing weight/getting stronger/etc.β
This happens so much more often than youβd think. A trainer is a guide, like Morpheus.
You have to take the pill and walk through the door yourself.
MAKE CRITICISM CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM:Β OftenΒ when the trainer asks them to do something (walk every day, throw away junk food, eat a vegetable), the client/trainee comes back with 1,001 reasons why they canβt do that.
No compromise or discussion of possible solutions. This stinks.
Instead of saying βno,β offer an alternative solution and negotiate a plan: βI donβt really like broccoli, do you have a way to make vegetables taste better?β
In other words, donβt look for problems, look for solutions.
IF YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH YOUR TRAINER: Let them know and continue working with them.
The more information you can give them on your progress, the easier it will be for them to alter your program as you go on.
IF YOU DONβT ENJOY WORKING WITH YOUR TRAINER: Thatβs okay too. Not all relationships end in marriages.
Some first dates suck, and some trainers arenβt what you need.
I think you can be honest with them and let them know that itβs not a good fit and you will not be continuing to work with them.
Good trainers at this point will ask what they could have done better.
Trainers who are simply after your money may guilt trip you or beg you to stick around. Try somebody new and keep the search going.
REMEMBER: this is a lifelong quest, and youβre on the hunt for a great guide to help you on your journey.
They wonβt do the work for you, and they canβt work miracles.
Have proper expectations, do what youβre told, and this could be the best investment youβll make in your entire life!
Trainers in the Rebellion, what did I miss?
Those who have had experience working with Trainers, any wisdom to share from your experience?
One final note:Β Going to a gym is intimidating, especially if youβre starting out.
If you are in a location where there arenβt any great trainers, you donβt have access to a gym, or youβre just not ready to work with somebody in person, consider checking out our Online Coaching Program!
Schedule a free call to learn more by clicking on the image below:
If you have questions about what you need to look for when it comes to training with a coach in person, or even questions about working with an online trainer, leave them in the comments below so I can chime in!
-Steve
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photo: Decathlon,Β wikimedia: high five, Bicycle,Β Wikimedia: stretching, Amazing playground: bicycles and football