5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Personal Trainer

Hiring a personal trainer is not a choice that should be taken lightly. Personal trainer are expensive, but they can also be life-changing, if you have chosen one that is right for you. A decent personal trainer will not only help you work out, but they will also give you the support to change your entire outlook. 

1 – What are their education levels? 

Unfortunately a lot of people can go away to weekend courses and become “qualified” to take people through their personal health, growth and fitness journeys.

There were problems with crossfit for example, because people would get these qualifications which barely scratch the surface of all you actually need to know to train others. This led to people getting injured in their classes. 

It is hardly surprising that injuries happened, since these people who claimed to be fully qualified instructors were actually in no way, shape or form truly ready to be instructing others. They lacked the essential prerequisite information to keep their students safe. 

These weekend courses are excellent starting points, for sure, but they can’t replace the years of diplomas a personal trainer can and should be obtaining. 

Make sure you ask your potential PT about what Bachelor’s degree/training they have obtained: was it physiology, exercise science, or nutrition? Which certifications have they completed? If you find your potential PT cannot answer these questions satisfactorily, then they are most likely not qualified to be teaching you. 

2- What is their experience like?

Great, your potential PT has got the papers, the know-how and the degree. Since obtaining their relevant qualifications, what have they done with their knowledge?

How long have they held their qualifications for? How do they interact with that knowledge? How many hours of actual coaching have they completed since finishing their training? 

These are some really important questions to ask because it will tell you exactly what this PT has actually done with their education. 

3 – What system do they have in place for success? 

This question is slightly more obscure, and it is easily forgotten. You should be asking your potential personal trainer whether they have a projection in mind, or a goal that they hope to see clients reach. 

It is really important that they are able to communicate what Key Performance Indicators will let you know that you are being successful. Without this kind of insight, your progress will feel more aimless and frustrating than it needs to be. 

If a personal trainer has a system in place, it does not mean they are inflexible. It means they have a template to fall back upon, to which they can refer if the client does not seem to be making the progress they’d like to. 

4- What are the expected results with that system?

This is where you can start to manage your expectations. If you know what the results may be, you can realistically put yourself into where you see your journey going. 

Ask what the projected weight loss, fat loss and muscle gain would be. Clarify how long it will take for the changes to take place. 

5 – Are there any testimonials they can show you?

Reading about other peoples’ experiences with the personal trainer is a good way to see whether they are actually worth your while. They should be able to show you transformation images of the people they have trained, and tell you how long it took for them to get to that point.

Testimonials are also useful because you are able to read what previous clients have to say about the person you are about to invest your time and money in. 

ERA fit: Your new Miami Personal Training

Eric Richard Allen is Google’s number 1 rated personal trainer in Miami. 

Education: 12 Years, 2 Degrees & 19 Certifications In Health and Fitness

Experience:  12,000 hours of coaching clients, 5000 body fat measurements

System:  Body Type Training™ and The A.C.E. Cycle™ 

Expected Results: 1 – 3% Body Fat Loss Per Month/ 1 – 3lbs. of Lean Muscle Gain Per Month

Testimonials: Best/most 5 star ratings on Google for Personal Training In Miami

Body type training means that whatever your goal, every part of the training will be tailored specifically to you. ACE means “Analyse”, “Customise”, and “Execute”. It means that we first assess what your needs are, then we create your plan together and finally put them into practice. 

We re-assess your needs and progress every two weeks in a way that is collaborative and consensual. We will always work according to your needs and keep your goals in mind.  

What next? 

If you are after a highly qualified personal trainer in Miami, then we could help you. For a one hour long, free consultation click here to register. 

We look forward to starting this journey together. If you would like to see our amazing client achievements, click here.