Personal Fitness Trainers - The Help You Need to Get in Shape?

If you want to start exercising, but don't know where to begin, maybe you need a personal trainer to help design your exercise program.

One of the most common mistakes that people make when embarking on an unsupervised exercise program is to overdo things at the beginning. It is very important to take things gradually to avoid injury and to maintain enthusiasm.

Selecting your trainer
Consumers must be aware that almost anyone can call himself or herself a trainer. There is no national licensing program. The burden is on the consumer to research a trainer's credentials, certification, references and liability insurance.

You can ask your gym or health club for its file of trainers' resumes. You want a trainer with education and experience that merits your trust.

It is very important to ask about liability insurance when picking a personal trainer, along with checking certification and the content of the fitness program itself. Appropriately qualified professionals will be happy to answer such questions.

Like an uninsured motorist, a trainer or indeed a gym without coverage just isn't prepared for the occasional accident. Of course, it's best to minimize the chances of any emergency by guidance from an accomplished trainer who can gauge your level of fitness and tailor an appropriate program for you.

Qualifications
Academic degrees in a fitness-related field can provide assurance that a trainer is credible. Someone with a bachelor's degree in a field like exercise physiology, kinesiology (the science of movement) or physical education is a good bet.

Many trainer-certification programs exist which are of dubious quality consisting of little more than a one-day course, or a mail-order program.

Among the most respected certification programs are those offered by the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis; the American Council on Exercise in San Diego; the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas; the National Strength and Conditioning Association, in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the Aerobics Fitness Association of America, in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

You should interview prospective trainers and avoid any who try to sell you anything such as exercise equipment or vitamins. A personal recommendation from a previous client can be invaluable. So chat to people at your local gym and seek out their opinions. Your trainer should show an understanding of your goals and should be someone you can see yourself working with. It is essntial that the trainer be willing to listen to you and also motivate and encourage you.

What your trainer should do
Once you've hired your trainer they will interview you about your health and medical history, your level of physical activity, special needs and fitness goals. If you have cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use or a family history of heart disease, it is advisable to see a physician before starting an exercise program. Some physicians may recommend an exercise test before clearing you.

Your trainer should give you a fitness evaluation on a treadmill to check your aerobic capacity, or a skin-fold test to determine your percentage of body fat if weight loss is part of your plan.

Tell your trainer about old injuries or other physical limitations and then set realistic goals.

It is important that trainers dress professionally while working with you. A trainer in skintight revealing clothes should be treated warily. You need to be comfortable that you are being advised by a professional who has appropriate priorities and not just someone who looks good in lycra! After all they could be putting your health in jeopardy.

Summary
Assistance from a personal trainer for several months may allow you to establish a level of fitness with minimal risk that you will be able to maintain on your own for the long term.