Personal Trainer

When dropping upwards of $60 on a session with a personal trainer, you to get as much as you can from your time together. Here are three ways to make that happen.

1. Be honest: Your personal trainer is there to help you, so if you're not completely upfront — about everything — he or she won't be able to help you reach your goals. That means coming clean about your pint-a-night ice cream habit or how you skipped out on hitting the gym all last week. The more he or she knows about you diet-, health-, and exercise-wise, the better apt they are to get you to your goal body.
2. Be proactive: You could show up for your session and let your trainer lead you through an hour-long session of what they want to do, but it won't necessarily get your arms buff for your maid-of-honor duties this Fall. Remember that you're paying for their services and wisdom, so speak up at the beginning of the session. Be specific about your goals, make requests for what body parts you want to strengthen, tell them you want to be pushed, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
3. Don't hold back: It can be a little embarrassing, huffing and puffing and getting super sweaty in front of someone you hardly know, but it's the only way to get in shape. Of course it's crucial to work with someone you feel comfortable with, so once you find a good match, give it your all and be open-minded. Don't hesitate to try exercises or equipment that you felt made you look silly or weak in the past, and even if you're nervous or leery about their ideas, try your trainer's suggestions at least once. Make an effort to give 100 percent for the entire session, and it's a surefire way to faster results.

Breaking up is hard to do, and breaking up with your trainer is no exception to the rule. Whether you simply aren't vibing with their communication style or it's become too pricey for your budget, it's important to remember that you have every right to call it quits. If you've been putting off the call or you're finally ready to cut things off, here are some things to keep in mind while you're ending things.

• Don't put it off: As soon as you know you're ready to stop working out with your personal trainer, tell them that's the case! Trainers are expensive; you shouldn't be wasting your money if you feel like you're not getting a quality workout or the commitment you need on their part.
• Be straightforward: No need to tiptoe around the inevitable. Simply tell them it's not working out for you and that you've appreciated their hard work and effort. You don't owe them a drawn-out explanation that might make you feel uncomfortable.

Keep reading for two more things to remember when breaking up with your trainer.

Whether you're starting off in the gym for the first time or your standard routine just isn't making the cut, hiring a personal trainer can be an amazing asset to your fit and healthy life. If you're worried about the prospect of working out with someone new, or if you just want to get the most out of your sessions, then here are five things to chat about with your trainer at the start so you can hit the ground running.

1. Ask about their experience: Be upfront with your trainer about their experience and their success. Ask where they were certified, if they work with a lot of women (and if they've ever worked with someone with similar goals to yours), and if they teach any specialty classes. While each session is certainly about you, getting a feel for what they're into or where their expertise lies is a great gauge of what you'll expect from your trainer.
2. Learn what you can expect: There's no reason you should be thrown into your first session without any sort of grip of what's to come. Talk about what you can expect from each session or if things will be switched up every week. Also make sure you ask about their schedule! It's the worst feeling to really vibe with someone and make a connection only to realize that your schedules don't match up.
3. Be honest about where you're at: If you're not eating healthfully and you don't work out regularly, then don't tell your trainer you only eat kale and that you're at the gym four times a week. There's no judgment with your trainer; they've seen it all! Being honest with your trainer and yourself can be a huge breakthrough in itself. It will also put your trainer in a optimal position to give you the tools that you need to succeed. And if you don't see yourself drinking a protein shake every morning or hitting the treadmill before 7 a.m., then don't tell your trainer that this is no problem.

Keep reading for two more things to discuss with your trainer.

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Julia Savacool

On life's laundry list of to-dos, losing weight rarely gets shuffled to the top spot. "Kids, work commitments, family obligations — life in general gets in the way," said Natalie Gianesello, 45, a personal trainer in Riverside, Conn. "You have to be a little bit selfish and make taking care of your body your No. 1 priority."

Gianesello knows what she's talking about. Since having her two kids, now 14 and 11, she watched her weight climb higher, month after month. "I knew I had around 30 pounds to lose," she said. "I just didn't know where to start."

Polo program offers Philly teens life lessons

Then, three years ago, after encouragement from a friend, she checked out her local gym. At the Sportsplex health club in Stamford, Conn., she signed up for the Lose Big program, an eight-week intensive weight-loss plan that included fitness and nutritional consultations for gym members seeking to shed unnecessary baggage.

"I was nervous," said Gianesello. "I was not an active kid. I was not the person who went to the gym after work." Though much of the health club scene was new to her, Gianesello quickly found her groove. "I felt comfortable in that environment, working out with other people who had similar goals."

She lost about 14 pounds during the eight weeks of Lose Big, and kept chipping away at her larger goal after the program ended — first hiring her own trainer to customize a fitness routine, then signing up for bootcamp classes and finishing it off with weekly abs workouts. "By the end, I'd gone from around 169 to 129 pounds," Gianesello said. "But it wasn't just about the numbers. I got hooked on fitness!"

Paralympian Jessica Long shares her five keys to success

Motivation magnet
Gianesello's enthusiasm for exercise did not go unnoticed. Her trainer mentioned her personality made her well-suited to becoming a fitness instructor herself. "I appreciated the compliment, but I thought he was joking," she said. "Then after some more coaching, he let me teach one of his classes. And I discovered he was right: I loved it." Gianesello began working toward her certification. Along the way, she learned invaluable lessons about helping others get fit. "I used to avoid group classes at all costs," she said. "I did not feel confident walking into a studio and standing next to some skinny woman who knew all the moves."

As she worked her way into better shape, she had a wake-up moment: "I realized that no matter what their size, all of the women in these classes were completely focused on themselves. That took a lot of pressure off." She also learned that slow and steady wins the race. People who have a lifetime of fitness experience may be stronger than someone just beginning, but it's the person who puts in the time, day-in and day-out, regardless of skills, who reaps the biggest payoff in the long run. "As a trainer, I see people of so many different fitness levels," she said. "Everybody is working toward a personal best."

The Word: Lolo Jones – TMI?

Read more of Natalie's turn from fitness enthusiast to personal trainer after the break!

You're hiring a caterer, florist, and wedding planner, so why not also enlist the expertise of a personal trainer? If you're trying to lose weight for your wedding, having a trainer can be one of the best ways to help you reach your goals. But since you're on a timeline, it's important to ensure you're getting what you need from your training sessions. Here's how to hire the right personal trainer before you walk down the aisle.

1. Start early: Personal trainers can help you get results fast, but they're not miracle workers. Waiting too late to lose the weight can add unwanted pressure, which can make workouts stressful and ineffective. To ensure you have enough time to lose weight the healthy way, celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson recommends that future brides start shopping for a trainer at the beginning stages of their wedding planning (like when you start looking for the venue).
2. Know your goals: Your personal-training package will start with an initial assessment of your fitness level, but you should have an idea before you begin your trainer search of what you want to get out of your sessions. Are you already a pro on the elliptical but want to know how to get your arms in strapless-wedding-gown shape? Do you need your trainer to recommend a healthy eating plan to complement your time in the gym? Knowing what you want in a trainer helps you both ask the right questions before designing your fitness regimen.

Read on for three more tips for picking a personal trainer.

Trainers are incredibly helpful in teaching better form and correct alignment, but no matter how astute a trainer is, he or she may miss a few things. To help protect your body from injury or strain, keep these questions in mind during your training session. Even though it's a trainer's job to keep you safe, it's still important to develop a keen eye for any bad habits that could present potential problems later.

Where Should I Be Aligned?
Everyone's body has different tilts and asymmetries, and your trainer might not always be able to see the one-inch difference between your left and right shoulders, for example. If you are aware of any asymmetries in your body, verbalize them to your trainer so he or she will keep you in check. You also want to remind yourself of common alignment issues like keeping your shoulders down and back, abs engaged, hips even, and weight on the heels of the foot when doing squats or lunges.

Click here for more questions to ask.

If you're spending $50 or more for a session with a personal trainer, they better be awesome at motivating you to get a great workout and reach your fitness goals. But if they're not helping you hit those goals, here are some telltale signs that it's time to find a new one.

1. You struggle to get through 20 push-ups, and your trainer gets on the floor and says, "Watch how fast I can do 20!"
2. Your trainer is supposed to be helping you work your upper body by tossing the ole medicine ball, but you catch them winking at a fellow trainer as they launch the 15-pound ball at your face.
3. You're not sure if they forget to wear deodorant or wash their workout clothes, but every time they reach their arms up to show you a move, you get an overpowering and nauseating whiff of funk.
4. Your trainer doesn't talk much, but when she does, it's, "Just do what I do. I have to fit my workout in sometime."
5. In the middle of counting reps while doing crunches, your trainer starts throwing out what seems like random numbers. You look at him puzzled. His response? "That's my phone number. Call me."

Keep on reading for more signs that it's time for a new personal trainer.

You bit the bullet and shelled out hundreds of dollars for sessions with a personal trainer. Getting a trainer to help you reach your goals can be a sound investment — you'll learn new workouts and new limits, and if you're new to the gym, it's the perfect way to feel more comfortable on the floor. But while training sessions may be helpful, there's a right way to make sure you're maximizing your investment. Here are some ways to ensure you aren't wasting your time and money when you hire a personal trainer.

Make sure she's right for you: She may be too lax, chitchat too much, or push way more than you know your body can handle — don't be shy when it comes to letting your trainer know if things aren't working out. After all, you're paying her for results, not to be friends! If your trainer still doesn't change it up, it may be time to switch her for someone else (read our advice for how to break up with a personal trainer here).

More maximizing tips after the break.

Private lessons aren't something you sign up for on the fly. While they are effective, they can be an investment — thousands of dollars spent in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

Many gyms or studios, however, have an option where you can sign up for personal classes with one or two other people. Whether you're jonesing to take a few sessions with a personal trainer or want private Pilates lessons, gather a few friends to split the cost. You'll still get the personal attention, but without the price tag.

Have you ever taken a "private" class with friends?