FitSugar

Countdown to the Big Day: How to Hire a Personal Trainer

Leta Shy — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:50:46 PDT

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.

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).
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.

3 Things Your Personal Trainer Might Miss

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:00:20 PST

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.

Top 10 Signs It's Time For a New Personal Trainer

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:25:17 PST

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.

You struggle to get through 20 push-ups, and your trainer gets on the floor and says, "Watch how fast I can do 20!"
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.
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.
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."
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.

How to Maximize Your Personal Trainer Investment

Leta Shy — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:26:55 PST

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.

Quick Tip: Buddy Up For a Private Lesson

Leta Shy — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:10:28 PST

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?

When Choosing a Personal Trainer, Does Gender Matter?

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:43:50 PDT

I've worked with both male and female personal trainers, but I have to say I prefer a female. I just feel more comfortable working hard and being pushed by another woman because a female trainer can better relate to my body and my abilities. Plus, when I need to skip out on a session because of cramps, I don't feel like I have to concoct some lame excuse. The best part is there are no issues with sexual tension or flirting, and if she accidentally brushes against my girls, it's no biggie. What about you?

Personal Trainer Tricks You Don't Have to Pay For

Leta Shy — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:54:25 PDT

There are so many reasons why splurging on a personal trainer is a good idea. They teach you how to work out safely and efficiently, and show you how to attain your healthy goals. But often it's hard to justify the high price tag if you have other expenses that are also begging for your wallet's attention. If you're not in the market for a personal trainer, here are some tricks that trainers use to whip you into shape that don't require any money at all.

Just a little more: You pay your trainer to deliver results, which often translates to you panting on the floor while your trainer is telling you that you need to do 10 more push-ups. Channel that extra push, sans price tag, during your next workout. Just pushing yourself to go for five more minutes can help you burn up to 60 extra calories. Need motivation? Check out our chart of calories burned with just five more minutes of exercise.

Get creative with your workouts: Trainers have a knack for developing workouts that target muscles you didn't even know you had, but don't think that you can't create your own fun circuit workout that combines cardio with strength training. If you need ideas, try one of our all-over body circuit workouts (like this total-body circuit workout using dumbbells or this belly-fat blasting circuit workout by celebrity trainer Jeanette Jenkins) for an example of an efficient and trainer-inspired workout.

Read on for more ways to exercise like a personal trainer after the break.

A Reader Asks: Help! How Do I Break Up With My Trainer?

Fit Community — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:06:57 PDT

FitSugar reader jessicaeden needs your help - she's unhappy with her personal trainer and wants to find a new one. She posted her question in the FitSugar running community group, FitSugar Q and A.

What's appropriate etiquette if you're unhappy with your personal trainer? I want to switch trainers, but don't want to offend.
- Jessica

Good question, Jessica. Ending a relationship is never easy, even one that is strictly professional. First ask yourself what's not working with your current trainer - we suggest making a list. You might find that simply talking to your current trainer about your concerns will be enough to fix the problem. Give him or her a session or two to make the changes you are requesting. Often trainers have no idea that you might not be getting the most out of your sessions. Ultimately they want to make sure you're happy, which means they're willing to adjust things to better suit your needs.

But if you're ready to break up with your trainer, see what advice a personal trainer gave us on the best way to do it.

One Fit Job: Personal Trainer

Susi May — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:14:26 PDT

During hard economic times, desk-bound fitness fanatics often start considering career switches to more active professions, like becoming a personal trainer. The job is considerably more vigorous than sitting in front of a computer day in and day out. To get the skinny on the daily dos of working as a trainer, I spoke with Equinox personal trainer Lauren Fairbanks, 26. She loves her job, colorful sneakers, and simple snacks.

FitSugar: So how long have you been working as a personal trainer?
Lauren Fairbanks: A little over three years, and it took me about nine months to ramp up my business enough to support myself financially.

FS: What form of training does this job require?
LF: Becoming a personal trainer usually requires getting certified by passing an exam created by a nationally recognized organization such as: National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American Council of Exercise (ACE), among others. I chose to go to a school for personal training called the American Academy of Personal Training (AAPT) in NYC, because I wanted to get the classroom education as well as the hands-on practical experience (rather than just test prep) - so this was a great choice for me. I am certified through AAPT, as well as Equinox's in-house Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI), and carry a bachelor's in Science with a major in Dietetics from Central Michigan University. I also have a certification in TRX, kettlebells, ViPr, and pre/postnatal fitness.

FS: Does your college degree help you now?
LF: Yes, this major absolutely helps me, as nutritional guidance is a huge part of physical fitness.

FS: Were you sporty in college?:
LF: Yes, I ran division I track and cross country all four years of college. I was a middle-distance runner (half mile and mile). I also love playing volleyball and basketball.

Lauren has more to say about her career, so keep on reading.

Working Out, It's All in Your Head

Michele Foley — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:56:51 PDT

Yesterday, I was surprised by the sound of a calendar notification: "3 p.m., Crunch trainer." As soon as I saw it, I cringed. Having made the appointment the week prior, it slipped my mind and I was nowhere near prepared. My gym bag was under my desk like usual, but I'm talking mental preparation. While I'm up for spontaneous hikes, cycling outings, or a trip to the yoga studio, I still need to psyche myself out for time at the gym - especially when it's an hour-long intense TRX circuit training session. I love working out and I love my trainer, but it always seems to help if I have time to psyche myself out before heading in. Maybe it's because I need to be really focused when I work out with my trainer, or it could be because I want to plan the rest of my day around being sore. Either way, it just helps.

While I have a lot of friends that can head into the gym like it's no big thing, many people I know schedule gym workouts ahead of time for the same reason I do. How about you?