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How to choose a personal trainer and/or fitness coach Minimal pre-interview screening criteria indicative of potential:

• Education: A Bachelor's degree in a fitness-related field

• Certification: Current general certification by AFAA*, NSCA*, ACE*,
or ACSM in that order of preference

*accredited certifications; AFAA is the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, NSCA is the National Strength and Conditioning Association, ACE
is the American Council on Exercise, and ACSM is the American College of Sports Medicine; the AFAA is the most comprehensive in scope and holistic in approach, while the ACSM is the narrowest in scope and conventional in approach, but it’s still a good certification

• Specialization: Additional certifications of expertise appropriate
to your needs, such as weight loss, post-rehab, pre/postnatal, etc.

• Experience: Several years of experience, the more the better

Interview criteria indicative of actual results with clients:

• Testimonials: Client testimonials/success stories documenting actual client results, the more the better.

• Pictures: Before and after photos documenting actual client results, the more the better.

• Price: The higher their fees, the better they are—you get what you pay for. Only good trainers and coaches can sustain higher fees.

Education and certifications demonstrating potential are more useful regarding inexperienced trainers; while testimonials, photos, and market price demonstrating actual results with real people are more useful indicators of quality regarding experienced trainers.

Credentials are great, but be wary of those who rely too much on credentials at the expense of documentation of actual results. Training is more an art than a science. How do you gauge the
quality of an artist, by looking at their credentials or their art?
Likewise, evaluate trainers and coaches by looking at their clientele.

If they have a track record, look at their track record. Look at the results they’ve gotten with clients as expressed in testimonials and photos which is aggregated and reflected in their current market price. A trainer should have testimonials, letters of recommendation, or references documenting actual results with clients and a market price commensurate with their education, certification, and experience.

• Success: Do they train part-time or is this their primary livelihood?

• Progress: Are they a staff employee at a gym or are they an independent trainer? Staff training positions are entry-level positions. The better trainers and coaches are independently self-employed.

• Philosophy: What is their approach? If this is what they do for a living, they should have developed a somewhat unique perspective based on their education and experience and should be able to articulate their approach beyond general platitudes. Does their approach jive with your views on health & fitness?

• Focus/Niche: How much experience do they have with your particular needs and goals? If you're trying to lose weight, what
success have they had helping people lose weight? Look at their
actual track record with clients who have goals similar to yours.

• Customization: How much do they customize/tailor their approach for each unique person? Is their approach a ‘one-size-fits-all’ cookie-cutter mass production assembly line? Or is it a ‘one-size-fits-me’ approach? If they do customize, what customization variables do they use to prescribe customized protocols? Push them for details: “How will you customize it for me?” Many make vague claims of customization without using any real customization variables such as your muscle-fiber type ratios, your metabolic type, body type, blood type, personality type, preferences, past injuries, goals for the future, etc.

Post-interview subjective criteria indicative of likely results with you—these are the most important:

• Concern: Did they ask you questions about your goals? Did they ask you questions about your health & medical history? Were they interested in you or were they just talking about themselves?

• Communication: Did they listen to you?

• Dialogue: Did they answer your questions?

• Competence: Did they know what they were talking about?

• Confidence: Were they confident in their abilities? A confident trainer will not feel the need to pressure you into hiring them and will encourage you to interview several people until you find the right match for what will be a personal relationship requiring personal chemistry beyond objective criteria.

• Perspective: Do you have similar worldviews? Did they speak in a language you're comfortable with?

• Personality: Do you like their personality? Do they have a good, positive, optimistic attitude? Listen to your gut reaction.

• Passion: Are they still excited about health & fitness or are they burned-out? Burn-out is common in this field; someone who's burned-out will not be able to motivate you regardless of a sterling track record.

• Motivation: Do they motivate you to achieve your goals? Do they excite you or stress you out? Do they seem supportive or competitive? Do they give you energy or drain your energy? Listen to your intuition and how you feel as you walk away from the interview for a clue to how you might feel as you walk away from your workouts with them: is your walk animated by hope for a brighter future?

• Inspiration: Would you look forward to seeing and working with this trainer several times a week?

Shop wisely and good luck to you!

Compare weight loss & fitness options
For a broader comparison of the most common weight loss and fitness options, including conventional exercise options such as joining a health club or hiring a personal trainer, and conventional dietary options such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, or L A Weight Loss all compared and contrasted with BioFit’s integrated & customized holistic Solutions, see the detailed 30-point comparison chart here: Compare.

Attention personal trainers and other health & fitness professionals!
If you are an aerobics instructor, trainer, coach, yoga instructor, or other health & fitness professional, BioFit
is currently developing a network of the best independent self-employed health & fitness pros in the Northern New Mexico area for BioFit clients to choose from. If you are interested in talking about a possible collaboration with BioFit and joining the BioFit Network as an independent contractor please contact Jeff.

I also coach personal trainers to help them build their business, help them get outstanding results with their clients with Designer Fitness™ techniques that can be licensed, help them prevent burn-out, and keep their motivation high for sustainable long-term success in a competitive but rewarding field. In addition, if you are interested in greatly expanding your scope of practice by becoming a Holistic Fitness Guru™ contact me as I’m in the midst of developing rigorous curriculum, standards, and testing for certification in Integral Fitness™.

The soul that has no established aim loses itself. Montaigne
In the long run, people hit only what they aim at. Therefore . . . they had better aim at something high. Thoreau
For what is most choiceworthy for each individual is the highest it is possible for him to achieve. Aristotle

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