Tips for choosing a personal trainer
Jack Hopwood, left, of Independence, works out with the TRX straps with his trainer, Ken Rosenbauer, an exercise physiologist, at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center in South Strabane Township.
Jack Hopwood, left, of Independence, and his trainer, Ken Rosenbauer, an exercise physiologist, work out with boxing gloves.
Visit any gym this time of year, in the post-gluttony holiday haze, and people will be hitting the weight machines, racking up miles on the treadmill and sweating it out in aerobic classes.
‘Tis the season to work off those holiday pounds.
But for those who are serious about getting in shape, choosing a personal trainer could be the difference between dropping a few pounds and truly changing their body and level of health.
In addition to motivating their clients, personal trainers customize exercise routines based on a person’s abilities, and provide instruction to ensure a client is reaching maximum potential while exercising.
While choosing a personal trainer can seem to be a daunting task, there are a few key components to look for while selecting an exercise professional, according to Eric Schmalzried, a personal trainer and aquatics and activities supervisor at Washington Health System’s Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center.
First, and most important, said Schmalzried, a personal trainer should possess a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a related field, and should be certified from either the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association or the American Council on Exercise.
There are a lot of personal trainers out there who have done nothing more to receive the title than pay a fee and take a quick Internet quiz to be deemed a “certified personal trainer.” But personal trainers with a bachelor’s degree or higher and a certification from one of the three highly-respected organizations are the most knowledgeable in the field, said Schmalzried.
After establishing a personal trainer’s education, the next step is to find someone with whom you feel comfortable.
“A personal connection has to be made,” said Schmalzried. “I work with everyone, from a 15-year-old athlete to a 70-year-old woman. A good personal trainer can relate to both. There has to be comfort and trust.”
While the number one reason people seek out the instruction of a personal trainer is to lose weight, not everyone can work at the same level. Schmalzried said he believes people can be intimidated when they see an athletic person working out with a personal trainer.
“Part of my education and background is knowing how to work within a person’s ability,” he said. “I’m going to make sure that every time they come into the gym, they work as hard as they can, getting the maximum out of their workout, safely.”
It’s this one-one-one personal attention that helps gym-goers succeed. Anyone can exercise alone or attend a fitness class. But receiving instruction and feedback increases an individual’s chance for success.
“You’re not going to work as hard by yourself as you would with someone who is going to push you to reach your goals,” said Schmalzried.
While working out with a personal trainer every day is not possible for most people, an exercise professional can also teach you the correct exercises to do to maximize weight loss when you’re on your own.
“And we do things like measurements,” said Schmalzried. “It’s nice to track because you may not be losing numbers on the scale because you’re building muscle. But you can see if you’ve lost two inches from your waist. That’s a great motivator.”
If the cost of a personal trainer seems too expensive, Schmalzried said people need to consider the cost of carrying extra weight around, specifically, the cost of obesity-related afflictions, like heart disease and diabetes.
“People throw a lot of money into things that claim to help you lose weight, but don’t work, like supplements,” Schmalzried said. “Having a personal trainer is a healthy, sustainable route to achieving weight loss.”