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How To Choose an Online Personal Trainer

Working with a one-on-one fitness coach has always been a laboursome task. You’ve got to book your session, rush home after work or dinner to actually get to your session on time, slug all your gear to the gym, maybe in the snow or rain, just to get through your session and have to schlep it all back home again.

It’s a time-consuming task, no doubt. And for those with new babies, child-care difficulties, disabilities, injuries, or who feel too self-conscious to work out in a gym, going to a fitness studio might be fully out of the question. If you work from home, taking 30 minutes or an hour out of your day to exercise from the comfort of your garage or family room can sometimes be the ONLY way you can actually get in the rhythm of a healthy fitness routine.

As you can see, there are a lot of great reasons to choose online personal training. And at First Class Personal Training, we specialize in at-home and virtual workouts you can do from home – no hassle, no wasted time, and NO intimidating gyms and fitness studios.

If you’re thinking about booking online training sessions or switching your workouts to a virtual platform, there are some things you should know before you choose the trainer or company you’ll work with. Whether you choose us to work with or another company, you can make sure you’re working with a reputable trainer by considering these important things.

What To Consider Before Choosing an Online Personal Trainer

Is your online training pre-recorded or virtual with a live person?

Pre-recorded personal training is working out alongside a video training session and you can’t interact directly with your trainer. With live online classes, a live trainer will meet with you in real-time through a video-conferencing app and coach you through your workout face-to-face.

There are pros to both, but if you need accountability and motivation, a live trainer is likely the way to go. Find out if you’ll be able to interact with your trainer and how they can help keep you motivated when you feel like quitting. The ways in which you can rely on and communicate with your trainer will play a large part in your success, so make sure your plan has what you need to reach your goals.

Do you get to choose your trainer?

One really important aspect of any personal training program is making sure you vibe with your trainer. If you don’t have a good connection, it’s hard to build the trust you require to really hit your goals. If you’re working with a personal training company, find out what resources they have to help you get to know their trainers. If you can, speak with them directly. Get to know their training history, specialization, and education, and see if you have good chemistry.

Can your trainer work with your schedule?

You’re busy, You probably have select days and times that you’re available for your workouts. It’s fine! We’re so happy you’re making time to take care of your body. But you need a trainer who’s available when you are. So make sure whoever you can hire can show up – even virtually – when you need them too!

Is your trainer qualified?

What qualifications does your trainer require? Believe it or not, some trainers are hired with no formal education at all! This doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t able to be good coaches, but the truth is, there is more to fitness science than simply showing you how to do exercises.

Your trainer needs to know how the body works, how the systems of metabolism work in your body to help you lose weight, how you can bulk up or reach new fitness goals, and how to teach you about nutrition and safety when you work out.

Don’t be afraid to ask your trainer what specific training they have to help you reach your goals. It’s alright to ask all the questions you need to in order to be comfortable, and to ensure you’re hiring someone who’s precisely qualified to work with you.

Online Qualified Personal Trainer

Do they have testimonials?

Testimonials are an excellent way to know whether or not you’re hiring a good trainer. Testimonials for any training company should be easy to find on Google Reviews, Yelp, or even Facebook. It’s important to read reviews to find out not only what people disliked about their trainer, but also, what people really loved. You might be surprised and learn a lot from the reviews people write.

Do they have a whole-health perspective – Can they help you with nutrition and diet as well?

Whether you need to lose weight, recover from an injury, or bulk up, there’s more to hitting your fitness goals than just doing exercises. Your trainer should be able to help you understand supplements, protein shakes, medications, and nutrition, all of which can help or hinder your fitness goals if not handled properly.

Before you hire a trainer, ask them if they’re able to help you with nutrition planning. Find out what kind of support they provide for your diet plan. It’s a very important aspect of reaching your fitness goals.

Do they understand and have a clear plan for your goals?

Many trainers have some kind of specialization, either because of formal training or due to life and work experiences they’ve had. If you need to lose weight, you want a trainer who often helps people lose weight. If you want to train for a half marathon, you need someone who understands the science of training for a long-distance race. If you plan to compete in a local Crossfit competition, you need a coach who can help you train for success.

You get the idea! You need someone on your team who can develop a specific plan for YOU and your unique goals.

Can they understand and develop a plan for your unique body?

Exercise science is, in some ways, finite. There are rules about how our bodies work, and you probably already know many of them. However, you are also unique, and we know what helps one person become fitter doesn’t always work for the next person.

You have strengths and weaknesses that need to be accounted for when your workout plan is created. If you’ve been injured in the past, if you have bad knees or a sore back, or if you absolutely hate cardio training, your trainer needs to take these things into account.

To be successful, your plan truly needs to be uniquely designed for you! Make sure your trainer can prepare a plan you’ll be comfortable with and successfully completing.

We’re excited you’re looking into online personal training! It’s a big step and it always makes us happy when we get to work with new clients that are interested in improving their health. We would love the opportunity to earn your business! Contact First Class Personal Training to learn more about our virtual face-to-face and in-person training sessions, available now! We can’t wait to help you finally reach your goals!

January 20, 2022