Why You Need a Personal Trainer

Outfyt: There are so many trainers and gyms, how do I choose the right trainer for my needs? 
Robbie: The best gym is the one you will regularly go to! If something is inconvenient you will find excuses not to go. Working out can be tough so make getting to the workout as simple as possible. Choose a gym that is near your home or your work. Look for a place with an atmosphere you enjoy and people you’re happy to be surrounded by.

Outfyt: What makes a personal trainer good?
Robbie: SO many things! It would be impossible to list everything. An excellent personal trainer need the same qualities that make people good in other professions too; such as excellent people and communication skills and attention to detail.

Outfyt: What kind of trainer should I avoid?

Robbie: Avoid people who claim they have all the answers and trainers who respond with assertive notions and definitive answers. If they are so sure of themselves chances are they are right at the beginning of the Dunning Kruger Curve (worth looking up if you don’t know what it is). Instead look for someone who takes time to answer complicated questions and does so with a balanced response. Instead of “you must do this” look for “you could try this”. That subtle change makes all the difference. 

Outfyt: What should I look out for during a trial with a personal trainer? 

Robbie: First and foremost do you like the person? Do you have things in common? You’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person so it's better if you enjoy their company! If you’re inexperienced in the gym it might be hard to asses your new trainer's technical ability, but do they seem proficient and competent? There are many things to look out for but it's important to know if your new trainer seem to understand your needs, if so you may want to give them a try.

Outfyt: What questions should I ask my personal trainer before signing up?

Robbie: Make sure they are aligned with you. Make sure they understand your goals and what you want from the sessions. From a practical stand point check things like their cancellation policy, that the price is within your budget as well as the expiry dates on their packages.

Outfyt: How can I work with my personal trainer to perfect my form?

Robbie: Huge secret I’m going to share! There is no such thing as perfect form. Rather, think of it as a sliding scale or a moving target. It can always be tweaked and reformed. Another secret I’ll share with you, watch the trainer when you’re performing your exercises. Are they paying close attention to the details? Are they engaged and focused? Or are they daydreaming? Are they just counting reps? A trainer who does nothing but count reps is just an overpriced abacus. Your progress to “perfect” form will be super slow with a trainer like this. 

Outfyt: Will my personal trainer help me set long term goals?

Robbie: 100%! This should be one of the first conversations you have with them. If they don’t discus your goals in the first time meeting them, and start to formulate a program or plan for reaching those goals, find a new trainer. At AC, we do a micro and a macro goal setting in our first session with clients. 

Outfyt: How fast can I get fit with maximised results? 

Robbie: Be patient! This isn’t a race. If you’re just chasing fast results, chances are you’ll lose them as fast as you got them. 95% of body transformation (before and after photos you see all over instagram) regress to worse than they started within 3 months of the “after” photo. I know its super cliche but try to focus on making long term positive changes and the results will take care of themselves. But, if you really want an answer… If fat loss is your goal, most people can make significant changes in 3-6 months. Building muscle or strength takes a little longer and I would allow 6-12 months before you see meaningful changes.

Outfyt: When should I ditch my personal trainer?

Robbie: Right away! Come to The AC instead. ;) lol. We do a minimum of 10x sessions with new clients. This is usually enough time to figure out if the relationship will work, but sometimes you know sooner. Don’t waste money on something you don’t enjoy and aren’t seeing progress from. If you aren’t enjoying your training, have an honest conversation with your trainer. Chances are they’ll appreciate this! They also might be able to recommend someone you’re better suited to. A good trainer knows their own limits.