FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
As a lifelong athlete, I have always had a desire to move often, train hard, and better myself. It wasn't until I got my first job as a personal trainer and had the opportunity to work with a young 15 year old looking to drop a significant amount of weight that I realized what I wanted to do. Seeing his joy and the confidence instilled from a simple training program made me crave more knowledge of this field, and ultimately led me to opening a business five years later.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
My biggest advice to customers looking to hire a trainer or sign up for a gym is to ask these questions: 1. What am I looking to achieve? What are my goals? 2. Realistically, how long do I think it will take to achieve these goals? 3. How much do I value my health? Is spending more money now a better approach than spending a whole lot more later in life? To the trainer: 1. What is the best way to lose weight? Hint: their answer should be, "it depends." If they use a go to phrase or promote something outlandish, walk away. 2. Will I be doing an introductory workout? Answer: If a trainer is not willing to take you through an assessment in which they see how you move, what your limitations are, and go through numerous questions to find out how best to train you before jumping into a program, then you should look elsewhere. 3. I have (insert injury history), what should I do? Answer: First of all, every trainer should immediately refer out to a physician or proper rehab specialist if you are in pain. If you are able to workout, then they should have a plan for training around such an injury or addressing that concern.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
One of the things I wish customers knew about the fitness profession is that it is not all about what you see in magazines, the most recent episode of Biggest Loser, or even what you see with the way most athletes train. I want customers to understand that this is a profession with hundreds of trainers that either don't fully understand their methods or subscribe to quick fix approaches to training. Despite some of the hesitancies of hiring a trainer, understand that having a coach is still the best possible thing you can do for change. By finding a competent trainer and inspiring coach, you give yourself a road map to success that takes into account all of the roadblocks that you may encounter.