Choosing the best trainer for your goals and personality is not easy to do. There are hundreds of trainers who promise to slim you down and make your body great again. Still, not every trainer is right for every person. When you start working out with a trainer pay attention to the signs to know if they are the best fit for you.
Even if you’ve had your trainer for a while, it might be time to move on if some of these apply to you:
When You Stop Seeing Results
In the first few months with your trainer, you might have dropped some pounds, lost inches and noticed your clothes fitting better. Of course, you can’t lose 10 pounds every week, but you should continue to see positive changes as you work with your trainer.
If you haven’t noticed change in a month or longer, ask your trainer to revamp your workouts and mix things up a bit. If your trainer isn’t open to this or the new plan doesn’t show any improvements, it may be time to move on.
When Your Trainer Can’t Be Found
You might love your trainer and the results you’ve had so far, but communication is essential to any relationship, especially a relationship that you pay for. Many trainers have lots of clients and commitments, so how they communicate and schedule your time is a top priority.
If you’re having a difficult time reaching your trainer, or they constantly change appointment times without enough notice, have a talk with your trainer and voice your concerns. If the poor communication keeps up, then you have to get up and find yourself a new trainer.
When You’re Getting Bored
Trainers usually have a few specialty areas of their own like boxing, strength training, or running, to name a few. If you’re looking for something outside of your trainer’s wheelhouse, speak up and let them know. You’d be surprised how much experience your trainer has, or is willing to learn to keep clients happy and motivated.
However, if your trainer insists that you only walk the treadmill and do the same dumbbell routines for every single workout, do not hesitate to walk out of that gym. If you need to shake things up for a while, try some new classes, like yoga, dance, or swimming and come back to a personal trainer when you’re ready.
When Your Diet Isn’t Getting Attention
The best trainers want to make sure you don’t ruin all your hard work with a bad diet. When you start working with a trainer, whatever your goals are, your trainer should talk to you about healthy eating to support your workouts. Ask your trainer for a meal plan or nutrition coaching if you think this has been overlooked. If your trainer can’t deliver, you should find a trainer who can!
When They Don’t Have a Plan
Have you ever had a trainer that seems to be making up your workouts as you go along? You might be getting a great workout in, but without a set plan it’s almost impossible to track your progress over time. The great trainers will have a specific plan that helps them see where you’re doing great, and where you might need more work.
Ask your trainer to walk you through their plan, and check to see if they are tracking your progress. Over time you should be lifting heavier weights, moving faster, and doing more complex movements. If there’s no plan, then it’s time to find a trainer who’s got you covered long term.
When You Just Know
As mentioned before, not every trainer is for everyone. Even the celebrity trainers may be a great fit for some clients, but not for you. If you just aren’t feeling the connection with your trainer, and even if you can’t figure out why, you should move on. You might have a harder time seeing the results you want if you don’t look forward to working our with your trainer. This person will be a major part in your life, so if they aren’t the one, it’s ok to move on!
Sharita Jennings is a health policy attorney, ACE certified group fitness instructor and nutrition specialist. She leads fitness classes in Washington, DC and provides online coaching and tips on her site, GetFitLikeThat.com.
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