More on Choosing a Personal Trainer

Here is a new ABC News article on the benefits of working with a trainer--and how to choose one.

Jan. 27, 2006— So you made your usual New Year's resolution to get in shape. But studies show that by late January most of us have already strayed. (We didn't need a fancy study to figure that out, did we?) Maybe what you need to do is outsource your willpower. My best workout success has been with a personal trainer. But beware! The government doesn't regulate personal trainers, so anybody can become one.

"I am a personal trainer." Saying it is all you have to do to make it so. You don't need a degree. You don't need a certification. For that matter, the government doesn't regulate the organizations that provide certification. About 15 different groups do so
nationally — some respected, others not. Several organizations certify people as trainers after one weekend of classes. Others require simply an open-book test. When I investigated personal trainers, I even found a group that was willing to certify me by mail if I sent a videotape of myself exercising!

Personal training costs $50 to $100 an hour and up, so it ought to be a weighty decision. If you get the wrong trainer, you'll lose money and you won't lose weight. You could also seriously injure yourself. Don't choose a trainer just because he or she has a great body. Choose somebody who can help you achieve your fitness goals. Finding a good trainer should wear you out a little bit — just like a good workout.

Try to find a personal trainer who has a college degree in a relevant field like kinesiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology or health and fitness plus a credible certification. The American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association are the most respected certifying organizations. Knowing who trained the trainer is really the key.

Here are some tips to becoming a savvy consumer when it comes to hiring a personal trainer:

• If a trainer claims to be certified by a national agency, ask for the agency's name, number and Web site so you can confirm.
  
• Check to see that the trainer keeps up with continuing education.
  
• Many certifying organizations keep grievance records, so you can find out if the trainer's background is clean.
  
• Some trainers carry liability insurance, and that's another thing you may want to look in to.
  
• Check the trainer's references and make sure his or her fitness philosophy is a good match for you.
  
• Make sure your trainer is capable of performing CPR.
  
• Get the trainer's cancellation policy in writing before you start working with him or her. (My trainer requires 24 hours' notice or I have to pay. Sounds strict, but I actually like it because it motivates me to stick with my workouts unless I have a good reason.)
  
• If a trainer suggests you use herbal supplements, resist. Personal trainers are not qualified to advise on supplements, and many are risky.
  
• If a trainer pushes you to do exercises that hurt or make you uncomfortable, say no until you can get a second opinion.

This is all good advice, although herbal supplements are often better than prescription medications--and safer. The medical establishment, of which writer Elisabeth Leamy is a part, denigrates any supplement not produced by a drug company paying them kickbacks, so beware the "magic pill" your doctor prescribes.

Other good certifications include the ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) and the ACE (American Council on Exercise).