Tips When Choosing an Online Personal Trainer

Nowadays it seems like everyone involved in fitness on social media is either a personal trainer or is selling some workout plan. It can be hard to figure out who is the best match for you and your goals, or who will actually offer the level of support you need. To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of advice that may help you find your perfect match.

 

Know What Your Goals Are

 

The most important factor when choosing a personal trainer is if they can actually help you! Determine what your goals are: is it general weight loss? Gaining muscle? All around re-comp? Competition prep? Powerlifting? If your goals are beyond general weight loss, you will want to make sure your coach or trainer has experience in that field. You wouldn’t hire a gym bunny to help you build a powerlifting program if she’s never even tried it. Find a trainer who specializes in your goals.

 

Ask For References 

 

Another factor to consider when choosing a trainer online is have their clients been successful and have they had positive experiences with the trainer? Many trainers on Instagram feature their success stories, but often those are just the highlights. Not only should you ask the trainer for references and check out their socials, but often if you search for them on google, sites like Reddit will have true client experiences, not only telling the good ones. 

 

Consider Their Qualifications

 

Not every online coach or trainer out there is necessarily certified or has an education. In fact, there are tons of regular people who have had success in their fitness journey that have decided to sell coaching, nutrition, or exercise plans without any formal training or education. That doesn’t make them a terrible person, and not every trainer who has a certification is going to be a success. However, typically trainers who are certified on some level have more education on the how’s and why’s of developing a training program. A trainer should hold a valid and current certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). In the United States, the most popular certifications are: NSCA, ACSM, NASM, ACE, NPTI, and CrossFit. 

 

How Accessible are They?

 

This factor’s importance can vary greatly depending on your own personal motivation levels. You should consider what level of communication you need to stay on track and motivated. Some trainers may offer daily support, while others may only do weekly check-ins. If you know that you might have some questions throughout the week, to have a shoulder to lean on, or someone to hold you more accountable, then choosing someone who is available frequently is best. 

 

Are They Flexible in Their Planning?

 

A good trainer should be flexible. If they hand you a 6-week program and you’re either advancing faster or slower than anticipated, a good trainer should be able to tweak your workouts or nutrition to be more challenging or to keep you on track and motivated. A trainer who does not offer any modifications if you need them should be avoided- you can find someone better who will help you be successful. 

 

Find Out What They Charge

 

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This goes with hiring a personal trainer as well. Now if you are looking for something with minimal contact and is a generic cookie cutter plan, you will be able to find something low-cost. Most trainers have a 4-8 week commitment program with the option to add more time after the commitment is up, while some online websites offer moderately priced monthly programs with minimal tailoring. For one-on-one coaching with nutrition, its not uncommon to spend around $80 week or more, depending on the coach’s experience and availability. This does not mean you have to fork out hundreds of dollars for a 6 week program. Do your research on the coach, the type of programming they offer, as well as researching similar trainers and programs to see the market rate. 

 

Make Sure Your Personalities Are Compatible

 

There’s nothing worse than paying someone for a service only to find out their a huge a**hole. You should have some level of communication with the trainer before you blindly sign up, but you probably already know this. Don’t just jump the gun on so-and-so’s website because you saw their Instagram posts and haven’t ever chatted with them. 

 

Choosing an online personal trainer can be difficult, but with proper research on the coach, similar programs to what you need, and market prices can help make the decision a little easier.