Happy New Year!

Did you know that the most common New Years Resolution that people make each year is to start exercising more so that they can get into better shape? And as such, gyms across the country start to become increasingly more busier than usual around this time of year. In the fitness industry we call this the “New Years Rush”. For most Personal Trainers this is a time to really capitalize on their income and offer massive discounts on training packages and nutritional plans alike.

Through the assistance of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram many trainers will market their services by using cheesy sale gimmicks that only contain false hopes and empty promises. They’ll offer reduced rates on their training sessions and some will even go as far as to offer complimentary “assessment sessions” to all potential clients. As a Personal Trainer/Small Business Owner I have no problem with our competitors marketing their services online. In fact, at Forever Fit we market our services to the general public on a daily basis through these very same social media platforms. However rather than devaluing our services by offering “sales” and “discounts” we prefer to provide our clients and potential clients with useful health and fitness content that they can actually use such as training tips and healthy recipes. We also try to stay as relevant and up to date with our posts as possible by bringing our clients all the latest news and information that is current within the fitness industry.

With that said I don’t want to turn this blog into a rant bashing other trainers and corporate gyms that do offer discounts on their services during a specific season or certain time of year. If this works for them and their clients are happy then who am I to judge?

I’ve always believed that to be successful in this industry, we as trainers need to depend on our clients just as much as they depend on us. I don’t believe in making empty promises of guaranteed weight loss and providing false hopes of amazing results just to get people who are at their mercy and are desperate to transform their physiques to sign up and purchase a training package with us. I am always 100% honest with all of our clients. And I believe it’s this very same honesty that people respect and admire that has allowed us to remain in business for over a decade and continues to allow us to grow.

When a client comes to work with us we make sure that they understand fully as to what to expect from us and then we try to surpass those expectations by going above and beyond a typical 60 minute training session. Let’s face it – The Personal Training Industry can be an extremely flaky industry. Yes, there are plenty of amazing and highly educated trainers out there. Unfortunately there are even more trainers though that have no clue as to what they’re doing and couldn’t give a damn whether or not you achieve your training goals. And I can say this through experience as I’ve worked alongside many of these types of trainers over the years.

So rather than sit here and try to sell you on reasons as to why to work with us, I’m going to provide you with a few quick tips as to what to look for when hiring a Personal Trainer or joining a Group Class. My hope is that by following a few of these tips you’ll not only save your money, but more importantly you’ll save your time, energy and effort with working with someone who does not have your best interest at heart.

Tip #1 – If the Personal Trainer or Fitness Company you contact takes longer than 24 hours to respond to your inquiry then lose their number. In this day and age it’s unacceptable to not respond to a potential client’s email or phone call within a 24 hour period. This is a competitive industry and if the company or trainer is too busy to respond to you in a timely fashion then they’ll most likely be too busy to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.

Tip #2 – If your Personal Trainer shows up late for your initial meeting or training session ask for a full refund and go elsewhere. I know this might seem a bit over the top however first impressions make a huge difference in this industry. If your trainer doesn’t respect your time how can you expect them to respect your health and fitness goals?

Tip #3 – If your Personal Trainer cannot or will not tell you as to why they are giving you a specific exercise or particular training program then it’s time to start looking for a new trainer. I constantly see trainers walking around the gym with their clients literally making up the workouts as they go along. There’s no plan, no rhyme and definitely no reason for what they are having their clients do. If you find yourself doing an exercise that makes you feel stupid or doesn’t feel like it’s helping you accomplish your health and fitness goals then ask your trainer why you are doing it. If you are not satisfied with the answer that is provided to you then it’s time to say goodbye.

Tip #4 – If you’re sore from your workout, chances are you had a pretty good workout. If you’re sore to the point where you can’t move and your back feels like it’s about to break then your trainer is an idiot who pushed you too hard and most likely didn’t correct your form or teach you proper technique or even bother to assess your postural alignment during your training session. In any case, this IS NOT NORMAL. One of the most important jobs a trainer has is to correct poor form. They are after all the experts when it comes to exercise. If your trainer is not correcting your form then run away as fast as you can. In fact report him or her to the Health and Fitness Board of Administration in your district and start looking for a new trainer right away.

Tip #5 – If your trainer doesn’t have a website this does not make him or her a bad trainer. If your trainer doesn’t have a few client testimonials or references this does not make him or her a bad trainer. If your trainer doesn’t have a business license or up to date credentials and insurance this does not make him or her a bad trainer. All these things don’t mean you’ve hired a bad trainer, they just mean you’ve hired a lazy trainer. Personal Trainers are suppose to be motivating and inspiring. So just ask yourself – Can a lazy person motivate you to train hard and inspire you to eat clean? If the answer is no, then it’s time to end that relationship.

I know my tips may come across as a bit harsh but the fact of the matter is that exercise and the gym itself can be a dangerous place if you don’t know what you’re doing. And it can be even more dangerous if the person who you are trusting with your health and fitness goals doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Regardless if you are trying to lose weight, build muscle or just improve your overall health, don’t just settle with the first trainer you meet. Ask for credentials, references, and information on their training style and services. And don’t make your decision on price alone. A Sirloin Steak at a high end restaurant may cost more then a cheeseburger at McDonalds but chances are the Steak dinner won’t leave you sitting on the toilet all night. Cheaper is not always better. And no where could this be more true then within the fitness industry.

If you’re going to take your health and fitness goals seriously for 2017 then you better surround yourself with a team of professionals that you feel confident can help you achieve these goals. And if you have any doubts with the trainer or fitness company that you choose to work with then speak up and say something. If your concerns are not met or handled appropriately then quite simply it’s time to move on and look elsewhere.

Remember, to be the best you need to work and surround yourself with the best. If you settle for a mediocre trainer or training company then you will most likely only achieve mediocre results.  In the end the ultimate decision is up to you. So make sure it’s a good one!

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove.