How to choose a personal trainer: 7 questions to ask

A personal trainer is a big commitment of time and money, and the right one makes the difference between a few hard weeks and a lasting change. These are the questions worth asking before you sign up, wherever you train.

1. Are you certified, and by whom?

Look for a current certification from a nationally recognized organization. It does not guarantee a great coach, but it means they have been tested on anatomy, programming and safety. Ask which one, and how long they have been coaching.

2. What happens in the first session?

A good answer involves finding out about you before training you hard: how you move, what you want, your history with exercise and anything that hurts. A trainer who skips this is guessing.

3. Will the plan be written for me?

You want a plan built around your goals, your schedule and your starting point, and one that changes as you progress, not the same template every client gets.

4. How do you handle old injuries?

The right answer is to plan around them and to send anything recent or serious to a doctor or physical therapist first. Be wary of anyone who promises to fix an injury themselves.

5. Where do sessions happen?

At a gym, a studio, outdoors or at your home. Each works; what matters is that it is somewhere you will actually keep showing up to. In-home training removes the commute entirely.

6. How will we know it is working?

Ask how progress is measured: strength numbers, body measurements, how your clothes fit, how you feel climbing the stairs. A trainer should be able to show you that you are moving forward.

7. What do your clients say?

Read reviews from people who have trained with them, ideally on a site the trainer does not control, such as Google. Look for specifics: weight lost, injuries worked around, a coach who turns up on time.

Red flags

• A hard sell on a long package before you have trained once.
• Every client doing the same workout.
• Pain treated as proof the workout is working.
• Promises of dramatic results in a few weeks.