Choosing a Trainer - Part III - Personalities

Selecting Your Trainer

Now we have determined that you have a professional, caring, well meaning and highly educated trainer in front of you.  There is one more thing left to determine if they are the right trainer for you.  Do you like them?  Personality types should not be ignored, especially in the instance that you will spend your money to spend 2 to 6 hours a week with this individual.  I have listed a few Personal Trainer Personality Types so you can familiarize yourself and be well armed to make the best decision for yourself.

READ: How to choose a Personal Trainer

·      The Enabler.  This type of trainer makes everything OK for you.  They do not try to push you too hard and they will listen to you for minutes between exercises.  This is the trainer for you if Fitness Goals are not your priority but you need a good listener.  This is more of a “Rent a friend” than it is someone totally absorbed in your success.

 

·      The Drill Sergeant.  As the name implies this is an individual who will motivate you through constant pressure to succeed and achieve more every time you are with them.  This is a person in control of the session.  Some of us need this as we are incredibly powerful, busy people and sometimes we just want to be told what to do.  Results are the cornerstone of this individuals focus.  This person was well… a Drill Sergeant in a past life.

 ·      The Analyzer (Also called The Technician).  This trainer carries a clipboard, two different color pens and a highlighter.  They will make sure that you are in the exact position that you should be before you are allowed to move.  Be sure not to deviate as this person will stop you, reset you and do it all over again until it is perfect.  The Analyzer studied engineering at some point in their life.

·      The Olympian.  A former athlete who thinks you were too!  You will lift heavy things that do not need to be moved, run to nowhere; perform feats of strength seen on American Gladiators re-runs, do sprints, box and anything else you can possibly think of.  It may not be the best structured workout you will ever experience but make no mistake – it will be an experience.  Hint: Bring an extra towel!

·      The Coach.  This is a very fun loving but intense type of trainer.  Chances are this is the only profession this person has ever known and they have been doing it for a long, long time.  This trainer understands that there are many parts to a successful fitness plan and they want to teach you how to do it all with or without them.  You will be sure to get little pearls of wisdom daily and be encouraged to do your best.  Your success will be measured and there will be an action plan for everything.

·      The Cheerleader (Also – The Motivator).  This Cheerleader is fun and you will be sure to laugh during your session.  This is a trainer who will be vocal, loud, exciting and in your face.  They will get you to let loose and try dance moves, Pilates, Yoga, Stretching, and Balance on weird Fitness Gizmos. You will be so caught up in the moment that you will not believe that you just had a personal training workout.  This person is bubbly and always smiling and you will be too.    

·      The Prima Donna.  This is the trainer that thinks they are more important than you are.  My suggestion:  Stay Away!  Warning Flags:

• Ignores or dismisses your questions.
• Works you so hard you are in pain for days. Soreness is normal, but you should still be able to get out of bed.
•  Neglects any part of a complete program or recommends a level of training that is too hard for you.
• Diagnoses injuries or illnesses instead of referring you to a doctor.
• Thinks they have the magical workout or diet plan.
• Interrupts your session to talk to friends or take phone calls (unless it is an emergency or can not be avoided).
• Does not return phone calls or emails.
• Likes looking in the mirror a bit too much.

Remember, you are spending your money and your time.  You should have a trainer that you like, that cares about you and knows how to help you achieve your goals.

-Robert

Setting Your Goals

This year, make a SMART goals resolution! No matter what your New Years Resolution is, make sure you follow the SMART Goal Setting parameters to increase your chances of success. SMART goals are:

Specific: Not just "be healthier" or "be thinner" but how specifically will you get there? Will it be a focus on Fitness, Food, or both?

Measurable: Instead of "exercise more" or "lose weight" - how many days will you exercise? How much weight will you lose?

Attainable/Achievable: Set yourself up for success! Make your first few goals of the year ones that you KNOW you can achieve with a little effort.

Realistic: If it's not realistic, it's not sustainable. Remember, when it comes to healthy weight loss, 1-2 lbs a week is IDEAL. Aiming for more than that is likely to either discourage you and/or create a yo-yo weight loss effect which does more damage than good.

Time-bound: Short term is best for getting started. Don't forget to promise yourself a (healthy) reward for when you make your deadline!


Set your goals and make your plan!
If you need help - check these resources out.


My Dynamic Life - Free Workout Programs and Education

90 Days to a New You - Transform Your Thinking - Transform Your Body

Personal Development Made Simple - Better Health, Fitness, Finances and Relationships

Change "I can't" to "I WILL".

Change your Fitness Dictionary

I have begun a petition!  It is to remove one word from the dictionary.  Let’s see if you agree…

Can’t:Verb

Contraction of cannot

Negative form of can

Can someone please explain to me how this word has risen to such absolute Diction Stardom?  This is the most overused word in our language.  Name one positive thing that has EVER happened with this word at the start of a sentence… Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Here are a few synonyms of can’t. (Now this is a list of winners!)  Synonyms: anxious, blue, can’t win*, cynical, dejected, depressed, desperate, downcast, frantic, hopeless, miserable, melancholy, no-win, sad*...I think you get the point.

A very wise man once said, “There is no try, there is only do.”  I believe it was Mr. Miagi from The Karate Kid or Yoda from Star Wars.  Either way, that guy had it right.  I do not care if your goal is to get huge and take up as much space on this planet as possible, if it’s to get small and take up as little space as possible or if it’s to remain the same size and just get from one point to another faster - there is no CAN’T!

You may have tried numerous methods to help you attain these goals before.  If you failed then you have figured out one more way that does not work for you.  The only sure thing is that if you stop trying then you are virtually assured of not succeeding.  Do not give up!  Get mad, get psyched and get moving!

I see people with 3 main goals: Get big! Get small!  Or get healthy!  We jump on a treadmill and walk to nowhere aimlessly for a few months until we get bored and stop or we will lift up heavy things that do not need to be moved multiple times in an attempt to make us big and strong.  We all start this process with a high level of motivation:

Motivation:  

Noun

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior.

Providing incentive.

I also see other common traits when it comes to fitness: we eventually stop!  Whether we are bored, our program is not working as quickly as we would like or not at all, or we are confused about what to do next, we stop searching for a solution because the ‘solution’ that we chose no longer provides the stimulus it once did.  One recommendation thatWILL make a difference in maintaining your level of motivation is small group training.  Training in small groups offers 3 distinct advantages over trying to workout on your own:

Competitiveness and Camaraderie

When there are 3-5 other people in the room busting their butts along with you, you will all work harder as individuals and as a group.  No one wants to be the weak link and you will work harder to keep up or set the pace when someone else is falling behind.

Energy

The above leads to Energy.  When you work harder you burn more calories in a shorter time.  If your goal is fat loss then this concept helps a great deal.  If your goal is muscle gain then you can create a bigger response to the exercise.  This is a Win – Win.   

Achievement

You will do more!  I promise you that you will do more under the direction of one of our trainers than you ever will alone.  The “I can’t” or “I don’t think I can” attitude will disappear and you will just do it…every time.  No excuses, no let down, just achievement.  Think like a winner and act like a winner.  When you do not feel like showing up, show up anyway and do it.  When you feel like showing up, show up and blow the doors off the place.   Second, there are a few classes and private training sessions that will help you get moving and bust through anything you feel is holding you back.  Make a deal with your self that you will try a new class or take a session with a personal trainer every month.  Make it a point to look for activities that you have not tried before.

Now that we have discussed the ways to overcome the “can't” in our vocabulary, let’s add these words to our vernacular instead.

Can:

-auxiliary verb

to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: I’m sure

to know how to

To have to power or means to

Will:

-noun

The faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action; the power of control the mind has over its own actions

Power of choosing one’s own actions

Purpose or determination

You have to believe that you can and will succeed.