Personal Trainers:
Who, What, How Much?
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Summary -
Their Training, What They Do, Their Fees
According to the experts, hiring a
personal trainer may once have seemed to be only a luxury that the rich and
famous could afford. Today, anyone with a little extra income has the power to
hire a personal trainer. You don't have to be a Hollywood celebrity. A qualified
trainer can assess individual fitness, create goals based on the status of that
assessment, and motivate the client to adhere to the program as outlined. A
proper program should address both the exercise and nutritional components of
the person's lifestyle.
Needless to say, a good personal
trainer should be energetic and motivating, always encouraging their clients to
reach maximum performance. Personal trainers today may work at their home, come
to your home, work at a facility such as a health club or YMCA, or even work by
phone.
The following information comes
from the consumer watchdog organization called Quackwatch (www.quackwatch.org).
The author is Donald Evans, B.S.in kinesiology, with a specialization in
fitness, nutrition, and health, from San Diego State University.
Academic Degrees
First, a professional personal
trainer should have a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in exercise
science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, physical education, sport management.
or something similar. Also, if you are unfamiliar with the university that
granted the degree, make sure it is accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Secretary of Education. The degree is an assurance that the trainer did not
enter the profession on a whim or as a fly-by-night endeavor. Proper training
requires between 2,000-3,000 hours of in-class instruction, many exams and
research papers, as well as much outside study and writing. A normal time frame
for completion is 4-6 years that provide a solid background in human anatomy,
physiology, biomechanics, and exercise prescription techniques.
Certification
Personal trainer certification is
another critical factor. Due to an absence of government regulation, many
certifying bodies exist. Your best bet is to find a trainer who is certified by
one of the following:
There may be other quality
agencies; however, those listed above are the most respected in the field. These
certifications ensure that the trainer has demonstrated basic knowledge of
anatomy and physiology, exercise prescription, nutrition, and responsibility to
the client. Valid CPR certification is generally required in order to sit for
the exams, and most of these certifying bodies require continuing education
credits every year or two.
Finally, do not accept as
legitimate any certification that allows the individual to take the exam at
home. Some fringe agencies require only a 70% or higher score even though the
exam is taken at home. There is no way to ensure that the trainer in
question actually took the exam.
Degree vs. Certification
Ideally, your personal trainer
should have both, adhering to the standards discussed above. The degree requires
a more in-depth and complete approach to the academic subjects in question.
Certification tests also cover various training techniques, as well as
information related to client issues. If you are going to spend between $30 to
$120 per hour, find a degreed and certified trainer and make the most of your
hard-earned money.
Nutrition Credentials
No customized exercise
training program is complete without proper nutrition. Personal trainers with a
Registered Dietitian (RD) credential from the American Dietetic Association
should be able to provide in-depth nutrition advice. However, a Registered
Dietetic Technician (DTR) credential or an associate or bachelor's degree in
nutrition from an accredited institution may be sufficient for providing basic
dietary guidelines. Work experience in the field of nutrition is also a plus.
These additional credentials in nutrition should be considered as an adjunct to,
but not in place of, the exercise science degree and personal trainer
certification.
What You Should Expect
Many personal trainers have their
own philosophy about the best way to develop their client programs.
However, during the first meeting, the trainer should explore your health
history, fitness goals, and any exercise preferences. You may also be asked to
complete several forms:
-
Informed consent. This
should outline the benefits and risks of engaging in an exercise program and
states that the client accepts the said conditions without any undue deceit
or coercion. It is required by law where program participants may be
exposed to some type of harm. Potential clients are advised to read
it carefully. Signing the document renders it legally binding.
-
Health history form.
This will contain questions regarding past and current medical problems,
family history of disease, and possible risk factors which are
contraindicated with exercise. Truthful responses will assist the
trainer greatly.
-
Physician approval.
Although not absolutely required for apparently healthy individuals, a good
trainer requires written approval from a physician.
Once clearance has been secured,
the trainer may ask you to perform several tests to provide a baseline
information about your levels of flexibility, muscular strength, muscular
endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance. The test areas may include
stretching, lifting weights, walking on a treadmill, using the stationary
bicycle, and taking a body-fat percentage using skinfold calipers. The initial
interview and tests will govern the type of exercise, equipment, and level of
intensity that are used.
Warning Signs
Although the majority of reputable
trainers abide by a code of ethics and professional standards, there will always
be those who are less than qualified. Be highly skeptical if your
trainer...
-
Insists on a workout during
the first meeting. Most personal training sessions last either 30 or 60
minutes. This initial meeting should be used to explore what you need and
process any necessary paperwork.
-
Tries to sell you dietary
supplements. If the client chooses to use supplements, they are best
obtained from a retail store.
-
Advises everyone to use
vitamins, protein supplements, amino acid concoctions, or other dubious
products.
-
Says that his or her style
of training is the ONLY way to get results.
-
Is hesitant to provide you
with proof of credentials or references. This is probably a sign that
the trainer's credentials are less than credible.
-
Is uninsured. Liability
insurance is a must for every personal trainer.
-
Is not punctual about
appointments, or is unavailable via telephone or email.
-
Is unclear about the
cancellation policy. Clients have a right to know how much time they
have to cancel a session in advance without being obligated to pay the fee.
-
Does not keep up with
current research in the field of exercise science.
-
Does not practice what
he/she preaches. Those who do not train their own body may lack the
dedication needed to inspire their clients.
Hot
New Trend: Personal Training/Fitness By Phone
Counselors
Telephone fitness
trainers seem to be the hot new trend lately, in an effort to save weight and
fitness-conscious consumers time and money. It seems to work, at least according
to a recent Stanford University article entitled: "Telephone-Assisted Counseling
for Physical Activity." Researchers conclude that phone counseling is convenient
and gives participants greater access to counselors and promotes physical
activity for those who may not be responsive to face-to-face training.
There is even an
Association of Fitness by Phone Coaches (www.fitnessbyphone.com). 60 new
trainers joined the association in the past year, the largest increase in the
group's history. Member companies of this group claim to be getting inundated
with calls from women aged 35-55 who are too busy, too unmotivated or too
frustrated to exercise. (These are also the same women who have made the Curves
for Women health club chain one of the fastest growing fitness companies
around.)
The service involves one
20-minute phone call per week. This motivational call, combined with the
accountability factor and measurable goals, seems to make it all work. Customers
must maintain an exercise diary. Clients may also call for in-between session
pep talks. Usually, clients wear monitors on their waistbands that record how
many calories they burn per day. When they exercise, they wear heart rate
monitors. Each week they follow individual exercise goals, record what they've
eaten, how many calories they burned per day and what their exercise heart rates
were. The day before a scheduled call, clients must fax these records to the
coach, who reviews it and develops the next week's strategy.
How much does this
fitness phone counseling cost? About $50 per session, according to the company
Fitness by Phone®. Other
companies in this emerging market are People Fit USA (www.peoplefitusa.com)
and Flexible Fitness, both California-based firms. Most fitness phone
coaches offer 12week and 24-week programs that cost about 50% of the cost of an
in-person trainer. Companies in the field say that callers who reach their goals
commit to weekly consultations for at least three months--one-time callers don't
accomplish much.
If you want to check on
a trainer's credentials, you can check online at the IDEA Health and Fitness
Association website: www.ideafit.com/trainerlocator.asp.