There is a lot of confusion and misconception surrounding the fitness industry and personal training is no exception. When you decide to hire a personal trainer you are basically relying on luck to find someone who you can trust with your health and fitness needs.

Often times people make the mistake of lumping all personal trainers into one category… thinking that they are all the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. As in all professions there are good trainers, bad trainers and a select few that are exceptional at what they do.

Always Look For The Best

• When you look for an attorney to represent you, you look for the best.
• When you look for a doctor to treat you, you look for the best.
• When you look for a financial planner to take care of your assets, you look for the best.
• When you look for a personal trainer to take care of your health & fitness needs, you should also look for the best.

Looking for and hiring an exceptional fitness trainer is one of the smartest investments you can make.

To help you with your search I have compiled a list of 7 criteria that every qualified fitness professional should possess:

1. National Certifications- The American Council on Exercise, American College of Sports Medicine & National Strength & Conditioning Association are the Gold Standards of Certification. Every fitness trainer should have, at bare minimum, a certification with one of these agencies. A certification through one of these agencies means that the trainer has passed the bare minimum requirements to call himself a personal trainer; it does not guarantee trainer competence.

I currently have 3 national certifications through the American Council on Exercise (ACE):
o ACE Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist
o ACE Certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant
o ACE Certified Personal Trainer

2. References &Testimonials- A true fitness professional should be able to do more than talk about how good he is… he should be able to show proof that he can deliver results in the form of client testimonials and verifiable references.
Log on to my website, http://OCFitnessChallenge.com, and click on Testimonials to view some recent Orange County success stories.

3. Programs- A quality fitness trainer should do more than take you through a workout and count your reps. He should have programs in place which will educate you about all of the aspects that will contribute to your achievement of total health and fitness. Your fitness trainer should help you set goals, develop a specific plan of action, and hold you accountable while supporting and motivating you through the entire process.
I have developed a series of customized programs, one of which I’m sure will fit your needs.

4. Assessments- Fitness assessments should be taken at the onset of your fitness program to give you a baseline from which to track your progress. These should include circumference measurements, skinfold measurements, cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility tests.

5. Guarantee- The weight loss and fitness industry is the only industry that I know of where a person will try a program or regimen and blame herself when she fails to get results. You should not waste your time or money on a fitness trainer who does not have the confidence to offer you a guarantee of your success.
I offer a 100% money back guarantee on all of my programs and services.

6. Professional Rates- If you want a quality fitness professional, you are going to pay professional rates. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for. Any personal trainer who charges bargain rates is going to be lacking in some way. You should definitely seek out and work with the best trainer in your area. It will mean the difference between getting lasting results and wasting your valuable time and money.
Note: If money is a limiting factor, ask the trainer if he will allow for less frequent meetings.

7. Empower Your Life- A true fitness professional will do more than just help you achieve your goals and send you on your way. A quality fitness trainer will empower you with the knowledge and education necessary to keep your results ongoing and lasting.

Utilizing these criteria will help you find a quality fitness trainer that will help you get the results you want in the shortest amount of time possible.

Alexander Morentin is a practicing clinical exercise specialist, lifestyle & weight management consultant and creator of the 16 Week Total Body Makeover. Al is the owner of My Fit Life, a health & wellness company located in Fullerton, California which specializes in women’s fitness and nutrition. For additional information call (714)585-7551.

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