There are a lot of people out in the health and fitness world trying to make a buck, and there is a lot of conflicting information out there. If you decide to work with someone to help you achieve your health and fitness goals you need to be able to sort through all the hysteria and pick the person(s) right for you. Here are some things to look for:

1. The trainer accepts you for who you are and does not judge you for your past behaviors or choices that led you to your current situation. You should never feel ashamed working with a trainer who is patient, supportive and sensitive.
2. The trainer is respectful of you and your time, including your view of the world. You want to work with someone who you feel is trustworthy. You both want to have clear expectations of the workout and relationship.
3. The trainer does not believe in failure only feedback. The trainer needs to be committed to providing timely and specific feedback of your progress. Do they explain what skills and capabilities are leading to your success? Do they provide periodic assessments of your goals?
4. The trainer recognizes that the body and mind work together and works with you on both at the same time. Does the trainer listen to you, are they curious about your story, do they make the workout fun, and do they incorporate activities that you like to do? Do they incorporate behavioral change strategies such as personal goal setting, journaling and self-management.
5. The trainer provides varying choices, resources and opportunities for your growth and learning. They are able to adapt and change their process as you evolve. The trainer should be knowledgeable on many programs, intuitive to your needs and resourceful enough to recognize when a program is not working and it needs to be changed.
6. The trainer asks the right questions of you. Questions such as: How can I best help you today? What do you want to get out of your workout with me? Can you describe what it will be like when you are following a regular exercise program? When you reach your fitness goals, what will you be able to do? What fitness accomplishments have you experienced before?

While there are many very knowledgeable people who can physically train you, when starting out it is best to look for someone with certified credentials from a recognized governing body. When it comes to nutrition however, in my experience and opinion, it is better to work with someone who is at the cutting edge of science and is compatible with your needs and the place you are in right now, rather than looking for certified credentials. The majority of dieticians and nutritionists are still following the flawed guidelines from decades ago, such as the government food guides or that red meat will cause heart disease, or that drugs can solve your problems. I digress, that is a discussion for a future blog post.

Your EXCEPTIONAL YOU is waiting to come out! I hope you check out the next blog post to learn more about how you can achieve your EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS. I would love to be a part of your journey.