Bulking up
Experience, certification important in finding a personal trainer

by Lee Graves
for Virginia Business
June 2007

Tom Snead is no stranger to a good workout.

But until recently, he wasn’t able to focus on fitness as much as he wanted.

“I’d go to the gym, and I’d always run into somebody I knew,” he says. “I’d end up talking more than I ended up working out. I just didn’t have that discipline.”

In January 2006, Snead retired as president and chief executive officer for the Southeast region of Wellpoint Inc., which includes Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia.

With a little more time on his hands, he set a goal to improve his fitness. In addition to his regular workouts, he signed up for two sessions a week at Fitnessman Studios Inc. on West Cary Street in Richmond.

Paying for a personal trainer has motivated him on several levels.

“When I put this on my calendar, and I pay extra for it, it really is a good incentive,” says Snead.

Workouts are intense and varied. Distractions are minimal. Other than Snead’s personal trainer, “I’m the only human being in there for an hour.”

The bottom line is that Snead can see a difference.

“This sounds a bit vain, but I look in the mirror and I just feel better,” Snead says. “I feel good.”

Looking good, feeling good, gaining muscle, losing weight — the reasons people seek personal trainers are as different as their body types. But some common denominators factor into selecting a personal trainer for a satisfying and successful fitness regimen.

Robin Craig Diamond, owner of Fitnessman Studios, and Dennys Passeto, founder of Achieve Fitness based in the Washington area, agree that the first items to check are certification and experience.

Personal trainers can receive certification from a number of organizations, but clients shouldn’t make that their sole criterion. “Certification is important, but certified does not always mean qualified,” Diamond says. “Experience goes a long way.”

Also, check to make sure a trainer knows the latest CPR techniques and has liability insurance, Passeto says.

But why should someone bother with a personal trainer in the first place, when every gym in town has a staffer or fitness buff eager to lend a hand?

“It’s like having a professional work on your car,” Passeto said. “It’s going to get done better.

“One of the biggest variables is intensity. People don’t train very intensely on their own,” he says. “The trainer maximizes your pr ogress in that one hour.”

Diamond says a personal trainer also pays close attention to an individual’s health history. Programs account for potential risks as well as prescribed goals. “A person is also less likely to blow off a workout if he or she has an appointment for which they’ve already paid,” he says.

Fees usually start around $40 an hour in health clubs, Diamond says, and can be as much as $100 an hour in a private studio or for in-home training. Passeto says the average session for his clients is $75 an hour, whether the sessions are in a gym or at home.

Home settings can bring gender issues into play. Some female trainers prefer not to hold private sessions for men. And some clients have preferences for male or female trainers.

Though many are comfortable with either gender, trainers can have specific certifications for male or female clients, just as they can have specialties in certain fitness areas.

“For instance, if I wanted to be a bodybuilder, I’d probably feel more comfortable if my trainer was also a bodybuilder because he or she not only understands the training but also understands the mentality,” Diamond says.

Having someone who understands middle age appeals to Snead. He’s 53, and Diamond is nearly 50.

“He knows what a 50-year-old body feels like,” Snead says with a laugh.

Personal trainers’ paths to the job are as diverse as the people seeking their services. Diamond grew up playing recreational sports but was drawn to personal training through weightlifting as an adult. Passeto, on the other hand, was a star on his high school soccer team in Maryland and followed athletics into the field.

Both have seen growth in the industry and in their own businesses. Achieve Fitness has expanded to South Florida. Fitnessman has increased its staff.

The field also has evolved. Weight loss is still a big motivator for clients, but it’s not as dominant. “I get a mix of people who want to maintain independence as they age. Some want to improve their athletic abilities, and almost everyone wants to trim down. But few people mention [weight loss] as their main goal anymore,” says Diamond.

If weight loss is the goal, exercise alone isn’t enough. Diet and other lifestyle changes are important. “People shouldn’t expect any trainer to exercise all the fat off their body. It has to be a joint effort,” Diamond said.

When the workouts work, the rewards are mutual.

“That’s what I love,” Passeto said. “I love to measure the client six weeks later and see how much progress they’ve ma de.”

Other tips

Here are some more pointers for choosing a personal trainer:

· Ask around: Word-of-mouth is a good indicator of the qualities of a trainer or fitness company.

· Use the Internet: Organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine ( www.acsm.org ), the American Council on Exercise ( www.acefitness.org), the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America ( www.afaa.com), the National Strength and Conditioning Council ( www.nsca-lift.org) and the YMCA ( www.ymcafit.org) have Web sites with information about personal trainers and certification.

· Find a good fit: Not only should a personal trainer be able to meet your workout needs, but you also should feel comfortable with his or her personality.

· Consider location: A private studio? Home sessions? Balance what you’d like to pay with what will help you meet your needs.

· Communicate your needs: Be able to tell a personal trainer exactly what you’d like to achieve, whether it be a bathing suit body or a faster speed in the 40-yard dash.