Finding the One

A healthy relationship requires:

• honesty
• effective communication
• commitment
• openness
• goal setting
• compromise

And this is EXACTLY what is needed when finding a compatible personal trainer.

A trainer is NOT just someone who prescribes an exercise program for you. They are there to educate, inform, train, encourage and support you.

In my professional experience, I have come across a LOT of personal trainers. Some good, some bad, some great and some mediocre.

But what separates the good from the bad, the mediocre from the great is just one thing - a genuine desire to make a real difference in someone's life. And who better epitomises this than Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper - the original Biggest Loser USA trainers. They have different training styles but at the end of the day it's their passion and genuine interest in helping people improve their health and live a higher quality life that makes them leaders in the industry.

And just like any relationship, you have to go through some bad ones before you find a good one.

Here are some pointers on what to look for in an ideal trainer:

• good knowledge of health and exercise
• enthusiasm for their job
• passion for helping others
• helps you to establish realistic goals and ways to achieve them
• keeps you accountable
• gives you their undivided attention
• knows when to push you and when to hold back
• practices what they preach
• able to do more than count repetitions

If you do have a personal trainer, make the most of them. You're probably spending a good $60 an hour so make them earn their coin. Ask questions about the exercises you are doing and why you are doing them? Ask about injuries and prevention?

The best trainers are not necessarily those who are the most attractive or have the biggest muscles - it's the ones who get down and help you with the exercise, correct your form, provide encouraging words during those final, torturous reps and show a real interest in YOU. They are the real gems and the ones who are paving the way for a healthier world.

JW