In the last post, I talked about how to fit in exercise when you don’t have much time.

In this post, I’m going to talk about how to stay motivated and what you should look for in a good personal trainer.

Staving off boredom

One of the biggest obstacles to staying on the path to good fitness is lack of motivation. The simple fact is that the majority of people who start an exercise programme often find themselves quickly getting bored of the same routine. Keeping exercise engaging and maintaining a perspective on your fitness is key to your long-term success.

Just imagine if you had to watch the same episode of your favourite TV show every day for the rest of your life, you would probably end up banging your head against the wall by the end of the week.  You’d probably change the channel, pick up a book, or do anything you could to avoid something you once enjoyed.

Yet, many people on a regular fitness program feel compelled to follow the same routine, day after day after day, and consequently fall off the exercise wagon due to sheer boredom.

In fact, that’s why a lot of people seek out the help of a personal trainer. In the hope that they can give them different options to help them stay on track and reach their fitness goals.

Personal trainers

Personal trainers are experts at analysing and creating fitness plans. They will evaluate your current fitness level, and create a programme according to your specific needs, as well as help keep you motivated by giving you activities that will keep you on track and eliminate any chance of boredom.

Not all personal trainers are created equal though. They might vary from the different training they have had, the health education they’ve acquired, and the skills that they’ve learned.

However, finding the perfect personal trainer isn’t always an easy task. It’s important to consider certain factors that will help you determine if a trainer is right for you.

Things you should look for in a personal trainer:

Education, training and certification

Like shopping for any product, hiring the services of a personal trainer is often determined by their level of training as well as their certifications. Therefore, before you run to your local gym and book the first trainer you see, it’s a good idea to verify their qualifications.

Look for a trainer who has well-rounded education in physical fitness as well as a few years of experience under their belt.  Also check if they have first aid qualifications and CPR certification, just to be on the safe side!

Knows how to give the right attention

A good trainer is willing to provide his or her client with undivided attention whenever they are in a session. You want to hire a trainer that is willing to focus their attention on you specifically and not several clients at one time. After all, you’re paying for their time and it should be dedicated to your success.

Knows how to track development

It’s best to choose a trainer that knows how to track your progress as far as fitness is concerned. This way they will be able to create and target challenging new activities that will help you achieve the results you’re looking for.

Good personality

Since you’ll be working closely with your trainer on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to look for someone with a compatible personality that you’ll be comfortable spending time with. You don’t want to work with a trainer who makes you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious because it will only sabotage your success.

Make sure you look for the next post soon. I’ll be talking about some simple tips for a better work out.