Aside from spending time on their phones or chatting with other trainers during your session, there are a few other things that, for us, ring alarm bells.
First up, they shouldn’t be giving you instructions that you find confusing. Whether that’s using too many acronyms or terms that you’re not familiar with (eg. AMRAP, Pyramids, supersets), or not being clear about the repetitions or timings you should stick to. You shouldn’t need a glossary to work with a PT – you’re paying them to teach you how to work out properly, and that includes explaining the terminology associated with what you’re doing. If there are any instructions you’re not familiar with, ASK. A good PT will be more than happy to take the time to explain so you’re sure.
Your trainer should not be vague about your goals either. You should know from the outset what you can expect from your trainer, and what they expect from you. They should be clear about what they think is achievable and in what sort of time frame. Far too often, personal trainers can spend months on end working with a client who doesn’t look or feel any different than when they started; a cynic might argue they’re just interested in taking the money…
Your trainer should not take the place of a nutritionist (unless they also have the relevant qualifications in that field). Whilst you can expect some reasonable guidance from them in terms of making healthier choices and eating to support your goals, they should not be devising full meal plans for you. Are they a qualified personal trainer or are they a dietician? If the answer is “both” then great – but if not, they shouldn’t be mapping out every last calorie you’ll consume.
This may seem an obvious one, but your trainer shouldn’t make you sad! If you end up dreading every session as it approaches, then something isn’t working. Whilst you may never be the type of person who absolutely LOVES exercise, you shouldn’t totally hate it either. A good trainer will help you play to your strengths, improve weaker areas and generally make you feel good about working out. At the end of your hour together, yes you’ll be tired but there should be a sense of achievement and positivity from a job well done.