10 Telltale Signs That Your Personal Trainer is Not Right for You

Personal trainer yelling at client

So, you have finally decided to lose weight. You join a local gym but as soon as you enter the gym you have no idea how to get started. Which fitness equipment to use first? What makes this tool work for you? What if you injure yourself, or worse, the weights fall on you?

Or you’re more comfortable working out at home so you buy some workout equipment such as bands, weights and a floor mat. What exercise routine do you begin with? How long do you do it for? Should you stretch first?

When these kinds of questions arise, it’s time to hire a personal trainer. Finding the right trainer can be daunting. An expert in fitness training can help you achieve your health and fitness goals. An incompetent personal trainer could just be a waste of your hard-earned money, your time and effort, but more importantly, your health goals could be sabotaged.

When it comes to hiring a trainer, you want to be thoughtful about it. There are ways to know if the person is not right for you and hopefully you’ve done your due diligence so you’re working with the appropriate expert.

However, for those who have hired trainers already but still on the fence on whether or not they’re right for you, then these 10 telltale signs will help you determine the competency of the trainer.

1. Cursing Cathy

Jillian screaming at her client.

Although some trainers take pride in their militaristic style approach to working out, it doesn’t give them the right to speak to you in a dis-respective way. If your trainer is constantly shouting at you and using foul words, which makes you feel uncomfortable, then it’s time for you to part ways. The trainer should push you, however, it should be done in a motivating way so that you’re challenged not demoralized.

2. Talkative Tammy

trainer chatting with client

When your trainer just wants to gossip and chat about everything else but the actual training session, then it’s time to give her the boot. It’s fine to build a relationship with your trainer, but not in that way. Your trainer is not focused and doesn’t have your interest at heart. A training session is typically only an hour and that time should be maximized to your benefit.

3. Ignorant Irene

Woman gets injured while working out.
Click on image above to see video of woman getting injured while working out.

When you have a trainer who fails to correct you when you’re exercising the wrong way, then good riddance to her. A certified trainer has the knowledge of the physical body and how to move it to gain results. Intuitively the right trainer knows if an exercise is being executed incorrectly, so she should immediately correct her client.

4. Distracted Diane

Trainer texting while training client.

When your trainer is constantly texting or taking calls during the training session, then say bye bye to her. You’re paying for her to train you so the right trainer should turn off her phone and focus on you, the client. As well, she should be present with you and not be distracted by her personal issues. A trainer who’s not focused on her client, can lead to injury and an unsafe environment.

5. Ho-hum Heather

Woman sleeping on exercise equipment

Some trainers will offer the same routines or a variation of them time and again. This is typical of a newbie, someone who’s not interested in expanding her exercise knowledge, or someone who doesn’t prepare for the sessions. As a client, you will never reach your fitness goals when you have a trainer like this, so it’s time to cut the cord. The right trainer customizes each training session according to you and your health objectives. She should also change up the workout sessions so that your body responds positively, and that you don’t become bored and demotivated.

6. Pam, the Product Pusher

A lot of nutritional supplements

Does your trainer constantly push her products on you? Annoying right? Well, she’s not the trainer for you. Some personal trainers promote their own products or affiliate products, such as vitamins or nutritional powders, to subsidize their income. That’s all well and good, however, she shouldn’t be aggressive about it. If you decline, she should respect your decision.

7. Cred-less Cora

diet pills for losing weight

A lot of personal trainers out there don’t have the nutritional training or background yet offer a nutritional recommendation as though she is an expert. So unless the trainer could prove she is qualified by showing credentials, be wary. Be especially cautious of those offering diet recommendations that intuitively are wrong, such as diet pills that boast sever weight loss. In addition, if she can’t provide a recognized certification on being trained as a personal trainer, then it’s time to walk. At all times, you want to work only with an accredited professional.

8. Obese Olga

overweight person exercising

Some trainers, just like most of us, let themselves go once in awhile. They’re not at their physical best due to a number of reasons. This is fine, however, if your trainer is severely overweight that she can’t even physically demonstrate an exercise then it’s divorce time. Your trainer’s physical and personality profile are a reflection of her personal training service. The trainer is supposed to be “the trainer”, the educator, the mentor, etc., so you look to her for guidance. But if your trainer is extremely overweight, then she doesn’t believe in the very essence of what she’s teaching. If she doesn’t believe in it, then why should you?

9. Socially Awkward Sally

Brad Pitt plays personal trainer character

Let’s face it, we can’t get along with everyone…and it’s the same with a trainer. If you did your homework, you met with her first to see if there’s a fit. If your trainer’s personality and training approach don’t mesh with you, then you need to severe ties. Your fitness journey can take time depending on your goals – in other words, you’re in for a long haul. So you want someone by your side that you can build a solid relationship with, which means finding a trainer whom you click with.

10. Aggressive Amy

Tough Mudder - Fire obstable
Tough Mudder – Fire Obstacle

Some fitness trainers push you too much that you become injured. The trainer is supposed to challenge you out of your comfort zone, otherwise, you’ll never lose weight, however, when she pushes you without any concern for your safety, then it’s time to move on. Your trainer should know your strengths, weaknesses and limitations – this is why it’s important that a trainer should do a baseline assessment with you first before anything else. And as you spend more time with the trainer, he will become familiar with your body and what you’re capable of. Based on this knowledge, a great fitness expert will leverage that intel to tailor the training session.

So there you go. I hope this article can guide you in finding the right professional you can work with. And if you already have a trainer, I sure hope she’s not any of the above.

Which one is your trainer?