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Personal Trainer

Personal trainers - fashion accessory for the cash-rich and time poor? Or failsafe route to fitness?

Most gyms these days offer personal training as part of their portfolio and probably promote it with all the zeal of timeshare salespeople.

At some point you will consider it, if not now, then later when you hit a motivation or performance plateau that you don't know how to get over. So what will you get for your money? And how can you decide if a personal trainer is for you?

Let's be clear about what a personal trainer means. We're not talking about having someone knock up a tailored training routine for you when you first start - all gyms should do that as a matter of course. Personal trainers will dedicate themselves to you and you alone for each hour that you book. They should assess your fitness level, set up a programme complete with goals and waypoints, and provide the motivation to achieve them.

If you're thinking of opting for personal training, ensure that the trainer:

• Has a recognised personal trainer qualification.
• Is a member of the Register of Fitness Professionals.
• Has a valid CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) certificate.

Recognised qualifications (as defined by the Register of Fitness Professionals) include:

- Future Fit Training Personal Trainer

- YMCA Personal Trainer Diploma

- Lifetime HF Personal Trainer

- FIE Certified Personal Trainer

- Premier Training Diploma

- Or a BA-level degree in sports and fitness

WHY WOULD YOU PAY THE EXTRA?

Given what you're already forking out for the gym, why would you pay extra for a personal trainer? If you have a clear idea of your fitness targets, the knowledge of how to hit them and a high level of self-motivation, then the honest answer is that you don't need a trainer. If, however, you find that motivation is a big problem, or you have an unusual target (say a new sport), or you're going nowhere and don't know what to try, then a personal trainer could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Depends entirely on what your agreed goals are. If your aim is to lose weight and tone up, then you can expect to start off with a cardio warm-up before going onto weights and moves that you wouldn't normally do. In the process you will learn a lot about form, posture, technique and the use of different pieces of equipment. It also makes the gym session an appointment, a commitment that you can't back out of, and introduces the trainer as a kind of external conscience nagging you if you let things slip. Sort of like Jiminy Cricket in tracksuit bottoms.

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