What to Expect in a Consultation with a Personal Trainer
If you’re thinking about working with a personal trainer, congratulations, you’re taking a fantastic first step towards improving your health and fitness!
A consultation with a personal trainer is your chance to discuss your goals, understand the process, and see if the trainer is the right fit for you.
Let’s break down what you can expect in this initial meeting and how it sets the foundation for your fitness journey.
Understanding Your Goals
One of the first things your trainer will ask is, “What do you want to achieve?”
This might seem straightforward, but it’s more than just saying, “I want to get fit” or “I want to tone up.”
Your trainer will help you break these into clear, measurable goals. For example, instead of “get fit,” you might decide on, “Run a 5K in under 30 minutes” or “Lose 10 pounds in three months.” These specific targets give you something to work toward and help your trainer design a program tailored to your needs.
If you’re unsure about your goals, don’t worry, that’s what the trainer is there for! They’ll guide you through questions to uncover what’s important to you, whether that’s improving strength, increasing energy levels, or feeling more confident in your body.
The PAR-Q Form: Keeping You Safe
During the consultation, you’ll fill out a form called the PAR-Q, short for Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
This simple but essential form helps your trainer understand any health concerns that might affect your training. You’ll answer questions about your medical history, injuries, and any conditions like asthma or high blood pressure.
Why does this matter? Safety comes first in any fitness program.
The PAR-Q ensures your trainer can design a plan that works for your body without pushing you into unsafe territory.
You may also sign a “Informed Consent” form acknowledging that physical activity can be challenging, you’ll get sweaty, your muscles will work hard, but that’s all part of the process!
Would you like to see what a PARQ and Informed Consent form looks like? You can download the one I asked my Personal Training clients to complete here.
Getting to Know You: What You Like (and Don’t Like)
Your trainer isn’t just there to bark orders. They want to understand what makes you tick!
During the consultation, they’ll ask about your preferences: What types of exercise do you enjoy? Are there any you absolutely hate? This helps the trainer create workouts you’ll actually look forward to (or at least not dread!).
They’ll also ask about your lifestyle. Do you have time for three sessions a week, or is once a week more realistic? How’s your diet, sleep, and stress level?
This information helps the trainer build a plan that fits into your life, not the other way around.
As you’ll have worked out by now, the consultation is for both of you. The personal trainer and you as a client. so together you can work out what is going to suit your goals right now and into the future.
Commitment and Expectations
Personal training isn’t just a one-time thing, it’s a commitment.
Your trainer will discuss what’s needed from you, like showing up regularly, giving your best effort, and sticking to agreed goals.
They might offer trial personal trainer sessions so you can see what it’s like to train with them, or packages like 10 sessions at a discount.
It’s a two-way relationship. While your trainer is there to guide and motivate you, they also need your commitment to achieve the results you want.
The good news? With the right mindset, you’ll see progress before you know it.
Structuring Your Training Plan
Your consultation will also cover how the trainer structures their sessions.
They’ll explain their approach to workouts, which might include a mix of strength training, cardio, mobility work, and stretching. A good trainer will focus on progression, starting at your current fitness level and gradually increasing intensity as you improve.
They’ll also talk about how they track progress, whether through measurements, photos, or performance milestones. This ensures you’re not just working hard, you’re working smart.
What to Expect in a PT Session After the Consultation
So, what’s a personal training session like?
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Warm-Up:
Light cardio or dynamic stretches to prepare your body. - Main Workout:
Exercises tailored to your goals, like weightlifting, bodyweight movements, or functional training. - Cool Down:
Stretching or mobility work to aid recovery and prevent soreness.
Every session is designed to challenge you safely while keeping things interesting.
Your personal trainer will also be watching your form closely to ensure you’re doing exercises correctly, avoiding injury and maximizing results.
While this is a good outline of a personal trainer session, expect the movements that are in your training sessions to vary over time.
As you become more confident and experienced, that the weights will go up, the intensity to vary and complexity of movements to change. This is all great news as your personal trainer will be adapting your training program as your progress.
Trial Sessions and Packages
Some personal trainers offer trial sessions so you can get a feel for their style. They might also recommend buying sessions in blocks, like 10 at a time.
Why? This helps you commit to a consistent schedule, which is key for you to seeing results.
Trial sessions also let you test the waters, do you click with this trainer? Do their workouts align with your goals? Finding the right fit is essential for long-term success.
Final Thoughts: Your First Step Towards Fitness
A consultation with a personal trainer is the perfect starting point for your fitness journey.
It’s your chance to set clear goals, understand what’s involved, and decide if the trainer is right for you. Remember, fitness is a partnership, when you bring your commitment, your trainer brings the expertise to help you succeed.
Take the plunge, book that consultation, and get ready to take your fitness to the next level. You’ve got this!
