How To Choose A Personal Trainer

These are the secrets personal trainers keep!

By TRAVIS WADE

Storytime!

Looking for a Personal Trainer in Edmonton

So let me tell y’all, about the first time I was trying to pick a personal trainer in Edmonton, I was lost. I mean lost. I didn’t know who was legit and who wasn’t. It’s like trying to pick a restaurant when you don’t know if it’s 5-star or about to give you food poisoning. I had no plan, no strategy—I was just out there wingin’ it like I was auditioning for a “Lost in the Gym” episode. So, what did I do? I started by talking to the cute girl at the gym first. You know, ‘cause clearly, that’s where you get the best advice, right?

Yeah… talking to the cute girl for fitness tips is like asking a squirrel for directions—cute, but no phone numbers, and I didn’t get fit, but I did learn where to buy the best leggings.

The Big Heavy Lifter

Then, I did something bold—I talked to the big, ugly, heavy lifter. You know the type. The dude looks like he lifts buildings for fun, eats iron for breakfast, and probably uses motor oil as protein shake. So I asked him for advice, and this guy looks at me and says, “If you wanna get strong, hire a strong trainer. They’ve been under the bar, they know the struggle. If you wanna get skinny, don’t hire a trainer who’s out here looking like they just discovered Uber Eats.”

That hit me like a dumbbell to the face. I wasn’t ready for that truth bomb. I mean, how are you going to hire someone to help you get in shape when they’re out here looking like they skip cardio to hit the buffet?

Realizing the Truth

At the time, I had no clue how real that advice was. I thought I was just getting gym wisdom from a dude who probably bench presses cars. But now I realize, that man was spittin’ facts. You have to find someone who matches your goals! Every trainer has their own specialty. Some know how to turn you into a beast, others are better at getting you in yoga-pants shape. But some trainers, man… some trainers are about as useful as a fart in a spacesuit. You’re out there suffocating, like, “What did I sign up for?!”

So yeah, pick wisely—or you might end up doing squats and still look like you’re skipping leg day at the burger joint.

I Wish I Hired A Personal Trainer Sooner!

Man, let me tell you—I wish I hired a personal trainer sooner! Like, way sooner. I was out here in the gym looking like a lost puppy, wandering around, picking up random weights, hoping I’d get muscles by accident. Have you ever seen somebody in the gym trying to figure it out on their own? That was me. I was doing bicep curls with a treadmill—confused as hell.

Now, listen, 95% of the people in the gym who are actually hitting their goals? Yeah, they have a trainer. The other 5%? They’re just there for the Wi-Fi and the smoothie bar. Don’t be the Wi-Fi guy—hire the trainer! You think you’re going to go in there and figure it out? Nah, man. You’ll end up bench pressing yourself into a chiropractor appointment.

I’m not even going to lie—I thought I could do it all myself. For years, I told myself I didn’t need a trainer. I was like, “I got this. I’ll just YouTube my way to fitness.” YouTube Fitness is like fast food, though—it looks good in the picture, but when you try it, you’re still hungry and depressed. I thought I’d learn it all by reading books, but let me tell you, you don’t get abs by flipping pages! My six-pack was looking more like a loose twelve-pack of donuts.

So, when I became a trainer myself—the only holistic trainer in Edmonton, mind you—I thought, “Yeah, now I know everything.” But even then, I hired like nine trainers to train me. You ever pay somebody to tell you you’re doing everything wrong? Yeah, that’s basically what I did, over and over again. By the time I hired my 9th trainer, I was like, “Do I even know how to walk correctly? Have I been doing that wrong too?!”

But for real, each trainer I hired taught me something new, and to this day, I still hire trainers just to keep learning. That’s how it is, man. You can never know too much. Unless you’re that guy in the gym giving unsolicited advice to everybody—that guy knows way too much. You ever meet that guy? You’re just trying to stretch and he’s like, “Hey, you’re doing that wrong.” Like, bro, I’m just trying to touch my toes, not summon the power of Zeus!

“If you wanna get strong, hire a strong trainer. They’ve been under the bar, they know the struggle. If you wanna get skinny, don’t hire a trainer who’s out here looking like they just discovered Uber Eats.” (unknown)

How To Choose A Personal Trainer

Let me tell you something, the right personal trainer? They can change your life, man. They keep you motivated, they hit you with that knowledge, and they keep your workouts structured so you’re not out here just flailing around like a fish out of water. You need variety in your workouts, right? A good trainer will throw in some new moves, switch it up, keep it spicy! Do you ever get bored with a workout? Next thing you know, you’re doing the bare minimum, like you’re just trying to survive! A good trainer’s like, “Nah, we’re about to make this fun!”—which is code for “You’re about to hurt tomorrow.”

And don’t even get me started on breaking plateaus. You’re in the gym, pushing and pushing, and suddenly it’s like you’re stuck in the same spot for months. That’s when a trainer comes in, shakes it up, and suddenly you’re lifting more, running faster, feeling like a superhero. They’re like, “I got you,” and you’re thinking, “Yeah, I’m about to fly,” but five minutes later you’re like, “I can’t even walk!” It’s like hiring someone to kick your butt and say, “Good job!” at the same time.

Stress relief? Oh yeah, a good trainer’s like a therapist with dumbbells. They’ll have you sweating out all your problems. You walk in mad at the world, next thing you know, you’re deadlifting your ex’s emotional baggage like, “I don’t need them anyway!” Support? Accountability? They’re right there making sure you don’t skip leg day, like, “Nah, we’re doing squats today!” And you’re thinking, “Man, I can’t even stand up from the toilet tomorrow, but sure, let’s do squats.”

And listen, they make the most out of your gym time. Have you ever been in the gym alone, and it feels like a social experiment? You’re over here taking a selfie between every set like you’re training for Instagram instead of your own health. A trainer’s like, “Let’s go, you’re wasting time!” And suddenly, you’re not only sweating, you’re actually making gains. Plus, they make it fun. I’m talking real fun—like the kind of fun where you forget you’re in pain… until the next day when your whole body reminds you. But hey, at least you didn’t pull something, ‘cause a good trainer will stop you from injuring yourself. They’ll be like, “Nah, don’t lift that like that—you trying to be swole or in a cast?”

Man, I wish I knew how to pick the right trainer years ago. I was just out here contemplating it like, “Is it worth it?” Spoiler alert—it is. But if you mess around and get the wrong trainer? Ooooh, that’s a waste of money! Next thing you know, you’re paying somebody just to hold their clipboard and nod at you while you’re still doing the same tired routine. That’s why I’m here to save you from that mess. So I put together a list on how to choose a trainer, so you don’t end up with someone who thinks “cardio” is a type of burrito.

Is your personal trainer certified and insured?

Look, this should be obvious, right? Like, you want a trainer who’s certified, not just some dude who looks like he can bench a car. But, I’ve had more uncertified people apply to be trainers than I care to admit. People are out here thinking just because they’ve seen a gym before, they’re qualified! You don’t want some random dude with Wi-Fi certification he printed off Google. Make sure they’ve got a certification from real organizations—NCCA, ACE, NASM, NSCA. These aren’t just letters; they mean your trainer actually knows what the hell they’re doing. You want someone who studied, not someone who just “watched a couple YouTube tutorials and decided to go pro.”

And for real—insured! If your trainer breaks your back, you don’t want them just saying, “Oops, my bad.” Nah, you need insurance, so when they mess up, at least you can sue somebody.

How much experience does your fitness trainer have?

Yo, did you know 79% of personal trainers quit in the first year? Yeah, man, they’re out here disappearing like your New Year’s resolutions! So, if you got yourself a trainer with more than a year under their belt, they’re basically like a gym unicorn—rare as hell. And you know those big-name gyms, right? They’ll charge you more just to have a trainer who just learned how to spell “dumbbell.” You’re paying premium for someone who’s still figuring out the difference between cardio and karaoke!

Experience matters! You don’t want someone who’s just gonna nod while you’re over here doing squats wrong, looking like a baby deer trying to walk.

What is your personal trainer’s specialty?

Alright, listen up—your trainer has to have a specialty. Not just, “I do everything.” Nah, you need someone who’s got focus. You wouldn’t go to a dentist for heart surgery, would you? So don’t hire a bodybuilding trainer when you’re trying to run marathons. Trainers learn the basics in school, like “Hey, don’t drop weights on people,” but all the real juicy stuff, they pick that up later.

You need a trainer who knows exactly what you’re trying to do. Some are into strength, others are all about weight loss, and some are out here doing CrossFit like it’s a religion. Make sure they know what they’re talking about—or else you’ll end up with a guy trying to teach you Pilates when you just want to lift weights. Next thing you know, you’re in a yoga pose like, “This ain’t what I signed up for!”

How much does your personal trainer charge?

Listen, personal trainers are not cheap. If they’re cheap, you better run, ‘cause you’re about to waste your money. It’s like buying a $2 shirt from some random dude on the street—you never wear it, and then boom, it falls apart in the washing machine. Wasting your time and your $2. Trainers are told straight up in training school: don’t charge less than $60 a session. If your trainer’s charging less, trust me, you’re getting a $2 shirt experience. And nobody wants that, especially when it’s your body on the line!

It’s like hiring a mechanic who says, “Don’t worry, I got a hammer and some duct tape—we’ll make it work.” Nah, man, no thanks!

What is your personal trainer’s availability?

Yo, personal trainers are like catching the sun rise or sun set—they work either mornings or evenings, but not both! You gotta pick one, because if they try to do both, they’ll burn out faster than your last Tinder date. Ask your trainer straight up: how many clients do you have? Are you flexible with hours? Can I cancel on you last minute, or will you make me pay for that? ‘Cause we all know how life works—sometimes you just don’t feel like it. If your trainer’s got no flexibility, well, then you’re about to find out why you never stick to your New Year’s resolution.

And if your trainer can’t work around your schedule, you might end up being the only person in the gym at 5 a.m. like, “Why am I even here?”

Where does your fitness trainer train?

Location matters, people! If your trainer’s gym is across town, you’ll be making excuses every single time. “Oh, man, traffic was bad,” “I didn’t feel like driving today,” “It’s raining, I can’t go work out in the rain!” But if the gym is right around the corner? Now you’re out of excuses! You can walk there, you can crawl there, hell, you can roll there if you have to.

And look, if the gym’s too far away, you’re about to become an expert at finding reasons to stay on the couch, talking about, “I’ll start again on Monday… or maybe next Monday…”

How does your personal trainer monitor progress?

Now look, if you’re putting in the work, you have to know where you’re at, right? You don’t just want to sweat and suffer for nothing! Your trainer needs a system to track your progress—otherwise, it’s like running on a treadmill to nowhere. You have to see those gains, or why even bother? You need to know if all those lunges and deadlifts are paying off, not just doing them to impress that one person in the gym who never notices you anyway!

If your trainer isn’t tracking your progress, you’re basically paying for a glorified cheerleader. And let me tell you, I’m not here for pom-poms and “You got this!” I want to see results, baby!

Does your personal trainer have references?

Look, if your personal trainer can’t show you some receipts, you might want to run! You’re gonna want referrals, testimonials, something! If their past clients aren’t singing their praises, what makes you think they’re going to turn you into the next fitness god? A good trainer should have people shouting their name from the rooftops, not hiding in the bushes like, “Yeah, he was… alright.”

And don’t be afraid to ask past clients about their personality. If you’re about to spend hours with this person, you better make sure they don’t make you want to strangle them halfway through a workout! You don’t need a trainer who’s one part drill sergeant, two parts annoying as hell!

In order from top left to bottom right: Kalyn Smith, Kyle Smith, Lori Lever, Melissa Nguyen, Jaime Sulatyski, Ansa Darwish, Andrew James, Andrea Fernandez, Dan McTaggart, Suzanne Maley, and Chris Thompson.

Takeaway

By keeping these questions in mind, you can actually find the right personal trainer who’s not just going to watch you struggle but actually help you out. You have to vibe with your trainer—build that positive connection. Like, you don’t want someone who makes you feel like you’re training for a prison break! You want someone who’s going to help you hit your goals without making you want to quit life. You need a trainer who doesn’t just make you sweat—they have to make you feel comfortable too, like you’re not in some gym version of Hunger Games.

And look, the right trainer? They’ll keep you motivated, on track, and actually give you the support you need. Not just hype you up like, “Come on, you got this,” while you’re out here dying on the elliptical! They’re supposed to help you, not watch you suffer like it’s a reality show.

If you’re in Edmonton and need a trainer, hit me up! Don’t wait years like I did! Trust me, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have spent years pretending I knew how to work out, only to end up looking like I’m trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube every time I picked up a dumbbell!