How to find a Personal Trainer for specific needs

[StColumbofNavron]

Is it just trial and error?

This is the first time I have felt the need to get a trainer and have the means to do so.

I need someone who can help/take into account:-

• an ankle injury and longer term problem
• help me fundamentally change my habits and outlook
• I want to lose 5st
• I cannot sleep, I have to wake up even just to turn over I am that unhealthy
• Become fitter and healthier overall

I am 5f 2 and 100 kg and I cannot put my socks on without putting my leg on a chair, I can barely get up when I am on the sofa.

I am happy, confident and at home in my body, but I am just so unhealthy which has really been highlighted on two recent occasions.

But how do you find someone that works for you? Good relationships with some 'click' are important to me, but I also want someone who can work with my longer term condition (not a massive issue) and help not just lose weight but refocus me to a long term healthier way of being.

I love good food, I eat out a lot for work, I drink but only on social occasions, I drink way too much coffee but I can fix that. I don't really exercise and don't have much time - I will however give up other things to make time for a trainer. But I have no idea how to find one that will work well for me?

There are trainers who really know what they're doing and have qualifications/experience to back it up. Unfortunately, there are also trainers who should not be dealing with people who have specific needs. I think you need to make sure to get someone who understands how to train when overweight and injured, how to motivate, and how to deal with the nutrition/diet aspects of your situation.

What I'm saying is, some people can take a pretty casual approach to finding a trainer and it won't matter that much if they get someone who only understands the basics. You should be careful. I say that from experience. My current trainer has solid medical knowledge and because of that, he knew how to deal with my injury.

I have had good experiences at Nuffield health. It's a healthcare organization so the trainers know what they're doing. Training is expensive but there are people at my gym who get free or cheap training via their GPs. You could call your GP and ask if anything is available to you or if there are any recommendations as far as trainers who know how to do injury rehab and weight/nutrition stuff.

There certainly are other highly qualified trainers out there but it may be harder work to find them. You could look to see if they have qualifications from decent educational institutions in sports or physio or whatever. If there's a university in your area, ask at the sports centre. The one where I am has trainers who work with Olympians and offer appointments to the public. They know their way around injuries, etc.

Good luck and good on you for tackling this!

I emailed a trainer looking for someone to help my elderly dad. The trainer was great - said he thought the equipment in his gym would not be right but he passed me in to someone who was. Just ask, ask for a trial session, and give it a try - make sure you remember you can say thanks but no thanks until you get the right fit for you. I love my trainer, and she's had me working out for nearly 6 months now which is almost unheard of for me! Good luck!

That’s it really, I need someone quite specific and it’s just where you find them. I am very fortunate that I can (currently) afford to throw money at this and find the best I can for myself.

My mate is a PT and she would be a good fit for you I think. She is a good listener and has a good head on her shoulders, she is based in London but does work remotely.
I think she'd take into account what you need, but she's also got a great network so could recommend someone if she couldn't help.
Here's her website, ignore the slightly scary photo, she is ripped but also really nice 🙂
https://www.lmfit.uk/about

She's not on here but I'm happy to pass on any questions

I’d suggest the good old “MyAreaPT” search on insta (I.e. “GlasgowPT”) and have a browse through the profiles that come up to see if anyone piques your interest. You can also pop into your local gym and have a look at the notice board- this is usually where you can pick up business cards for PTs who work locally.

I found mine through a company that is like a network of a large number of PT's in my area. You can email the company and they put you in touch with a suitable PT. Is there anything like that near you? Maybe a gym would have something similar?

I emailed this company and told them my needs - which were not that dissimilar to yours - being overweight, needing someone who understood my specific pain and inexperience with exercise, etc.

They found me someone absolutely excellent who had experience working with people in pain/ recovering from injuries/ overweight etc. I ended up training with her for 3 years!

I would say that it might be a bit of a search, and you might not click with your first one, but don't give up. It's a bit like finding a therapist, sometimes you need to try a few before you get to the right one, but you will get there and it's so, so worth it! Good luck.

If you want to lose weight, the first thing you need to sort is your diet. You can work out with a trainer 24/7, but if you don't fix your food then nothing will happen.
Start using MyFitnessPal to log your food and work out how much you're eating. You can still eat good food and still lose weight.

I know diet has to come first for the weight loss situation, but this is bigger than the weight loss and as much about setting up healthy habits, looking after my joints and muscles etc. I want a fundamental change in outlook and lifestyle.

Thank you for the personal recommendation - will take a look.

When I picked my coach i asked questions like what is your experience of working with x, what is your knowledge of y to see what they said. Not fail safe but I was v specific in my questions and what I wanted.

Also you get some where there's a nutritionist that works with a PT which might be a good fit for you.

@StColumbofNavron, it's great that you can afford to throw money at this. I'd go to your local Nuffield gym, university gym, and GP then and find out if anyone there can help you or if there are any recommendations.

Unfortunately, the corporate structure at Nuffield has changes and it's tough to get information by phone these days if you live far from a facility, but it might be worth dropping in to a branch and asking in person for help in finding someone. You need to find experts who can create solid programmes for you in diet and training.

I hope you will keep us updated.

How old are you @StColumbofNavron? If you're 50+ you should make sure your PT has qualifications that are specifically for your age.

As you are looking for a PT/coach I can recommend one book to read:
Why do we eat too much.

Thanks all, really useful and I will start looking properly tomorrow.

I am 42 @Cornishmumofone

I think the main thing will be accepting that the change will be long term, not days or weeks,, but 3 months + to 2 years to reach your goals. If you can deal with that and if you can be consistent you will succeed.

The only barrier or obstacle that you will need to be honest about is where you say you eat out a lot for work. Eating out is totally doable but requires planning- I tend to have a lighter lunch (or vice versa and pick a lighter dinner) otherwise it is too easy to derail the good work.

I found mine as he showed me around the gym. We got chatting, he's a qualified boxing coach which won me over as I do like a bit of boxing.

They should all list what they specialise in and their qualifications. The main thing is you find someone you click with.

It’s like you need a life coach and specialised PT rolled into one, I hope you find something, I think there’s probably a lot of need for this kind of service nowadays

A PT who has a sports science degree rather than just the bog standard PT qualification is likely to fit the bill.

Thank you very much - yes I cater to a lot of varies requirements and understand how to prepare a specific approach and plan for all of my clients ☺️ I look forward to speaking to anyone who may help or advice x lmfitpt
Liz

I think you need to be pretty careful with your expectations of a personal trainer, most are well qualified in exercise but very poorly in nutrition and dietary advice. I find this guy's approach interesting and he's recently rebranded from personal trainer to "movement coach" so might be more what you need at the moment? Steve Bonthrone Movement Coach | Anything IS Possible (stevenbonthrone.com)