We have put together some information to help you find the right personal trainer based on many years of experience and understanding what our clients are looking for.

If you are in Adelaide and need a personal trainer who can walk you through all of these steps and provide a complete fitness solution call 08 8378 1379.

Here are some very simple steps to follow to ensure your personal training gets off to the best start possible:

1. How to find a personal trainer

The best way is to ask a friend or family for a recommendation, as they may have one themselves or know of a really good trainer you can call.

If this is not possible, use Google and search for “personal trainer” and the suburb or your area. An example would be something like personal trainer Adelaide.

2. Use a checklist

Follow a checklist for finding the right personal trainer so you know what to ask before you meet and at your first consultation or trial session. Some good questions to ask would be:

• How long have they been personal training or in the fitness industry?
• What are their qualifications?
• What knowledge do they have on nutrition?
• Do they provide a complete nutritional package as part of your personal training?
• What professional organisations are they accredited with?

For more information, view our checklist for finding personal trainers.

3. Arrange your first consultation

Once you are satisfied you have found the right personal trainer, arrange a time to meet that is convenient for you and suits your schedule. You may need to be a little flexible here depending on how busy they are and what sort of hours they work.

There may be a cost involved for the first session which will vary from trainer to trainer, and depend largely on the duration and depth of information they provide.

4. Sign up for some sessions and get started

Most trainers will offer a variety of training durations and the ability of pay in blocks of sessions, 5, 10, 15 or more. Generally, the more sessions the more cost effective.

5. Follow a nutrition plan

Good trainers will provide and have access to a nutrition plan that will play a major role in supporting your personal training and give you the best chance of reaching your goals.

It may be a warning sign of an inexperienced trainer if they can’t, or if they offer nutrition advice at reasonable expense to you, then it’s probably better to seek the service of a qualified dietitian.

For a complete nutritional package based on nutrient rich food available from your local markets, see our page on Metabolic Jumpstart, a fully customised eating plan from one of Australia’s leading dietitians and only $49.95.

6. Do extra workouts at home, the gym or outdoors

For most people that do 1-3 sessions per week, personal training on it’s own may not be sufficient to burn enough of the energy that is consumed through food and drinks. Adding extra sessions at your gym, going for a walk, ride or run, or just moving more in general will help you reach your goals much faster.

7. Stick to your plan

Whatever routine you choose to follow, you must stick to it for long enough to see the benefits and make any changes along the way where appropriate.

For example, if your body shape is changing but you are not losing weight (if that is your goal), you may need to cut back your calorie intake slightly or increase your output through more exercise and movement in general or both.

Summary

By following these steps you will have taken some very big steps toward whatever health, fitness and lifestyle goals you may have.

If you have any questions or need any more information on how to get started with a personal trainer we would love to hear your comments.

For many older adults strength training can increase physical and functional strength, improve balance and general mobility, increase bone mineral density, reduce body fat, enable greater levels of participation and activity in sports such as golf, bowls, hiking and many other fitness activities, and even increase self -esteem.

Benefits of Weight Training for Seniors

An important benefit of strength training for seniors is based on growing evidence that exercise may help to slow or decrease the rate of bone and muscle loss through the natural process of aging. A modest increase in lean muscle tissue and strength at all ages can vastly help to improve quality of life and avoid the widely accepted notion that the older we get, the more frail we become.

Studies carried out in the mid 1980’s and into early 1990 began to indicate that even though the number of muscle fibres and muscle strength that naturally decreases with age can maintained and even improved in the older population.

Perhaps the most important aspect of strength training for older adults though is to offset the ageing effects of sarcopenia, from the Greek words which means “vanishing flesh.” It should not be assumed that this natural process of losing muscle tissue through aging equals loss of independence and movement, rather it is a consequence of “disuse.”

Functional Training for Seniors

There are many types of exercises that can be performed by older adults. However, for those that have limited endurance and balance, strength training can be a great way to improve these things and allow participation in a larger variety of sports and general movement.

Some great exercises which can be used at any age are squats, press ups, pull ups, static and rotational core movements, resistance band work, with most of these easily adaptable for use with just a person’s body weight or additional resistance, and of course their allowed range of movement.

Strength Training for Older Adults in Adelaide

Adelaide Personal Trainers welcome any and all older adults to participate in strength training with our very experienced trainers, many of who regularly train clients well into their 60’s and beyond.

For more information, please call us on 08 8378 1379 to arrange a consultation, and we look forward to helping you feel great again, getting out and about and enjoying more out of life.

Note: This page is based on an article written by Tammy Petersen published in 2007, titled “Strength Training for Seniors” and is available only to fitness professionals and members of PTontheNet.

It is our experience from working with our own clients and through years of observation while training amongst other trainers, that not all personal trainers are going to be suitable for all clients and personality types.

While every good trainer should be able to accommodate a wide variety of training styles, someone who has a more specific goal or training regime will need a trainer with more experience in that area. A good example is a runner or someone training for a marathon whether it be a half or full-marathon. That client should be matched with a trainer who has years of personal experience in that area, and as they also have a genuine interest in that field will more likely be a good match to their particular needs.

Helping You Find A Personal Trainer

There are some very important questions that any new client should be asking when selecting a personal trainer for the first time, or perhaps they are not achieving the results they would like and are in the market for a new one. It may sound unusual, but it is not uncommon for clients to have more than one personal trainer as they will generally receive different styles of training from different trainers.

As trainers ourselves, we know exactly what to look for when searching for potential trainers. Check out our personal trainers page to see what things you should be aware of, and questions to ask your trainer before commencing any program or signing up for some sessions.

Watch our YouTube Channel video for more information on the services we provide.

This is a good example of the workouts our personal trainers use with their clients to get maximum results in the least amount of time.

The following workout is from Craig Ballantyne, Men’s Health Magazine Expert and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, which contains 6 body weight exercises that can be performed at the gym or in your own home with little or no equipment. There is a video below to show you exactly how to perform these exercises.

The Workout

1. Wide Squats
2. Spiderman Pushups
3. Reverse Lunge
4. Prone Tuck With Pushup*
5. Prisoner Squats
6. Cross Body Mountain Climber

* If you do not have a fitball, perform a plank or prone hold for 30-60 seconds

The workout is performed as a circuit with no rest in between exercises, then resting for 1 minute and repeating for up to 3 sets in total.

Depending on your level of fitness, choose from either 8-12 repititions for beginners or 12-15 repetitions for more advanced users.

The Video

For more workouts like this, visit Craig’s YouTube channel, and you can also download this free Turbulence Training 10 Minute Body Weight Workout for more options if you prefer to read or print out.

As we find trainers who meet our strict criteria, we will add more areas for you to choose from so that you can find a personal trainer closest to your work or home, trainers that you can trust and know they come very highly recommended.

We maintain contact with all of the clients that come through our service to ensure they are getting the service they expect, and also to ensure the highest standards are delivered.

Current Personal Training Locations in Adelaide

Adelaide CBD

North Adelaide

Marden

Stepney

Gawler

For more information and how to reach us, please visit our contact page or you can simply call 08 8378 1379.

Matt is one of Australia’s leading and most well known dietitians who regularly appears on Channel 7’s Sunrise program, so you can be sure that the information you are receiving is from a very trusted and well respected source. At just $49.95, we believe it is outstanding value and possibly the most comprehensive nutrition program available today.

This is a metabolically matched diet plan including your own fully customised report, detailed food plan including what and when to eat, daily target cards to keep you on track, and weekly emails from Matt to further explain the details on how to maximise your personalised nutrition plan. We have trainers that have completed the program so we can help you with any questions along the way, and Matt’s website offers an active forum for further support, FAQ’s, recipes and much more.

Watch the video below, which is one of many from Matt’s Metabolic Jumpstart YouTube channel that offer even more support and further learning resources for those that join his program.

More Information and How To Register

Details on how to register for the Metabolic Jumpstart Program is also available on the nutrition page.

$5 from each Metabolic Jumpstart Program sold will be donated to children in need through Variety, the children’s charity.

Just be sure to mention Adelaide Personal Trainers when you register.

At our main studio location on Melbourne St, North Adelaide we also offer pilates reformer classes, spin classes, group personal training, results based nutrition, and a complete health and fitness solution to get you into the best shape of your life.

To help you get started and especially for those who are looking for a personal trainer for the first time, our personal training site has plenty of information and steps you can follow to make finding the right personal trainer for you a very simple process.

Before contacting a trainer and/or signing up for some sessions, here are some things you should be aware of, questions to ask, and a checklist of minimum requirements personal trainer should have. Even though most trainers will have these, don’t be afraid to ask your personal trainer to produce any of the appropriate documentation discussed below.

A Checklist For Finding The Right Personal Trainer

1. Is the personal trainer fully qualified and registered?

All trainers should have a minimum of Certificate 3 & 4 in Fitness, with Master Trainer qualification a bonus. A Diploma in Fitness or related health science qualification is not essential but highly desirable.

They should be registered with Fitness Australia or Recreation South Australia and also hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate (and complete refresher courses every 12 months) through St John Ambulance or a similar provider.

2. Is the personal trainer fully insured?

The two most common insurance providers for South Australian trainers are Marsh Australia (provided through Fitness Australia) and JLT Sport (provided through Recreation South Australia and Kinect Australia). Personal trainers should have a minimum of $10 Million Public Liability and $5 Million Professional Indemnity cover or preferably more.

3. How many years of training experience do they have?

Personal training is a booming industry and is filled with some fantastic trainers and also some very young and inexperienced ones too.

As a minimum, 2 to 3 years of training experience is a must (preferably more), through being a gym instructor, their own training or being a personal trainer is essential so they know how to help you and provide the expertise required to get you results.

Trainers will have different areas of expertise so it’s also important to find one that matches your requirements and can help you to reach your goal.

At times, a younger trainer will struggle to develop rapport with some clients who may be better suited to someone a little closer to their age and with more experience. While personality is hard to judge on an initial meeting, it will become very important as your training progresses so it’s crucial you find someone that fits yours as well. Although you trainer should remain professional at all times, the relationship you have with your trainer can become quite close, especially if you are considering doing multiple sessions per week.

4. Do they train regularly themselves?

The personal training industry is based on great service and presentation and it’s often easy to spot a personal trainer who is not practicing what they preach.

For some trainers, personal training can be just a job, as it can be a great lifestyle and relatively well paid if they have been in the industry for a while. But it is a lifestyle thing too, and your trainer should be a walking example of it.

5. What if any knowledge do they have on nutrition?

Without question, the most important component in any weight loss program is nutrition. It is often a difficult area for personal trainers to give their clients advice on as it is usually only general advice and not a complete picture. We have a complete nutritional package for all clients who use our service through our partnership with one of Australia’s leading dietitians and most well known nutritionists.

It is absolutely fine to ask a potential trainers these questions, and all of these things should be ticked off your list before commencing any training program.

Some Other Questions To Ask Your Trainer

Not only should you ask the above, but here are a few more questions your trainer should be able to answer with some degree of certainty. It should be noted here though, that not everyone will have the same results and will depend largely on the effort you put in with the right trainer.

1. How long should it take me to reach my goal?

A trainer can help you develop a plan for achieving your goal, whether it is the more common goal of losing weight, or to increase muscle size and overall weight. Make sure they are aware of your goals and how much you want to lose.

2. What other things can I do to reach my goal?

Your trainer should be able to provide home workouts including body weight programs you can do anywhere and also put together a workout schedule for you to follow which may include walking or running for example. Nutrition will also play a big role here and only you can put into practice all the good advice your trainer should be providing.

3. How long before I see results?

This can be a hard question to answer as individual results vary greatly. It will depend largely on the level of fitness at which you begin, how much weight you have to lose (or gain), and how committed you are to achieving your goals.

4. How often should I see a personal trainer?

Again, this will be very specific to each person and follows on from questions 1-3. If you are new to exercise and really need assistance with technique you should be prepared to train 2-3 times per week for 10-12. Once you feel more confident and competent training on your own, perhaps consider reducing your training frequency to 1-2 times per week for ongoing maintenance and retain your trainer for continued motivation.

5. What is the cancellation policy?

This will vary from trainer to trainer but expect most to follow the industry standard, which is generally 24 hours notice for any cancellations otherwise your session may be forfeited. Personal trainers while providing a service are also running a business, usually their own, and similar to appointments made with related health practitioners like physiotherapists, chiropractors, etc, notice must be given in advance.

6. What is the cost of sessions and can I buy them in blocks?

Most trainers will offer a single rate per session, blocks of 5, 10, 20 or more, and will be dependent on their individual price structure. Generally, the more sessions you purchase, the more cost effective it should be, as will be the case if you train with a friend or in a small group.

Sessions should also be offered in 30, 45 and 60 minute options to suit each client and individual requirements.

Remember, even though the trainer has all the training experience that you would ultimately like to learn for yourself, you are in the position of deciding what suits you and your schedule, not theirs, so be a little fussy when choosing your trainer.

7. Where will our sessions take place?

Sessions will generally take place in a studio or outdoors, or a combination of both. If your trainer is predominantly based outdoors, an important question to ask is where the sessions will take place in bad weather or as is the case often in Adelaide during summer, extreme heat.

While there are no doubt many more, these are some excellent questions to begin with and should put you well on the way to finding the right personal trainer for you.

Visit our Locations page for a list of available personal trainers in your area.