“Understanding your own genetic make-up is crucial,” says Andy Vincent, PT at Third Space. “If you’re predisposed to skinniness and struggle to gain muscle mass, flexing Arnielike arms in eight weeks will be a hard ask, however your PT is built. It’s a mistake to size up a potential candidate thinking you’ll look like them after a few sessions. It’s not that easy.”
The first thing to do is ask a potential trainer about their own fitness ‘journey’, plus those of their clients. If they have coached people with similar goals to you, they’ll have an understanding of the challenges involved. If you want to lose weight, for example, it’s far more important to look at their track record in securing results than their own body fat percentage.
In terms of experience: “Your trainer should have a minimum of five years in the industry, with more than just a single qualification,” says Vincent. “Ideally, they’ll also have some sort of nutrition certification.” Credentials aside, the best PTs are the ones willing to put the time in and invest in your progress. But, remember: you could be training under Jason Statham and still not get anywhere unless you’re committed. For serious results, the most important member of your team is the one in the mirror
