SEATTLE PERSONAL TRAINERS
How to Select the Best Personal Trainer in Seattle
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO SELECTING A PERSONAL TRAINER THAT FITS YOUR NEEDS
Hey there, Seattle! If you’re reading this, that means you’re contemplating making one of the best decisions of your life—hiring a personal trainer. Hiring a trainer will allow you to take your fitness goals and your health to the next level and beyond.
No matter what fitness level you’re at, a dedicated coach and trainer will allow you to finally lose those extra pounds you’ve been putting off for months, if not years. It will inspire you to start exercising, take care of your body, and adhere to a nutrition plan that will turn your entire life around.
But like all things, you have to find the right fit. Finding the right personal trainer can be the key to unlocking your fitness potential, but with so many options out there, how do you choose the best one for you? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve been a pro trainer here in Seattle since 2005, and here are my top ten tips to help you find your perfect fitness partner.
1. Look for an Accredited Personal Training Certification
First things first, make sure your trainer is certified by a reputable organization like the American Council on Exercise (ACE) or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Certifications matter because they show your trainer has the knowledge to keep you safe and help you succeed.
Ask questions about what’s included in their training certification: Were they trained in nutrition with a focus on dietary coaching? Are they knowledgeable in both cardio and resistance training? Did their training certification give them advanced strength and conditioning program design skills they can use for their future clients?
If they have all these covered, they got their certification from a reputable company. Bottom line, do your homework.
2. Look for Real-World Experience
Training experience is everything. You want someone who’s been in the trenches, working with clients, and getting actual results for their clients.
Do they have before and after pictures? Have you read their testimonials? Ask your trainer to provide real-world evidence of their training skills and history with their previous fitness clients.
Specifically, look for a personal trainer who has years of experience and specializes in your specific fitness goals - whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain, or improving your overall health.
Want to lose weight? Ask them how they would create and design your three-month to six-month program for your weight loss program.
Do you want to gain muscle? Ask them if they’ve personally helped somebody gain ten pounds or more of muscle.
Unfortunately, many trainers are quick to take your money and may say things that will move the sale along without the proper experience to back up their promises. Ask lots of questions.
3. Does Your Personal Training Include Nutrition and Meal Planning?
Nutrition is 75-80% of your overall success when it comes to losing fat, gaining lean muscle, and getting fit and healthy. Nearly 80%!
A training program without some sort of nutrition coaching and guidance is half hazard at best. Find a personal training program that gives you the coaching and the guidance you need.
Most trainers will simply push an informational PDF your way and call that a nutrition program. Unfortunately, more information isn’t going to help you. Otherwise, you’d already have a six pack and most likely a million dollars in the bank.
We know what it takes to be healthy! We know we should invest money. However, knowing doesn’t get you to take action on your fitness goals. Accountability and good nutrition coaching does.
We offer nutrition coaching as well as meal planning as a part of our personal training program. It’s what gets our clients the best results in the Seattle area. Ask questions and see if they offer this as a part of their program.
4. Communication with Your Personal Trainer is Everything
Your trainer needs to be an excellent communicator. They should listen to your goals, give crystal clear instructions, and provide constructive feedback while you’re training with them. Great communication builds trust and helps you stay motivated.
Want to know a hack about how to tell if they communicate well before you train with them?
See how they respond to your emails, text messages, and all your interactions before and after the fitness consultation.
This speaks volumes about who they are as a person. If they can’t get back to you with your fitness and training questions before you meet with them, how do you expect them to do it after you buy personal training from them?
Trainers who respond quickly, respectfully, and with a positive tone are demonstrating their integrity…not just giving you a promise.
Remember, personal training is one part physical training and three parts coaching. Always be testing and checking their coaching skills during the entire interview process.
5. Personalized Training Programs
No cookie-cutter workouts here! Your trainer should create a program tailored specifically to you. They should consider your fitness level, health conditions, and personal goals to design a plan that works for you.
During my consultations and whenever I meet a client on the phone for the first time, I’m outlining our actual training process.
When you come to our gym to check out our training facility, and when you sit down with me, I listen to your goals, check your body fat, and if it’s a fit, I’ll show you how we design your program from start to finish with our individualized program. No cookie-cutter workouts.
If your trainer is vague about their personal training process, or their program design, believe me, they most likely don’t have a process at all. I’ve seen this time and time again.
The best trainers always have a design and blueprint when they work with each individual training client.
6. Convenience with Personal Training Matters
Make sure your trainer’s schedule fits with yours. Whether you prefer sessions at a local gym here in Seattle, home visits, or virtual training, their availability should align with your needs. Convenience is crucial for staying consistent with your workouts and something to strongly consider.
Having said that, the best personal trainers are always in demand and most likely always full with clients. They typically have random openings when a training client leaves for whatever reason, and you may be the lucky one to find them when they have availability. Huge bonus!
If this is the case, jump at it! One good personal trainer is better than fifty mediocre trainers combined. I’ve personally worked in over ten gyms in the greater Seattle area, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the fitness industry. Look for the best and you’ll get the best results with your goals.
7. Understand the Costs of Personal Training
Be clear on the pricing. Know what each session costs and what packages they offer. Some trainers provide discounts for bulk sessions or group training, which can be a great way to save money.
Seattle is a city with a lot of tech companies, which means the economy is doing great! However, this may mean that personal training in this city may cost more than in other nearby cities. Check around to see which training package works best for your budget.
If you purchase more sessions, you’ll typically get a discount. With our training packages, we reward frequency. So if you know that you’ll be training for a while, consider purchasing training packages with a lot of sessions to get the discount.
8. Find Your Fitness Buddy
You need a personal trainer who motivates and inspires you. Look for someone whose personality clicks with yours. A strong connection will keep you engaged and excited about your workouts.
I know an amazing trainer who is always full of clients. He has anywhere between nine to thirteen personal training sessions a day on average. The reason his clients return to him time and again is because of his friendly attitude. He has a great sense of humor, and when the exercise sets get hard and you feel like giving up, his fun personality will carry you through.
On the flip side, I’ve seen trainers who literally say nothing during the entire session. The clients just sit there looking at the clock the entire time. It’s painful to watch!
It’s vitally important that you get a quick vibe check during your consultation to see if it’s a fit.
9. Try a Personal Training Session Before You Commit
Ask for a trial session. This is your chance to see if your personal trainer's style and approach work for you. It’s a no-pressure way to find out if you’re a good fit for each other.
With our gym here in Seattle, we offer a free training session so you can come down and see for yourself if you like or dislike our approach. It’s a way to get a hands-on experience that you can’t get with a phone call or checking out a website alone.
10. Professionalism is a Must
Your trainer should be professional, punctual, and prepared. They should respect your time and create a structured, supportive environment for your training.
If they reply late to your texts or emails, that’s a big red flag.
If they show up to your consultation with a cup of coffee in hand, that’s a big red flag.
If they seem disinterested during your initial fitness consultation, yep…big red flag.
With our company, in our training agreement with our personal trainers, we have a detailed value system that clearly outlines the importance of professional behavior.
The way a trainer carries themselves, the fitness outfit they wear, and the energy they give in your presence demonstrates how professional they are as a fitness pro.
A true professional will give you the feeling of safety, knowing they are a good fit and will hold your fitness goals with the utmost respect and care.
11. Read Those Training Reviews
Check out what other clients are saying. Reviews and testimonials can give you a real sense of what it’s like to work with your future trainer. Look for success stories and feedback about their style, effectiveness, and personality.
One thing that I like to do is go through each review and see specific and detailed comments about the trainer, not just general information. Skip the reviews that are blanket statements like, “Chris was great! I’d recommend him as your personal trainer.”
Instead, look for reviews that detail the training experience from start to finish. Was the trainer focused on the reviewer’s goals? Did the reviewer experience fat loss, muscle gain, or an increase in performance? Did they get value for their money? What specifically was their experience from start to finish?
The review says it all. Type in “Seattle personal trainer” in google maps and go down the list of the trainers in your area. Read their reviews as well as their replies.
Start the Process and Connect with Personal Trainers in Your Area
Now is the time to get up and do the work. Interview at least three or four personal trainers and go to consultations with each.
This last week, I had a consultation with a man who told me right from the start that he was interviewing at least two other trainers. I said, “Good for you!” And I meant it.
Rarely do people take the time to search for the right fit when it comes to training. To see somebody do that and tell me was amazing—something I respect fully.
If you are interested in a free session with us at our gym, and want to learn how personal training program can help you get to your fat loss and fitness goals, click the link below:
>>> claim your free session
During your session we’ll give you a mini workout/assessment, go over your fitness goals, create a detailed strategy to get you to your goals, in addition to offering a free body fat analysis.
Each one of our programs includes one-to-one personal training as well as a nutrition and meal program. If you’re curious, reach out with any fitness questions you may have.
I hope this helps you find the right personal trainer here in Seattle. Your future self will thank you!
To your health and fitness,
Peter
