When you’re looking for a personal trainer in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs, it’s hard to narrow down your choices. A quick search yields dozens of results—and that’s probably just in your immediate neighborhood! Everyone talks about their knowledge and results on their websites, but how do you find a personal trainer who has the experience and credentials to back up their claims? Below, we’ll discuss how to choose a personal trainer to help you crush your fitness goals.

Look at Credentials

A good personal trainer is a credentialed personal trainer. This means they’ve been vetted by a trustworthy organization; they’ve received education in both the science and techniques of exercise, and they have mastered the knowledge needed to become certified. American Council on Exercise (ACE) is one of the most prominent certifying agencies for personal trainers, with several others that focus on fitness specializations, like weightlifting and CrossFit.

Ask About Experience

When it comes to experience, you shouldn’t just look at the number of years on the job. Instead, it’s more important to look at the type of experience a personal trainer has. If you’re trying to build muscle mass but your trainer almost exclusively works with runners, you’re probably not a good match for each other. You may also want to find someone who has experience with clients of your fitness level, age, or health status. 

Make Sure Your Schedules Line Up

If you work 8 to 5, Monday through Friday, and your personal trainer does too, trying to schedule your workouts will always be a hassle, which almost guarantees that you’ll end up falling off the wagon with your fitness routine. It should be a priority to find a personal trainer who is available when you are because you don’t want to create obstacles that keep you from sticking with your workouts.

Ask Where They Work

Many—if not most—personal trainers work in a gym setting. This might work out well for you if you enjoy the gym, but if it’s a place that leaves you feeling intimidated and nervous, it could end up being a barrier to your success. What if you could find a personal trainer who comes to your home? Or your local park, beach, or anywhere else you’d like to work out? At Home Park Fitness, that’s exactly what we do. Because we offer in-home personal training, we make it easier to stick with your fitness routine.

Find Someone You Like

Choosing a personal trainer is a lot like choosing a doctor, dentist, or therapist. Yes, qualifications matter, but there’s also something to be said for finding someone with just the right personality—in other words, you want to choose a personal trainer who you like, who “gets” you, and who you enjoy being around. You’ll look forward to your workout when you find a personal trainer that you mesh well with. 

Look for a Personal Training Service

If you don’t have time to interview dozens of personal trainers near you, consider a personal training service like Home Park Fitness. We listen to your goals and what you’re looking for in a trainer and match you with a professional who meets your needs. 

Get Started With Home Park Fitness Today

Call Home Park Fitness at 224-406-1986 to get started with one of our personal trainers or schedule an appointment on our website.