Oh, well I really liked the first one, Jennifer. She has a very nice room set up in her own house (11 minutes from mine) with a lot of standard equipment you might see in a gym. She seemed really easy to talk to with a great sense of humor.
In case anyone might benefit from this thread in the future, here’s what I asked:
1. What role does nutrition play in your coaching? What is your nutrition philosophy?
A: It’s basically a science experiment for every individual. Generally, she feels subtle changes over the long term are best rather than instant, complete overhauls. She starts by having clients keep food logs and recommends small changes that won’t be too onerous or stressful.
- How will you work around my mobility issues?
A: About half of all her clients have some form of back or knee pain, so she is very used to working with such limitations. She starts with easier movements and lets the client be her guide in what they can and cannot handle. She will not assign a movement out of studio if she doesn’t think a client can do it safely.
3. You mention e-mail and text support on your website. How often do people text/email you on average?
A: She checks in pretty compulsively with her clients to see how they are doing, so it’s more often her texting them than vice-versa. But she probably texts with clients twice a week, and usually responds to questions or concerns within a couple of hours.
4. How long is the average assigned workout?
A: Totally dependent on the client. She respects and agrees with my feeling that shorter, more intense workouts give you the biggest bang for your buck. As a beginner, she would start me with only a few exercises a day, and then maybe work up to 30 minutes, depending on the exercises involved.
5. Do you set goals with your clients?
A: Some of them prefer to have goals and others just want regular accountability. I told her I am goal oriented but in the functional sense, i.e. ‘‘do a full pull-up’’ vs. ‘‘lose 30 pounds.’’ She agrees these goals are better to have, then say, weight loss, since weight varies largely and can also be impacted by muscle mass.
6. Do you have any certifications?
A: She is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine which tends to be focused on corrective exercise. She is a stickler for good form. She received her NASM certification at a popular fitness center and worked there for a few years before breaking off on her own. She’s been a personal trainer for 10 years.
- What is your rate?
A: $50/session. Usually paid 4-6 sessions in advance.
There was definitely a personality clicking there, but also her answers are really consistent with what I’m looking for. So… so far, so good.
