How to Spot a Bad Personal Trainer

Observations of bad personal trainers

No one wakes up in the morning deciding to do a bad job but yet it sometimes happens. If you see any of these traits in your fitness trainer you should evaluate your training experience. All of these are from personal observations or first hand accounts from their clients.



You show up for your session but your trainer is a no show. This is also for chronically late trainers. Your time is every bit as valuable as the trainers.
Trainer is talking on their cell phone during the session. Again, this is your time
The trainer spends your training time crabbing about their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, etc.
Smells like cigarette smoke or alcohol
You have booked a trainer but get pawned off on another without a prior agreement that this may occur.
Your trainer does not encourage you or push you to better yourself.
Is lazy, puts you on a treadmill for an hour and shows up once in a while to take your pulse but offers no feedback or other training.
Gives you exercises that are clearly out of your fitness level. Example: You may be overweight with a medical problem such as uncontrolled high blood pressure and they have you running bleachers early in your training. This would also include doing busy work that is not helping you to reach your goals.
Double books and you spend your session being juggled with another client.
Trainer is flirtatious with you or other clients
Your trainer borrows money from you.



Most of the trainers out there are good hardworking people with your best interest at heart. In the interest of all of them this is to inform you of unacceptable practices of the few.