Shopping for a personal trainer: following these six steps can mean the difference between failure and a great-looking body

Men's Fitness, Oct, 2001 by Derrick Nowlin, Dave Ferguson

At a minimum, a good trainer's evaluation should include the following:

* A health history to find out whether you have high blood pressure or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.

* A cardio test to evaluate your aerobic stamina. Assuming your heart is healthy, he may conduct a brief test on a treadmill or stationary cycle.

* A strength assessment to establish your working weight range. He might ask you to do chin-ups, push-ups or crunches until exhaustion (yours, not his).

* A flexibility assessment using standard stretches.

* A body-composition analysis to determine how much fat you're carrying. He may use calipers or a bioelectrical device, such as a handheld monitor that reads your body-fat level. Some trainers will even measure specific body parts, like your midsection, thighs and hips.

Note: Remind him again of any special health considerations.

5 GET TO KNOW YOUR TRAINER. Don't hire someone who doesn't motivate you in the right way. If you're the kind who excuses himself for a water break after every set or has fond memories of his high school gym teacher's acerbic style, choose someone with an authoritative approach. If the drill-sergeant type gets under your skin, pick a more easygoing instructor. Remember, you're going to be dealing with this person several times a week for quite a while.

"The most important thing is interpersonal skills," says Tony Ordas, the director of professional development at the American Council on Exercise, the nation's largest nonprofit fitness-certif34ng organization. "If you're a client looking for a personal trainer, you should have a very good feeling about how you interact and how you communicate."

6 THE PRICE IS RIGHT. You're obviously going to find out how much money you'll be spending. Generally, a trainer will tell you his rates early on in your meetings. If the price isn't right, relax. Options abound, so don't be afraid to shop around and see what other trainers are offering. On the other hand, don't be too stingy, because when picking a trainer you really do get what you pay for. On average, an experienced trainer will charge between $40 and $70 per hour.

"It's just like real estate," says Ordas. "It's based on location. If you're working out at a very exclusive facility, obviously the price is going to be much higher. I would recommend a client look for someone in 'the middle of the road, because price might not truly be an indication of a person's skills."

Also, beware of getting duped into accepting a package deal--often paying a large sum in advance--that runs longer than a Survivor season finale. These deals might save you some money over time, but you never buy a car without first taking it for a test drive. The last thing you want is to pad somebody's bank account with a hefty up-front payment, only to discover you need to fill out a missing person's report in order to get the guy in the gym. And you don't want to find out belatedly that you don't like his style (e.g., instead of focusing on your needs during a session, he lazily gazes around or shoots the breeze with his buddies).