During the initial interview, the personal trainer and client assess compatibility, develop goals, and establish a client-trainer agreement.

The purposes of assessment are to gather baseline data and to provide a basis for developing goals and effective exercise programs. Gathering and evaluating the various pieces of information give the personal trainer a broader perspective of the client. The process and the data collected assist the trainer in identifying potential areas of injury and reasonable starting points for recommended intensities and volumes of exercise based on the goals and fitness outcomes.

This article walks personal trainers through how to present a program for the common goals and what to do if the process does not produce a sale.

It is the job of the personal trainer to help clients reach their goals in a safe and effective manner. However, it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture of a client’s life and have tunnel vision on specific training aspects that may not matter.

In this session from the 2015 NSCA Personal Trainers Conference, dietitian Dawn Weatherwax discusses how knowing a client’s body composition can help in setting nutrition and training guidelines. Weatherwax reviews nutrient timing; eating the right mix of carbs, fats, and proteins at the right times; and other important facts that may impact a client’s outcomes.

Trainer Tips are infographics designed to help you, an NSCA professional, educate clients and promote your services. These member-only resources can be used for client education, motivation, and promotion.

Personal training clients may need to make both exercise and nutrition changes to achieve their goals. Combining the nutritional knowledge of registered dietitians and training aspects of personal trainers may be of benefit to clients.

The initial interview is the starting point for the client-trainer relationship and sets the tone for the emotional connection and the development of trust and value for a long-lasting professional relationship.

Developing a truly successful program involves several layers that the personal trainer must address with time, competence, and critical thinking. A thorough and complete initial consultation can ensure that the personal trainer has all the data that they need to design a program that is time-efficient and successful.

Developing a truly successful program involves several layers that the personal trainer must address with time, competence, and critical thinking. A thorough and complete initial consultation can ensure that the personal trainer has all the data that they need to design a program that is time-efficient and successful.