You're committed to improving your health. You've even hired a personal trainer. You don't know much about him, but he's in great shape and you want to look like that, too.

It's your first workout. You're excited as he sits you down at a machine, adds some weight and tells you to push. You try, nothing moves. You tell him it's too heavy. He says try harder and stop whining. So, you try harder, he helps you and you move the weights. Success! Your back hurts a little bit, but he says that's just because you're weak. You follow him to the next machine and it's the same thing. You push, he stands by and counts and reminds you that he's the expert, so don't complain, just do it.

By the end of the workout, you can barely walk out of the gym and that pain in your back is worse. The next day you call in sick to work because your muscles are so sore you can't get out of bed and your back is screaming. It's a true story, but it doesn't have to be your story.

Great benefits of working with a qualified personal trainer

Planned programsGoal setting and achievingObjective feedback about what your body needsAccountabilityDocumentation of progress

Dangerous hazards of working out with someone who is unqualified

Increased risk of injury”No pain, no gain” mentalityUnplanned workoutsLack of goal setting and progress trackingWasting your money and seeing no improvements in your body

How can you protect yourself from the dangers and find a professional to work with? Follow these top 7 tips to avoid hiring an unqualified trainer.

Research your trainer. Ask him what about his background. Is she certified? How long? Does she have to re-certify and take continuing education classes? Make sure all credentials are current.Research his qualifications. Make sure the certifying body is nationally recognized and accredited (more on this below). Talk to her clients, current and former. Every trainer should have clients that love them and are willing to give testimonials for them. If they don't, move on to your next candidate.Interview more than one trainer. There are dozens of trainers in your neighborhood. Interview them just as you would a potential employee and speak to more than one. It's always good to compare and contrast candidates and figure out who's best for you.Find the “chemistry” You should be able to clearly and honestly communicate with your trainer. You should respect, but never fear your trainer. If he intimidates you, the relationship is out of balance and you will be the loser.Observe trainers with their clients. If you are already a member of a gym observe who's around you. Is the trainer engaged in what the client is doing? Are they observing and correcting the client's form and movement to ensure their safety? Is the trainer more engaged with her gym buddies than with the client? These are all subtle hints about how you will be treated as a client. Ask around. Ask the gym management about the qualifications of their staff. What is the minimum standard that the gym sets for their trainers? There should be a definite answer to this question. If there isn't, change gyms.

Who certifies personal trainers? There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of companies that will certify someone as a personal trainer. Some of these require frighteningly little education to be certified. Your trainer should have a certification from a company that is accredited, and nationally recognized.

Some examples are: The American Council on Exercise (ACE), The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The Cooper Institute. There are a few others, but these are some of the biggest.

You can find quality trainers out there. There are many, but there are also many who are dangerously under-qualified. Protect yourself, do the research and look for the information we've given you here. Who you work out with is important. You are making a change in your lifestyle and you deserve only the best…go out and get it!

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Ginny Grupp holds a Master of Science in exercise science and health promotion. She is an ACE-certified personal trainer and NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist. She promotes healthy lifestyles through her personal training and fitness education company www.AlaskaFit.com.

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