Aug. 29, 2000 --
Packing 220 pounds of muscle on a 5'8" frame and with biceps measuring 18 inches around, Bob Bowers looks like he could give Arnold Schwarzenegger a run for his money. But Bowers, 37, knows better than most that appearances can be deceiving. He's been HIV positive for 16 years.
Bowers and his wife, Shawn, are certified personal trainers based in Los Angeles. Shawn Bowers, 30, used to own her own gym and now has a roster of private clients. Bob Bowers works with AIDS Project Los Angeles and children in special-education programs. He knows how dangerous it can be to rely on looks alone when it comes to choosing a personal trainer. "That's as shallow and superficial as keeping up with the Joneses or having the fanciest car," he tells WebMD. "People who do that are setting themselves up for potential failure and injury."
Spend any time around a gym, and you'll see that humans come in all shapes and sizes. Personal trainers are no exception. So, what should you look for when choosing a workout coach? "The first thing is to look for certification," says Shawn Bowers. But, she warns, even that step has its dangers: The lack of any state or federal regulations has spawned an array of organizations that claim to train and certify personal trainers.
According to trainer Tim Brewi, the most reputable certifying bodies are:
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
National Strength & Conditioning Association (NCSA)
National Strength Professionals Association (NSPA)
The Cooper Institute
Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is also important, Brewi says. Beyond that, a good trainer "emphasizes flexibility, balance, posture, joint stability, and core [trunk] strength," he adds. "They place a high priority on health and safety -- and not on competition." Toward that end, the trainer should have no qualms about contacting the client's doctor when he or she has questions about the client's health or ability to perform certain movements.
Many personal trainers claim to be virtual "one-stop shops" of fitness, providing nutritional advice and even selling supplements in addition to helping clients get in shape. But, warns Shawn Bowers, "Personal trainers are not nutritionists. We take nutrition classes, but that's not our business. Unfortunately, what I see is trainers trying to do it all -- and that's not what we're certified to do."
"The trainer should know his or her limitations and make referrals as appropriate," says Brewi. For example, he or she should refer clients to a local registered dietician for nutritional counseling. A good trainer also encourages clients to experiment with other fitness modalities, such as yoga, Pilates, dancing, and sports.
Then there are the intangible factors. A good personal trainer has to be part guru, part psychotherapist, and part drill sergeant, and the most successful client-trainer relationships are based on good communication and trust.
"Physique is a guide, but first of all: Do they have good interpersonal skills?" says Bob Esquerre, a Reebok University Master Trainer based in Boca Raton, Fla. Erstwhile sofa spuds who are just getting started may be intimidated by someone who looks like a model for Muscle & Fitness. Certification is "absolutely critical," Esquerre says, but just as important, "Do they invite you into their world?"
Someone who is still battling his own demons may still be able to help others. "I knew a trainer who was probably 45 pounds overweight," Esquerre tells WebMD. "But she was an excellent trainer -- ACSM certified, which is the gold standard. All the deconditioned people who were intimidated by somebody else's buffed body went to her, and she gave them better than she got for herself."
Sometimes, however, looks can be a rough indication of a trainer's level of expertise, says Greg Reid, a popular trainer and competitive body builder in Sherman Oaks, Calif. "Looking the part helps. It doesn't always mean the person is right, but it's a start," he tells WebMD. "You can see the difference between a competitive body builder and a person who just picked up a manual and got certified."
After all, he says, "One of the main reasons people are in training is ... their vanity. They want to look good." Certification is important, says Reid, but he urges clients to ask prospective trainers how long they've been at it and how many people they've trained. Above all, he says, "look for how attentive and enthusiastic they are when they speak to you, and how they answer your questions. If they can give answers that satisfy you, that's a plus."
