Finding a Personal Trainer that's right for you

JASON’S TIPS ON CHOOSING A TRAINER

If you are like most people, just showing up at the gym every day and doing 30 minutes on a treadmill will not get you in great shape.  Look around next time you are at your gym. What do you see? People with the best bodies are working with their trainers; the others just watch TVs while pedaling on their bikes!

 “Oh, I don’t need a trainer,” you say, “That’s a luxury! I can’t afford that!”

 “What people don’t realize is that it ends up costing them a lot more in the long run,” says Los Angeles-based personal trainer Jason Kozma, a body sculpting expert who has transformed the figures of athletes and celebrities.  “Having a trainer will do more than just transform your body; it will transform your life.”

But Kozma cautions that finding the right match is not so easy.  “You are looking for a partner who will inspire you, motivate you, energize you,” says Kozma.  “But you also want someone who will be honest with you and will monitor your successes and failures at all times.” Kozma has developed a checklist to help his clients understand what to look for in a trainer, and what questions to ask when interviewing potential candidates.

• Research a trainer you like or heard about. “It’s the key to a healthy relationship. You won’t go out with someone you know nothing about,” notes Kozma.  “You can’t go with the first trainer that looks good.”
• Match your goals.  “Make sure you and your trainers have the same fitness goals, but you’ll also want someone who will challenge and push you, too,” says Kozma.  “Working out with a bodybuilder can be perfect for someone who wants a lean strong body, but it’s not essential for someone who just wants to drop 100 pounds.”
• Monitor your progress.  “Make sure the trainer you interview takes a ‘before’ photo of you that shows your problem areas,” says Kozma.  “This is a sign that the trainer is confident he or she will be able to transform your body by working with you and take you where you want to be.”
• Get feedback. “The trainer should listen to you and know where you want to be.  But it is up to you to listen to your trainer and stick to the program he or she designed for you,” points out Kozma.
• Eat right!  No amount of training can get you where you want to be if you don’t change your eating habits.  Kozma says a good trainer will design a custom diet for you and will expect you to record every morsel you put in your mouth.
• Get ready for your “after” photo. Kozma says he expects dramatic results from his clients within six to eight weeks, but it is up to them to follow Kozma’s strict regimen.

So, where do you find an excellent trainer?  The internet is certainly a tool that can help you locate a personal trainer in your area.  A lot of personal trainers work independently from gyms and only advertise on the web.  Besides, you can also find client comments on sites like citysearch and yelp.  “Any trainer who is doing a good job should have a long list of satisfied customers,” says Kozma, who proudly displays the comments of his happy clients on his Personal Trainer Los Angeles website, along with before and after photos.

In short, ask your well-toned friends and most importantly, make sure your personalities click.

To contact Jason Kozma and his team of certified trainers throughout the Los Angeles area, visit www.jasonkozma.com  or call 310-772-5105.