I have known and worked with Sandy Krum for over 15 years. Whether it was dealing with collegiate athletes, professional baseball players or The Biggest Loser contestants he is the consummate professional. Cutting edge injury treatment and rehabilitation protocols have kept his athletes on the field and in the game. Sandy is recognized by his peers as one of the elite in his profession.
Certified Athletic Trainer | Educator | Motivator
Choosing the Right Personal Trainer
Hey there,
Just back from a run and have some fresh thoughts on how many of you might be struggling with finding personal trainers at home. I thought I’d make this the focus of today’s journal entry. Athletic trainers and personal trainers are quiet different. Athletic trainers, like myself, are responsible for the care and prevention of athletic injuries. Personal trainers, focus on specialized conditioning programs. Since you already have your athletic trainer, wink wink….many folks ask how do I select the right personal trainer to help me meet and exceed my goals. Choosing the appropriate personal trainer can be just as daunting a task as actually doing the workouts. This may take a while, but once you find the right person, the successes will be reachable.
Right after graduating college and during my off seasons from the game, I had the opportunity to work at THE EAST BANK CLUB in Chicago as a personal trainer. I’d hone my newly learned baseball athletic training skills and applied them to people just like you. Being booked for several straight hours was the norm, as the prescribed philosophy back then was to get three, thirty minute workouts per week. My clientele comprised of mostly traders from the Exchange and ladies who came to get pampered. The ladies thought their thirty minute workout with me
was the time for their nails to dry. WRONG! I learned fast that exercise wasn’t for everyone. Some of these ladies wanted to talk and only talk, all while paying a high price for hand holding. The traders, on the other hand, were like crazy men still in the pits. So stressed out from the day of waving and screaming, they just wanted to crush a workout to take their thoughts away from huge profits or losses…mostly the losses. Some wanted to get the crap beaten out of them, which was quite enjoyable if I may add. Just there, I realized that people had different incentives behind going to the gym and seeing “their trainer”…if you know what I mean.
Now let’s look at how you select the right personal trainer.
Tips & Questions
First, make sure to do your homework and see who’s who in the community. Set up interviews, meet with several candidates, and check with others in the gym to gather reviews about those available to you. Interview several…male vs female, beginner vs advanced trainer? It’s important to remember some personal trainers are better suited for working with beginners while others do much better with those having further developed skill sets. Always ask for a trial workout so you know what to expect. Here are some thoughts to consider when choosing the right personal trainer for YOU!
- Do I want someone to train me or hold my hand?
- What are my goals and does this trainer have the knowledge to help me meet those goals? Do they really have my goals in mind or is he or she simply self promoting?
- How long has this trainer been training and what is his or her track record? Does this person have the proper credentials and licensure where appropriate? Does this trainer have proven results? What makes this trainer successful?
- Can I communicate with this person and if so, do I feel comfortable enough talking freely about nutrition? Personal topics? Is the communication open when we are not in session? In session? Is this trainer capable and competent in dealing with my concerns? Can this trainer accommodate my special needs?
- How costly is this and how often do I need to work with said trainer? Daily, once a week, twice a week? If it’s too costly for me and if I can only afford this person once a week, will he or she write programs for me to follow when working out alone?
- Do we have to stay inside or is this trainer creative and willing to take the workouts outdoors?
- Does this trainer listen to me or is their head somewhere else? Is this trainer paying 100% attention to me or is he or she constantly checking emails, etc.?
- What is the level of education of this trainer? Does he or she specialize? i.e. running coaches or strength gurus.
- Does this person have a knowledge of injuries and what should I share? Will he or she be able to make appropriate substitutions to get the most out of me when I’m suffering with the
same? - Do I like this person? Are they really going to motivate me? What does my gut say?
So, what do YOU think? Ready to get serious and find that personal trainer that fits YOU?
Remember, should you have any questions, PLEASE don’t hesitate to contact me…I’m happy to help!
One Little Request
I am seeking to share this journal with people you feel might find it helpful. If you’re willing, please use the links below to share this week’s journal.
If you brought just one more person to this journal, then magic will have happened.
Fair?
Oh, and no audio version this week..sorry about that.
KRUMandment
I will sit down and plan my meals for the week! Remember to include the appropriate snacks.
See you next week? Hope so.
All the best,
Sandy
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I have to lay it straight Sand Man, I have been around some amazing trainers in my day, Randy Oravetz (Dir. Of Sports Medicine at FSU) & Jack Marucci (Dir. of Athletic Training at LSU)...And YOU my friend rank up there with the Best! Thank you Sandy for Always keeping it real, even when none of us wanted to hear it. You have no idea how instrumental you were in helping me get through those tough physical and mental days! I would not have made it without ya! Thank you Krummie. I owe ya one! You my friend, Wear Your Soul...Love you brother, MEAN IT!!!
As a high school and college athlete, I've had experience with several trainers, and I firmly believe that Sandy is the best professional I've ever worked with. His knowledge and experience are only the tip of the iceberg with Sandy. His personality and confidence, and his ability to calm a person down and explain every situation make him more than just a "trainer" when that horrible injury or event happens. He's more like a Super-Hero swooping in to save the day.
I have been involved in organized sports from high school to the NFL and have be around athletic trainers the entire time. I understand the role that they can play in an athletes career, sometimes making decisions that can make or break careers. Also, athletic trainers wear many different hats, from mentor, to uncle to personal trainer and even therapists if need be. I can tell you that during my time on "The Biggest Loser", Sandy was all these things to me and more.
I built a special bond with Sandy because he took such good care of me and showed such respect for me as an individual on the show. I'm sure Sandy had similar relationships with the other contestants. Because of this, there are two things I would like to point out about Sandy that I think are paramount. Number one, his knowledge. Sandy has a comprehensive knowledge about sports and the business of an athletic trainer. Number two, Sandy's integrity. Although Sandy and I had built a strong bond, he always maintained his integrity where the show and rules were concerned. He is the consummate professional.