I have lots of friends and family that have decided that they want to pursue their health and wellness goals with a little more focus. Many of them have the same question, “With so many coaches and so much information out there, how do I know when I have found the right coach for me?”

I always tell them to look for the following to know if you have found the right coach:

Most coaches, especially in the online fitness world, will offer a free consultation so you can get to know them, and vice-versa.

This is a very important time for both you and the coach. It is important that you are able to clearly state what it is you are looking for, and any specifics surrounding your goals, maybe even what you think your biggest struggles are. Don’t worry if you can’t come up with those on your own, as the right coach should help to bring this out of you in that consultation (another moment of knowing you’ve found the right coach).  Some coaches will also offer a free trial of their services (usually only used for online coaching) for a small period of time to allow you to experience their service before you make a long term commitment. This always gives people a great opportunity to experience the coach/service before making a purchase, and get a better idea of what to expect.

The right coach will also inform you of what you can expect during your time with them.

This can be a wide array of things, from the number of communications to the number of “weigh-ins”, to the structure of the workouts, to the frequency of testing and change in your program, etc. However, it is important for the client to ask, “what can I expect” as well so that you know what you are getting into, and exactly what your money is buying.

Another great thing to look for when in pursuit of the right coach is a plan or a process that is specific to you.

Even if you are buying a “template” online program, the right coach should be able to explain how you will benefit from that. If it is a customized training program, then you should be informed of the process they want to take with you, in order to benefit you in the long run, with specific information that is all curtailed to you and your goals, and limitations.

Lastly, and sometimes often overlooked, is that the right coach should be excited to work with you. While you are speaking with them you should be able to pick up on this. If they are not excited to work with you, then why should you be excited to give them your money? You can laugh at that sentence, but trust me, I see people do this all of the time.

These are the key things to look for in order to know if you have found the right coach. If you can do a free consultation or trial, understand what you can expect while working with that coach, know that they have a plan and process in mind for you, and that coach is excited to work with you, then I would say you found the right coach! You should also be really excited and have a better sense that you can accomplish your goals at that moment as well. So go get to work and get started already, or keep on searching. Who knows, the right coach could be right in front of you!

Director of Personal Training at Golds Gym Ormond Beach & Golds Gym Daytona Beach Gavin Metz BS Kinesiology, CSCS, TPI, OPEX