If you’re just starting out your research for a personal trainer, you probably feel pretty overwhelmed. There are a lot of names you’ll see like weight trainers, fitness trainers, personal trainers… what does it all mean? Who are these people? Do they all do the same thing? And most importantly can they help me in my health and wellness goals?

In general, weight trainers and fitness trainers have different goals and use different techniques when training. Weight trainers focus on increasing muscle size and strength, while fitness trainers focus on improving overall health and endurance. Both weight trainers and fitness trainers can be personal trainers. Think of personal training as the big bucket or category that then can be subcategorized (think specialties).

“Personal trainer” really refers to the level of accreditation or education someone has. You need specific skills to teach people one-on-one. Most personal trainers get a NASM or ACE certification. Other trainers, have skill-specific certificates to teach people on a more custom level.

Specialized Personal Trainers

Skill-specific personal trainers like kickboxing trainers, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trainers, or self-defense trainers may not always have the standard personal training certificate but because of the specific skills they have acquired through training, testing, and belts, it’s less pertinent for them to have a general personal training certificate.

Understanding the differences between specialized personal trainers is important when looking for a trainer for you.

Weight Trainers

Weight trainers are people who focus on weightlifting and muscle gain. Fitness trainers, on the other hand, focus more on overall fitness and helping their clients achieve a healthy weight. There are some key differences between the two types of trainers.

For weight training, weightlifters use a variety of weight training exercises such as the squat, deadlift, bench press and others. Fitness trainers on the other hand teach weightlifting techniques to clients who aim for weight loss or muscle growth. Weightlifting is more of a strength training exercise, while fitness trainers focus on overall health and improving different aspects of the body.

• Weight trainers often use heavy weights and push their clients to lift as much weight as possible. They often focus on developing large muscles.

• Weight trainers often specialize in one type of weightlifting, such as powerlifting or bodybuilding.

• Weight trainers often charge more for their services than fitness trainers. This is because weight training requires more specialized knowledge and equipment.

One of the main benefits of weight training is that it can help you to tone your body and lose weight. Weight training can also help to improve your bone density and reduce your risk of injuries.

Fitness Trainers

• Fitness trainers, on the other hand, use lighter weights and focus on toning the body. They also often emphasize the importance of cardiovascular exercise.

• Fitness trainers are more likely to be generalists and have a wider range of knowledge about working out and staying healthy.

• Fitness trainers are usually more affordable because their services do not require as much specialization.

Fitness training can help you to achieve a healthy weight, improve your cardiovascular health, and reduce your risk of chronic diseases. Fitness training can also help to improve your balance and coordination.

Tips to Remember When Looking for a Personal Trainer:

Weight trainers and fitness trainers serve different purposes. Weight trainers focus on developing large, muscular bodies, while fitness trainers focus on overall fitness and weight loss. Fitness trainers are more affordable than weight trainers and require less specialization.

Understand what you’re trying to achieve (your goals) and look for individuals who can get you to that goal.

If you’re looking for a general fitness trainer, make sure they have a certificate or some education on fitness training.

If you’re looking for a more skill-specific trainer, they may not have a standard certificate in personal training but that’s okay as long as they have experience and a wealth of knowledge in that specialized field.

Questions to ask your potential personal trainer:

• Do you have any certificates?

• What’s your experience?

• How many people have you trained in the past?

• Do you have any testimonials?

• Are you affiliated with any major organizations?