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At one point in our lives or another, most of us have made some form of firm commitment to ourselves to get in better shape. We go to the gym for a few weeks, try to eat healthier, and make some positive changes in our life to be healthier, but after a while we start going to the gym less, and slip back into our old habits. Many people try alternative exercise and diet plans to try to get in shape after their initial resolve to lose weight and get in shape, but without a firm resolve, dedication and sound science behind the plan, those plans end in failure. Others decide to pull out their wallet and pay for a personal trainer to help them get in shape, but many personal trainers are wholly unqualified to help you get in shape!

Personal trainers are not regulated by any governing body, so anyone can take any sort of class to become a personal trainer and call themselves a personal trainer. A sleuthing TV station in Boston decided to see what it would take to become a ‘certified’ personal trainer. One of their reporters was able to take a two hour online exam and a week later she had received a certificate in hand stating that she was a certified personal trainer! Just because someone calls themselves a certified personal trainer does not mean that their certification is worth the paper that it’s written on.

There are a few different accredited organizations that will certify personal trainers legitimately. These organizations include the American Council on Exercise, the National Council on Strength and Fitness, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the National Federation of Personal Trainers. This is not an all-inclusive list, but these organizations have thorough certification programs that ensure your personal trainer is well qualified to help you get in shape.

Even if you have a good personal trainer, that still doesn’t mean you will be successful in your attempt to get healthy. Having a personal trainer isn’t good enough; you actually need to do what they tell you! Getting in shape is all about commitment and discipline, and the best personal trainer in the world won’t be able to help you if you don’t have those two things. You have to be absolutely serious about getting in shape and not get complacent after a few weeks!