How to pick a Personal Trainer?
- Alex Folacci
- May 27
- 3 min read
Updated: May 28
Here’s a "Green Flag - Red Flag" guide on how to pick a personal trainer, especially for busy, high-achieving individuals who value time, results, and professionalism:
✅ Green flags, signs of a great Personal Trainer:
1. Proven experience with clients Like You
Works with busy professionals, executives, or high-net-worth individuals.
Understands your schedule, stress, and physical demands.
2. Tailored programming
Doesn’t follow a cookie-cutter routine.
Designs your program around your goals, injuries, lifestyle, and preferences.
3. Strong credentials and continuous learning
Holds respected certifications (NASM, CSCS, ACE, etc.).
Keeps up with the latest in health, fitness, and longevity.
4. Competitive athletic background:
Hiring a former high level athlete is more valuable than any certifications one can have.
Athletes who competed in many different sports will automatically have a higher level of expertise.
Beware of good athletes who don't necessarily translate into good coaches if they don't have the intelligence or pedagogy to teach.
5. Professionalism and punctuality
Reliable, always on time, and never cancels and session.
Respects your privacy, schedule, and boundaries.
6. Very busy and expensive
If a trainer already has many clients, it means that he does a great job otherwise they would't keep training with him.
If he charges more than the average personal trainer in New York, it obviously means that the free market values him more.
7. Results-oriented with measurable progress
Tracks metrics and takes notes about your performances and progress.
Regularly reviews and adjusts your plan for continuous improvement.
8. Understands longevity, biohacking and recovery
Offers support beyond workouts, including lifestyle, diet, sleep, supplements, stress, and recovery.
A holistic approach tailored for long-term health, not just aesthetics.
9. High emotional intelligence
Knows how to motivate without pushing recklessly.
Adapts based on your energy, mood, or work demands that day.
🚩 Red Flags, Warning Signs to Avoid:
1. Looks out of shape
He's fat and weak, doesn't practice what he preaches. Would you go to a dentist with crooked and yellow teeth? Or to a financial advisor that isn't a millionaire?
2. One-size-fits-all programs
Generic plans, no assessment, no customization.
3. Never been an athlete himself
Was never a good athlete and never practiced any sports.
4. Isn't obsessed about learning
He doesn't keep learning about new coaching methods, new exercises, and new fitness concepts on a regular basis.
5. No clear progress tracking
He doesn't care to take notes or body measurements regarding your achievements and progress.
6. Pushes supplements or products for commission
Tries to sell you supplements or even worse, steroids, in order to make a commission.
7. Inattentive during sessions
Checks his phone, gets distracted, or talks more about himself than your form.
8. Disrespectful of your time or boundaries
Cancels last-minute, shows up late, or doesn’t accommodate your schedule.
9. Unsafe training methods
Doesn't spot you properly or keep the environment unsafe .
Doesn’t modify training for your injuries or limitations.
9. Lack of professionalism or discretion
Talks about other clients, shares private information, or behaves inappropriately.
Alex Folacci:
"I always put myself in the shoes of the clients and understand very well what they expect from my service.
I am myself very demanding when I go to a restaurant, hotel, or whatever might be, and I get easily upset when people aren't professional and not doing a great job. So I have it in me to never disappoint my clients, and I hold myself to the highest standards possible.
That is how I am able to create long term relationships with my high-profile clients, because I consistently deliver at the level they expect from me, without ever disappointing them."
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