I wrote the following story for The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer. It appeared in both papers on Dec. 11, 2012. It appears here, with links.

You know you need to get in shape. In fact, you’ve known it for a while.

Maybe it’s time you bit the bullet and asked for help. Maybe it’s time you sought out the services of a personal trainer.

“If you’re in need of a personal trainer, it’s probably because permanent changes are overdue and need to start happening immediately,” says Taylor Carpenter, with TaylorCarpenter Personal Training in Charlotte.

A personal trainer can fill several vital roles – tailoring a workout regimen to your needs, making sure your form and technique are good. Perhaps the biggest advantage: a personal trainer provides: accountability.

Easing into retirement a year ago at age 67, overweight and out-of-shape, he enlisted the aid of Jonathan Avalos with Shape Up Fitness and Wellness Consulting.

“While I am still overweight, my fitness has improved dramatically,” says McGarry. “I still have a ways to go … but I’ve come a long way in just one year.”

Wouldn’t mind sounding like McGarry a year from now? Here’s some advice, from personal trainers and those who employ them, on how to hire a trainer of your own.

1. Qualifications. A trainer with a four-year degree in a related field is preferable. “A person with an actual degree in exercise science or physiology carries a better understanding of how the body works, how muscles work,” says Melanie Dean with Gateway to Health & Performance in Cary, who holds a masters of science. Look for personal training certifications (see box); especially look for certifications that require continuing education, which helps keep a trainer current on trends and research.

2. Experience. While formal education is important, experience with clients is vital as well. Ask to speak with a couple of clients for references.

3. Area of focus. Some trainers focus on specific clients. If, for instance, a trainer specializes in helping high-performing athletes tweak their performance and you simply want to lose some weight and increase your mobility, maybe it’s not a good fit.

4. Curiosity. During your interview, the trainer should ask you more questions than you ask the trainer. “A big part of the process is listening to where they are right now, what limitations there are, what their goals are…,” says Dean.

Knee issues forced Pamela Bennett of Charlotte to abandon her long-standing martial arts practice. She’d fallen out of shape but wasn’t a fitness novice. She was skeptical when she first met Michael Anders, a personal trainer and owner of Shape Up, because she wasn’t sure he’d pay attention to her goals. “I needed someone to listen to me and work with the goals I wanted to achieve, not try to define goals for me,” says Bennett. That was seven years ago; she continues to work with Anders.

“You should feel a comfort level immediately,” says Jessica Bottesch with Empower Personal Training in Durham. “Are they taking my goals seriously and not just prescribing a cookie-cutter program?”

5. Commitment. Most trainers suggest working with a trainer two to three times a week, at least initially. This is especially true if one of your problems in the past has been motivation. The frequent visits can help establish a routine. Once you fall into that routine, you can cut back your visits.

6. Team player? Because healthy living isn’t simply about working out in the gym, check to see if the trainer works with and will refer you to other health care professionals. If you’re diabetic, for instance, the trainer should bring in a nutritionist or dietician to consult. If you have muscular dystrophy or fibromyalgia, you might want a masseuse in the mix. “A good trainer should have no problem crossing over lines,” says Dean.

7. Cost. The trainers we spoke with said to avoid anyone who requires a long-term commitment. “I work on a month-to-month basis with a 30-day money-back guarantee,” says Anders. Most personal trainers charge by the session.

A one-hour session in a gym will run $45-$65. (Less experienced trainers may charge less.) A trainer with a related degree will run more, perhaps: $60-$65. And if the trainer comes to you, expect to pay $60-$100 or more.

8. Flexibility. “Maybe you don’t need three times a week,” says Empower’s Bottesch. “Maybe once a week or even once a month is good. The trainer should be willing to show you things you can do on your own.” Another option: group fitness. “It’s not quite the same tailored approach, but it is a much lower price point and you still have access to a trainer.”