Hiring a trainer can be a wonderful boost to your fitness routine or a tremendous waste of precious money, depending on your reasons and expectations. Knowing what a trainer can and can't do for you may help you make the best decision for your personal needs.

A trainer CAN:

Help you design a workout if you are recovering from an injury or have some other physical condition that affects your ability to exercise. Be sure to work with someone who has experience in physical therapy and get clearance from your doctor before you proceed.

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Help your workout sessions become more efficient. Trainers can spot when you're doing a crunch poorly and help you identify how a particular exercise is supposed to feel in different parts of your body. This is especially valuable if you plan to lift heavy weights because wrong moves can easily lead to injuries.
Show you new ways to take your fitness program to the next level. Hiring a trainer is a great option for athletes who have reached a plateau in their training, or someone's who's reached a plateau in their weight-loss efforts. If a fitness plan worked in the past, it can be hard to change. A good trainer can bring an objective eye and help you make adjustments so that you can move forward again.

Help you create a workout program if you don't know where to start. Many times people sign up for gym memberships but are overwhelmed by the options available. If you haven't been a regular athlete in the past, then a trainer can help you find a program that works for you. He or she can also teach you the fundamentals of a good exercise program so that you can adjust your workouts over time.

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A trainer CAN'T:

Motivate you. At best, you'll be hiring an extremely expensive babysitter to stand over you and force you to exercise. And don't think that spending the money will get you serious about your workouts. If you didn't have a problem wasting your expensive gym membership, a few more dollars out the window aren't likely to make a difference, either.
Turn you into someone else. Just because Jennifer Aniston has a trainer doesn't mean your trainer can make you look like Jennifer Aniston. Your trainer will be able to show you valuable exercises, but he or she can't control exactly how your body will respond.

Reverse the effects of age or injury. If three doctors have told you you'll never be able to straighten your left knee again, no trainer is going to help you back to the top of the triathlon podium. What a trainer can do, though, is help you find ways to work around your physical limitations so that you can reach the highest level of fitness possible.

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Do more than he or she has been trained to do. Generally speaking, staff trainers at a gym will be able to help you use gym equipment and teach you a standard program for your age and fitness level. If you want something more complicated, you will need to look into private trainers, who have more certifications in specific fitness areas. And you'll have to pay according to the level of expertise you need.

If you think hiring a trainer is a good choice for your needs, be sure to take your time before signing a contract. Interview several trainers and choose the one whose background is the best match for your goals.