You’ve booked your venue, found your vendors, and most importantly, said yes to the perfect guy AND dress. Now, you’ll just need to make sure that dream dress fits exactly the way you want it to on the big day! It’s easy to make the decision to stay in and skip the gym when you finally get the chance to sit down and relax after a hard day of work or running errands. For bride-to-be Michelle Segal, whose schedule can be quite hectic at times, it’s been easier to find time and motivation to get in shape for her wedding ever since she began training with me in the comfort of her own home.

“I’ve found that if you’re trying to get in shape for your wedding, having a personal trainer can be one of the most beneficial ways to help you reach your fitness goals,” Segal says. “Eraldo has created a fitness program based on my goals to improve flexibility and lose weight, while sculpting muscle to get that slim, toned look.” Segal’s workout includes weight training with fast paced cardio in between to raise her heart rate and increase endurance. Some of the exercises we have been focusing on are squats, lunges, and a variety of chest, shoulder, back, core, tricep and bicep exercises.

The individualized attention you get with a personal trainer in your own home will have you looking exactly how you want so you can strut down the aisle with confidence. I began training with Michelle in January and will be training with her for six months. I have no doubt that she will look stunning for her wedding in July.

Because Michelle and I are still at the early stages of training, exercise technique is still the main objective. Being able to build a safe and solid foundation is a critical component in any training program.

The right personal trainer will have you feeling your absolute best by motivating and encouraging you every step of your way during the journey to achieving your health and fitness goals. Before you say “I do” to your personal trainer, make sure he or she is right for you. You’ve already found Mr. Right, now find the right trainer!

5 Tips for Finding the Right Personal Trainer Before Walking Down the Aisle 

1. Think about your fitness goals.  I offer my clients a free consultation when I meet with them to go over their goals and expectations, health history, nutritional guidance, and training methodology, so I advise them to give some thought to what they expect to achieve from training before we meet. You might already be slim and not looking to lose weight but want to get your arms tone for that strapless wedding dress. Maybe your main goal is to lose weight and spend less time working on building muscle. Knowing what your goals are will help you find a trainer that’s right for you.

2. Find a certified trainer.  Your personal trainer’s certification should be current and from an NCAA-accredited organization, such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) or American Council on Exercise (ACE). I graduated from the National Personal Training Institute and was certified from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. As I mention in my book “The Real Fountain of Youth,” people who are being trained or guided by non-certified personal trainers run the risk of getting hurt, financially cheated or misguided.

3. Look for referrals and testimonials.  Do some research online by visiting your potential trainer’s website, Facebook, Linkedin and other social media pages to see if there are any referrals and testimonials. I have also had clients ask me for names, phone numbers and testimonials of other clients that I have previously worked with.

4. Decide if the trainer is someone you can work with. You will be working very closely with your personal trainer, so make sure that you will be able to establish a comfortable relationship. Some of the qualities you want to look for in a personal trainer are professionalism, experience, knowledge, patience, determination, honesty and reliability. They also should appear physically fit. If they aren’t concerned about their own physique, how can you trust them to help you with yours?

5. Figure out what you’re willing to spend.  The cost of a training session can vary.  Be realistic about what your goals are and how much time you’ll need to achieve them. You might want to continue training until the day before your wedding or you might want to end your training earlier. Who knows, you might even want to keep training after the big day is over. I offer my clients three different training packages, depending on how many sessions they would like to commit to. Discuss pricing with the personal trainer to see if what they offer will work for you.