Most people have a health, fitness or weight loss goal that they wish to achieve. Many individuals struggle to reach this goal/s without some assistance, which is where personal trainers come in.

A personal trainer's main roles are to:

• Assist and motivate you towards achieving your health and fitness goals

• Promote safe exercise techniques for you to follow

• Monitor your progress and adjust your program as your fitness and strength increases

• Offer nutritional advice and guidelines

• Offer fun and varied workout sessions

These days there are so many personal trainers around that it can be difficult to choose!

Take your time when finding a trainer and do your homework. A personal trainer should have the relevant professional credentials and be fully qualified (minimum of Certificate IV in Fitness), be registered with an industry association (ensure that your potential trainer is registered with Fitness Australia by clicking here) and have the appropriate insurance for the level of training that they prescribe (don't be afraid to ask your trainer for proof of their professional liability insurance).

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Here are a few tips that can help you to find a trainer who is the right 'fit' for you:

• Get recommendations from friends/family

• Ask your trainer lots of questions before signing up including questions regarding: qualifications and experience, whether they have success stories they can share, what ongoing training they undertake, what their own personal health and fitness regime consists of, if you have any medical conditions ensure they are appropriately educated on these conditions, costs and fees, availability, their pre-screening process, where they train from, what services they can offer you, do they specialise in any particular areas and if there are any concerns that you have.

• Spend some time chatting with your trainer to ensure that your personalities 'click' and that your trainer understands what health and fitness goals you want to achieve from working with them. You need to feel comfortable with your trainer.

• If you're already a member at a gym you may find there are personal trainers who can assist you, so check them out, see the results that they have helped other members achieve and watch how they interact with their clients

Be smart when choosing a personal trainer and be wary of those who can't show you proof of their qualifications, are pushy when trying to sign you up, don't show professionalism, or try to force you into buying supplements or dietary programs. Good Luck!