Norwich Personal Trainer: Key Signs of a Bad Trainer

I mean, this includes me, haha. No, I don’t think I am the best trainer, and I also like to learn with my clients, but I have spoken to a handful of people over my close to 6 years being a trainer and have literally said things like “how much?” “for what?” “REALLY?” “I would double-check that” “We are not doctors” “We are not dieticians and nutritionists”.

So, I thought I’d put a list of things that your online coach or in-person 1-2-1 trainer should go through:

Neglecting Initial Assessment:

Before jumping into a workout, a proper assessment is essential. How can your trainer develop a safe plan without knowing your goals, experience, or history?

Ignoring Corrective Exercises:

Even if you want to build muscle or lose fat, your programme should address any weak or underdeveloped areas (e.g., stiff back, weak knees, tight shoulders). These imbalances can often be corrected with the right exercises. Also, I’ve always said nothing stops you quicker than an injury, and trust me, injuries even when being careful can happen quickly, so please do try and work on these points. All my clients have a document called FlexFit Focus to help aid in imbalance and weakness in areas.

Overlooking Technique:

If you’ve hired a trainer, proper technique is key, especially for complex moves like squats and deadlifts. A good trainer will focus on your form, not just add weight.


I will note a small amount of weight at the start can be beneficial. Feeling the resistance can help individuals engage their core or stabilise areas like the shoulders more effectively. That said, there’s a fine line. For example, if the barbell weighs 20kg, adding 2.5kg to each side can aid in improving form. But loading 20kg on each side right away is excessive and counterproductive.

Pushing Supplements Over Fundamentals:

Fitness is built on basics: working out 2-3 times a week, mobility work, and eating enough whole foods and protein. Supplements should never replace these essentials. While there’s nothing wrong with discussing supplements or taking, it should never take precedence over helping you master the essentials. So happy to recommend, but this is definitely something I don’t push at the start of the journey and really only discuss if it’s brought up in conversation. Normally, I only recommend two: creatine and protein, most studied and most of the time the safest.

Feeling Worse After a Session:

Workouts should challenge you, but they shouldn’t leave you feeling worse than when you started. Again it’s worth noting that different styles of training—such as HIIT or cardio-focused workouts—can feel tougher than strength training, depending on the individual.


However, ignoring factors like form, tempo, or technique in pursuit of a ‘hard workout’ is irresponsible. While some clients enjoy the feeling of an intense session, the focus should always be on long-term, sustainable results.

Prioritising proper form and addressing imbalances will yield better outcomes than simply chasing exhaustion.

This is something for us all to think about within programmes/sessions, even if you're my client, as this message can get lost sometimes.

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