Biggest Loser Proves Good Trainer Can Make A Difference

Last week on "The Biggest Loser," Amanda switched trainers. She had been struggling with Jillian and posting modest four pound losses. On her first week back with Bob, her trainer at the start of the season, Amanda lost a whopping seven pounds. She credited shedding more weight entirely to working with a trainer that she "clicked" with.

Amanda perfectly demonstrates that the right personal trainer often makes all the difference. I'm not talking about a trainer with the best certifications and education -- although you should always seek that -- I mean those trainers that will "click" with you. If you resonate with a certain instructor, you'll have a better workout and, ultimately, better results.

Not everyone can afford or even wants a personal trainer, but we are constantly seeking fitness advice and leadership. When you search for your fitness guru, look at all the options: group exercise teachers, yoga instructors, even fitness DVDs and books. Somewhere out there is a person who delivers the message, just the way you need to hear it.

Here's how to find that "click."

For fitness professionals in your area, check out their web sites. Does the yoga studio stress their hard core yogini moves or do they emphasize their zen-like atmosphere?

Does your best friend love a certain instructor? You love your friend, so perhaps you'll love her fitness guru, too. Tag along to the next class and if you're lucky, you'll find a great class to keep you motivated and a workout partner.

Look at the people around you who have the body shape you want. Be realistic here; the single gal 20 years younger who's never given birth might not be the best person to emulate (then again, maybe she is). Find a peer and ask her what her secret is. Whatever she does to stay fit, no matter how strange it might sound, give it a try yourself. I actually did this last spring and discovered hooping (yes, as in the hula hoop. I was pleasantly surprised to find that (a) I was pretty good at it, (b) it burns about 10 calories per minute, as much as running, and (c) it's a blast!

For home fitness aficionados, it can be hard to judge a DVD by it's cover. Collage Video is a great website that carries just about every exercise DVD you could think of in nearly every genre, from prenatal Pilates to granny aerobics. Collage also has staff who watch the videos regularly and write up reviews on the routines. Read their comments to get a true feel for the content of the workout.

The most important piece of advice I can give you is try, try again. If a certain workout or routine appeals to you, even mildly, give it a go. And if you absolutely hate it, chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. Somewhere out there is the perfect workout for you, just waiting to be discovered.