Valued at nearly $100 billion dollars, the world of health and fitness is thriving—big time.

It will likely remain one of the most profitable industries in years to come despite the fact it's becoming more saturated by the minute.

Aspiring trainers no longer need a proper education to train or coach others. If you've got a nice body, a few hundred followers, a decent set of people skills, and a basic understanding of general movements, heck—you've already made it. The bigger issue we're dealing with in this era is that unfortunately for those completely removed from the world of health and fitness, they can't smell the bullshit. They can't tell the difference between the qualified coach that's taken the time and effort in building their repertoire of education and the amateur fitness enthusiast that's only gone as far as to become a cheerleader for their clients.

Trainers seem to be prioritizing the development of their marketing skills rather than refining their knowledge as fitness professionals. They know more about maximizing engagement on their social networks than how to program effectively for weight loss or strength building. While technology will forever have an impact in shaping every global industry and what their future will look like for years to come, it's time to raise the standard to where it once was a few decades ago.

Whether you're looking for a trainer or already working with one…

Here are 4 ways you can hold them to a higher standard

1 . Ask them what they're currently studying.

The human body is extremely complex. It will always be a never-ending source of discovery for researchers and scientists alike. It seems there's always a new study coming out every other week debunking myths and confirming decade-old hypotheses. Therefore, your trainer should always continue their education. Whether it be reading the latest published research to attending weekend webinars, there will never be a point in time when they'll "know it all". They should be challenging themselves in learning more about techniques and methods that could benefit their experience with them as a client. The better equipped they are to guide you, the better results you'll get.

2 . Ask them about their goals.

Simply put, your trainer should be fitter than you. If your doctor was a chronic smoker or frequent alcohol consumer, would you take their advice on what to do to improve your immunity and health? Asking your trainer about their current fitness or health goals can help determine whether or not they're all talk or truly invested in their craft by applying their knowledge to their own progress. Maybe they're training for a marathon, training towards a double bodyweight deadlift, working on gaining more muscle mass or simply just focusing on improving their current level of fitness. If your trainer isn't putting their fitness as a priority, you might also find it may be hard for them to relate to the frustrations and struggles that come along with working towards fitness and health goals. It might also be difficult for you to adhere to their guidance when they're not leading by example themselves. No matter the goal, the important piece is that they're practicing what they preach.

3 . Bring up other topics associated with your personal health and fitness goals.

Nowadays, trainers can get away with only knowing the basics of training a client in the gym. To truly be able to guide you towards the best possible results, your trainer should be equipped with knowledge about other subjects that heavily influence the rate of success of their client's goals. For example, how much do they know about sleep, recovery methods, stress management, nutritional guidance, injury prevention, etc. While they don't need to be experts in every single one of these subjects, they should be confident enough to provide their clients with the appropriate tools to support the pursuit of their fitness goals.

4 . They should ALWAYS act within their scope of practice.

While your trainer should have some basic education in subjects related to fitness and physical training, they should never act beyond their scope of practice. For example, they could easily recommend a few tips and tricks on how to start being more mindful of nutrition choices but they should never prescribe nutrition or diet plans for their clients. Unless they've undergone the appropriate training and received a certification allowing them to provide such a service, registered dietitians and nutritionists are the only professionals you should reach out to for this kind of support. Additionally, if you've experienced an injury or are suffering from muscle soreness or tightness, they should not be administering any sort of physical manipulation or soft tissue work. Trainers should always refer you to a physiotherapist, registered massage therapist, chiropractor, kinesiologist or any appropriate practitioner qualified to provide you with the care you need.

The bottom line is...

Fitness professionals should be, well, professionals. Doctors require 4+ years of education and appropriate training. Why should the person you're hiring to be in charge of your health and physical fitness be any less qualified?

A note from Coach Thea: as someone that's been an athlete, coach, and trainer in the industry for 5+ years, I have seen time and time again trainers pretending to be something they're not. Challenge yourself to bring up these points above in conversation with your coach or trainer and notice how they respond. Are they defensive and move on to a new subject quickly? Or are they open and excited to continue the conversation? In my experience, the best trainers don't pretend they have it all together. They own what they know and they stay curious about learning more about what they don't. Let's all be a part of raising the standard to where it once was. Your physical fitness should be taken as seriously as any other aspect of your health.

Op-ed: Raising The Bar