You've decided to pay someone to help you perform your best, but what should you look for in a trainer, other than abs and affability? Here are six steps to help find your gym guru:

Accreditation.
"The bare minimum is a Fitness Leader Level Two, that's by Government regulations," advises sports scientist and twice Mr Australia Paul Haslam. "However, very soon it will require a Level Four, which involves a 12-month training course."

Experience.
"The more personal experience the trainer has, the better," reveals Haslam. "Two, five, 10 years. It's hard to put a number on it - but the more the better."

Personality.
"A good personal trainer must be a great 'people person'," says Ian Grainger, CEO of Fitness Australia. "They have to be good communicators, as well as being enthusiastic, because if they just stand there looking bored while telling you to 'do 100', it isn't going to keep you motivated for very long. "When you're interviewing, ask yourself, 'Do I like this person?'. After all, he's the one who's going to be dragging you out of bed at five o'clock in the morning."

Price. "If you're a beginner and just need a basic program, then $40 or $50 a session [40 to 60 minutes] is ideal because you don't need that much advanced information," recommends Haslam. "However if you're a bit more specialised, you might need someone with more experience, depending on your training goals and nutritional requirements. In the private marketplace, a one-on-one session could cost $100," adds Grainger

Diet and Nutrition.
"A registered professional can give general dietary advice on food groups, but they're not dietitians or nutritionists," warns Grainger. "However, individuals may have gone on and done other specific training in that area. Every registered fitness trainer will be able to provide general dietary advice on good eating habits and should be able to point the individual to specific advice [in other areas]."

Where to find a reputable trainer.
"Very few personal trainers actually advertise in newspapers or the Yellow Pages," says Haslam. "Most of them work out of gyms. Ring your local and ask them for a recommendation. It's often by word of mouth: if the trainer is good and gets results, that reputation spreads."

If you're after some more information, log onto www.goodgymguide.com.au or www.fitnessaustralia.com.au.