You’ve made the decision to hire a personal trainer. Good for you! It can be intimidating to ask someone to help you revamp your workouts, but think of it this way—you’re hiring a professional in order to keep yourself safe, accountable and pushing yourself enough without going overboard. Working with a personal trainer at least once is a great idea, no matter who you are or what level of fitness you consider yourself in. Here are a few things you should consider before hiring any personal trainer:

Who doesn’t day dream while at work about getting to the river, lake or ocean so they can enjoy the fun and relaxing water activities? I know I do. What’s better? Swimmers—like most other exercisers—cut their risk of premature death in half compared to inactive people, and the one big plus swimming has on its side: it’s low-impact so it’s easier on the muscles and joints.

Before I became a personal trainer, I worked at a desk, from 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday. At first I liked it! I enjoyed dressing up, packing my lunch, decorating my cubicle, and interacting with my co-workers. But I’d quickly realized just how little I moved during the day, especially when I was busy. And I realized how many treats were in the break room, from donut Fridays to someone’s birthday, and the holidays. I also began to realize how mentally and physically tired I was, just from sitting all day. The couch and a bowl of pasta often sounded much better than the gym followed by a salad.

You exercise to get one step closer to your definition of “fit and healthy”—whether it’s losing 30 pounds, being able to run a mile, pumping out 20 push-ups, or simply being able to walk for an hour without pain or dizziness—but the gym isn’t a place where anything goes.

I’ve had an odd relationship with fitness. When I was young, I was tiny, skinny, and active. I ran around outside, rollerbladed, played soccer, and enjoyed being a kid. When a knee injury sidelined me in high school, I gained weight for the first time, and it scared me. I had never worked out in a gym before, but I started. I hated it. It wasn’t fun and felt like torture. And so began my unhealthy relationship with food and exercise.