Short answer: bring your last 4 to 8 weeks of workouts, your current working weights, any injuries or movements to avoid, your goal, and the days you can train. That is enough for a trainer to plan your first block.
Starting With a New Trainer: Which Past Records Are Useful?
Fitness ID · 26 October 2026
The handover list
- Recent workouts (4 to 8 weeks). Shows what you actually do, not what you plan to do.
- Current working weights and reps. Your real numbers for main lifts. A trainer can then pick starting loads instead of testing you from scratch.
- Effort notes. Which sets felt easy, which were close to failure.
- Injuries and limits. What hurts, what you avoid, how long ago it happened. Keep it factual.
- Goal and deadline. Fat loss, strength, a sport, a wedding date.
- Availability. Days, times and how long each session can be.
- Equipment. Gym access, home setup, anything missing.
What is not worth bringing
- Years of old logs. Older data rarely changes this month's programme.
- Photos you are not comfortable sharing.
- Medical reports, unless the trainer needs a specific point and you choose to share it.
Ask them back
- What will you do with this information?
- How will we review progress?
- What happens to my records when we stop?
Make it easy next time
Keep your own record in one place. When the next change comes, you hand over a summary instead of rebuilding from memory. With FitHit's Fitness ID, your history is kept as your own record, with sharing settings you control.
A one-page handover template
- Goal and target date.
- Training days and session length.
- Main lifts: last best set (weight x reps, date).
- Last programme: name, length, what you liked or disliked.
- Injuries and limits.
- Equipment you can use.
- Anything that has not worked before.
Questions for your first session
Ask how your first four weeks will be structured, how the trainer wants you to log, how often you will review progress together, and what you should do if you miss sessions. Written answers help you hold the plan to the same standard later.
If you are switching because it did not work
Be specific about why. "The sessions were too long" or "I never knew what weight to use" helps the new coach more than "it did not suit me".
Key takeaways
- Recent beats old.
- Real numbers beat memory.
- You decide what to share.
FAQ
What if I have no records? Tell the trainer your current lifts as best you can and mark them as estimates. Start logging now.
Should I show the old trainer's programme? Yes, if you have it. It shows what you already tried.
