What to Expect at Your Free Consultation

Walking into a gym to meet a personal trainer for the first time can feel a bit daunting. A lot of people tell me they put off booking for months because they weren't sure what would happen, or they worried they'd be thrown into a tough workout on the first day.

So here's exactly how my free consultation works. It takes about 30 minutes, there's no workout involved, and there's no obligation to sign up afterwards.

First, we talk

Every consultation starts with a conversation. I'll ask about your goals, but also about the practical side of things: your work hours, how many days a week you can realistically train, any injuries or medical conditions, and what has or hasn't worked for you in the past.

There are no right or wrong answers here. The more open you are, the easier it is for me to plan something that fits around your real week, not an ideal one that never happens.

Body composition analysis

Next, we take a body composition reading. Unlike a normal bathroom scale, this breaks your weight down into body fat, muscle mass and water, so we know what that number is actually made of.

It gives us a far more useful starting point. Later on, it also means we can see genuine progress, like losing fat while building muscle, even in weeks when the scale barely moves.

This matters more than many people realise. Common measures like BMI only look at height and weight, so they can't tell the difference between muscle and fat. Official figures are worked out the same way: Eurostat data shows that 26.6% of adults in Malta were classed as obese in 2025, the highest rate in the EU. A body composition reading gives you a far clearer picture of where you actually stand.

Blood pressure and blood sugar

I'll also check your blood pressure and do a quick finger-prick blood sugar test. Both take a couple of minutes and give us a snapshot of your general health before we start increasing your activity.

These are screening checks, not a medical diagnosis. If either reading comes back outside the normal range, I'll tell you straight away and recommend you see your doctor before we start training together.

These checks are worth doing because both conditions are often silent. The World Health Organization estimates that around 1.4 billion adults aged 30 to 79 have high blood pressure, and that 44% of them don't know it, largely because it rarely causes symptoms.

It's a similar story with diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 589 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, and that almost half of them, around 252 million people, haven't been diagnosed. A two-minute check could be the nudge someone needs to see their doctor.

A quick look at how you move

If time allows, I'll ask you to go through a few simple movements, such as a bodyweight squat and reaching your arms overhead. Nothing strenuous. It helps me spot any stiffness or imbalances that we should work on from the very first session.

Goals and next steps

To finish, we go through your results together and agree on one or two realistic goals for your first few months. I'll explain how I'd structure your training, how many sessions a week I'd suggest, and what kind of results you can reasonably expect.

If you'd like to go ahead, we can book your first session there and then. If you'd rather take some time to think it over, that's completely fine too.

How to prepare

• Wear comfortable clothes you can move in.

• Bring a bottle of water.

• If you take any regular medication, bring a list with you.

• For the most accurate body composition reading, avoid a large meal or a hard workout in the two to three hours before your appointment.

Where it takes place

Consultations are held at Chic Physique in Naxxar, or at 24/7 in San Gwann, Mellieha, Ta' Qali and Zebbug. You simply choose the location that suits you best when you book.

Ready to get started? Book your free 30-minute consultation through the Book Online page. I look forward to meeting you.

Mark

Sources

• World Health Organization. Hypertension fact sheet and Global Report on Hypertension, 2025.

• International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 11th edition, 2025.

• Eurostat. Body mass index of the EU population aged 18 and over, 2025.