Fitness consultant Bob Esquerre  has seen lots of training couples break up. He developed and for five years managed the fitness program at New York City's Equinox gym. The process is uncomfortable, but as the paying client, you need to recognize when it's time to move on.

One way to avoid a sticky split is to end a dysfunctional training relationship before it starts. "You'll know right away whether or not you're compatible with your trainer," Esquerre says. "The chemistry is either there or not there." Ask yourself if this person creates an atmosphere before, during and after the session that makes you feel comfortable in two categories: personality and skill, says Esquerre. If not, he or she is not the right person for you.

When a client decides to train at a gym, the manager and personal trainer have certain obligations to that client, Esquerre says. A manager must make sure clients feel comfortable choosing how they want to be trained. A trainer should make sure clients feel comfortable expressing their needs and objectives.

Esquerre says it is also a trainer's responsibility to ensure that the workout doesn't get stale, that the client doesn't plateau and that his own training skills stay fresh. "They need to take workshops, attend seminars, work with other trainers and keep up with new research," Esquerre says. Most problems arise when these obligations are not met and the client has trouble communicating dissatisfaction. "Some people are very extroverted and have no problem saying something," Esquerre says. "Unfortunately, the average client is intimidated and approaches someone else, often a manager who will say something to a trainer."

A good trainer will know when there are problems, Esquerre says. "But not all trainers are that attuned to clients. Too often, they are surrounded by ego. A trainer who is progressive will understand when a client says, 'I want to go with a different trainer.'" Every trainer has a different approach to exercise and shouldn't take it personally when a client feels more comfortable with another trainer's style. These "non-ego situations" are becoming more common as the field progresses, says Esquerre.

The bottom line is it's your money and your body, and only you should choose how to spend it and train it. Esquerre's advice: Be firm but diplomatic.

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