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Ideas and Insights from the National Academy of Sports Medicine
| | I am thankful... By Scott Lucett | Nov 21, 2008 
Very often I have the chance to watch trainers maneuver the fitness floor, focused on their clients, discovering new ways to enhance a client’s fitness with exercises that challenge them physically and emotionally. And while I have been fortunate to watch the fitness industry grow and mature along the 15 year road I have walked in this field – nothing is more compelling to me than when I watch a fitness trainer focused and motivated by the desire to facilitate another person’s positive change. I suppose that is why I entered this field – for privilege of being able to help people in ways that create an enormous life impact.
Well, it is in the season of giving thanks that I want to say “thank you” to the fitness professionals who have chosen this career because of an unrelenting desire to change lives – those who share my passion and have built their lives around the resolve of simply helping people. While I sit behind my desk researching and writing to help expand your educational tools, I am humbled by your devotion to a cause greater than ourselves and am grateful for being allowed a small part in your brilliant careers as you move America to a healthier tomorrow!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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| | The Sky's the Limit By Jennifer Roberts | Nov 12, 2008 
"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." -Micheal Jordan
Why did you become a personal trainer? Was it a lifelong dream, a launching pad for something more or maybe a “good for now” job? Do you desire to privately train clients or own your own gym one day? Have you already achieved these goals? Many trainers may think once they are working in a gym they have reached the full potential of a CPT. This could not be further from reality. CPTs can be found working for professional sports teams, with Olympians, celebrities and as media fitness experts. Other less known places you may find a CPT can be in a physical therapist office, chiropractic office, in education, with clinical research groups, corporate wellness settings, even working for governing and accreditation bodies like NASM. Although the opportunities for diversifying your professional experiences are near limitless, it all started with the first baby step: obtaining your personal training certification. That is what sets you apart from the others. After some practical field experience and possibly specializations like PES and CES, you’re ready to fly. The question is: Where do you want to go?
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| | Is Licensure in Your Future? By Scott Lucett | Nov 6, 2008
The quest for credible education and safe application of exercise programs has been a popular and important topic in the health and fitness industry for years. Because of the growing obesity epidemic, health and fitness professionals need to be well-versed in working with a variety of populations with a variety of health conditions. This requires the health and fitness professional to be qualified to work with this growing population. Traditionally, one would prepare themselves to work with such individuals by taking a CEU course or going through a home study certification. But does this truly prepare the health and fitness professional to work with these (and other) populations? When does the government finally step in and require trainers to go through the same training process as say a Physical Therapist? An Athletic Trainer? This could add immediate credibility to a profession that at times has received a bad rap due to its lack regulation (one time, I certified my dog Barney through one of those “certify-by-mail” organizations you see in the back of fitness magazines). The tide has started to turn with the IHRSA recommendation for certifying organizations to become accredited by a third party accrediting agency. This is a good first step in adding some level of credibility to certifying agencies, but that just accredits the certification exam. It doesn’t accredit the content, how the individual is becoming certified, contact hours, etc... So what if the next step is the government stepping in and mandating that to become a personal trainer, one must obtain a degree in personal training and/or to take a licensure exam to become one? Good? If so, why? Bad? If so, why?
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| | I Think I'll Have Another... By Tyler Wallace | Oct 30, 2008 
It was brought to my attention the other day through a casual conversation that the personal trainer is more than the credible source of health and fitness information that can assess, create game plans, implement, motivate and coach. The good trainers out there are friends, confidants, and although certainly not educated or qualified to do so, are part time psychologists. The best trainers establish a relationship that for the most part is built on good old fashioned trust.
Similar in nature to the relationship shared between the patron and bartender (with absolutely no disrespect to our profession or the bartender’s), you find yourself listening. Not talking, instructing, or coaching. Listening to stories from the typical or expected like your client’s struggles with their body and their inability to reach goals. Or tales on their current relationship issues, financial gains and pains, political views and religious perspectives. It can be like a mini-episode of Cheers, you’re Sam Malone and you have “Norm” lying on a stability ball trying to shed 30 lbs, wanting a beer, complaining about his wife, while he wishes the vice-presidential debate had been more focused on solving the energy crisis and not mavericks or hope, and mad because he lost $500 when the Patriots lost to the Dolphins.
While no-one really thinks about it when choosing this career you often become the trusted confidant who the client can turn to let it all out. You could probably write an entertaining book filled with the 1 hour conversations you have had with your clients and the stories you have been told. The good stuff, the bad stuff, and stuff you probably wish you had never heard in the first place.
Through it all remember: - Be a good listener. You have two ears and one mouth, use them appropriately
- Never lose your client’s trust, keep it confidential. Re-visit the NASM – Code of Ethics.
- Take it as a Compliment. Your client is probably telling you things that they don’t even tell their best friend
- Know your limitations and scope…you’re not a psychologist. Help them where you can, don’t try to help them where you can’t
- Most importantly, keep them focused…keep them wanting another session!
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| | By Tyler Wallace | Oct 23, 2008
Food for thought (pun intended)…why is it more confusing and expensive to eat healthier and/or eat less?
I was at a major sandwich chain the other day, ordered a 6 inch sub and it cost more than ordering the same thing in the 12-inch version.
Saw a promotion in a major Italian restaurant chain that had all-you-can-eat pasta cheaper than most of the meals on the menu…choose your sauce.
Why is organic food so expensive? It’s not like they have to spend money on pesticides, fertilizer or preservatives.
I could go on but you get the point. There are various business reasons why companies do this and it typically revolves around return on investment, not the health and well-being of the consumer. For your average client trying to improve their nutritional intake and reduce calories the marketing and messaging from companies can certainly be misleading and cost prohibitive. Do your best to help your clients make informed decisions and help influence positive behaviors…think better, eat less, move more!
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| | Are you Ready for the Holidays? By Jennifer Roberts | Oct 15, 2008 The natural ebb and flow of personal training becomes quite tumultuous during the holiday season. There are several considerations to be mindful of when planning your business for this time of the year. First, your client pool may become smaller or shallower as people save for holiday shopping, travel and attend parties. This may be a prime opportunity to hold a free small group training session in an attempt to recruit new clients during this period. After all, it is the perfect time to help someone lose that last stubborn five pounds to look great for their holiday events. Secondly, your regular clients need a cohesive plan to accommodate holiday eating and disruption in their training schedule. This is the optimal time to show your clients how valuable it is to continue training year round and maintain their progress as opposed to backsliding. Lastly, is the tidal wave of “New Year Resolutions” or “New Year Revolution” I like to call it where you can become overwhelmed with potential new clients. When accepting new clients remember there are only so many hours in the day, so you can’t train them all. In that, carefully screen possible clients for motivation and dedication so you can build a consistent schedule year round. Food for thought: If everyone who signed up for a gym membership in January actually came in and worked out with a trainer 3 times per week, it is likely obesity would no longer be an epidemic in America and we would truly have a health and fitness revolution.
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| | Functional Training By Chere Lucett | Oct 8, 2008  Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress. -Bruce Barton
In many subjects, change is often a word that ignites fear or excitement into its constituents. In light of today’s political atmosphere, it is a word that has been exhaustingly over-used and over-emphasized. However, in our field, change is the one word that best describes the magnificence of our industry. Just fifteen years ago, the fitness industry was a mere fledgling, waiting to take off into numerous directions as it has today. Looking back, and looking around in the present, the industry has grown as fast as technology, thanks in part to the passion of those guiding it.
Our clientele has changed as has our perspective and our approach. We now have specialized education to handle difficult client cases and information at our fingertips to enforce or enrich our knowledge base. The “old days” of men in a small, sweaty gym maxing out are in the minority to make way for women, people of all ages, and unlimited tools for working out in the truly amazing facilities. It is “change” that has incited the most meaningful conversations in our professional circles. For example, today, we see significant exchanges between traditionalists and those who have begun thinking of fitness outside the box. And while we will leave the debate for another day, the mere fact that we force conversation about the two distinct points of view shows an overall evolution of concepts and a reach toward the advancement of our industry. There is no doubt that the “change” that has hit our industry is a welcome addition.
NASM has been on the edge of the fitness frontier and has embraced the push towards innovation, following strong minds and fresh perspectives as the industry has matured. And it has been the “winds of change” that has moved us to ask the question – what change do we see ahead based on our current health epidemic and what will we do to provide our professionals with the best opportunity to succeed in the changing environment? While we can’t list all of our plans today, be sure that our goal is to provide you with the guidance and tools to navigate the road ahead.
In talking about “change” we have to ask – what change would you like to see happen in our industry and how will you be part of it?
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