Starting November 1, you can enroll, re-enroll, or change plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2016.
FYI 2016 plans and prices will be available to preview by the third week in October.
Take a few minutes to get ready now so you’ll be off to a great start when you log in as soon as November 1.
There are exercises that target your abs to help you get the rock-hard stomach you've always dreamed of. But if you really want to double-team belly bulge, then you'll need to eliminate sugar and processed carbs while also incorporating fat-burning foods into your diet. Keep reading to see which foods can help trim inches from your waistline.
This article will convey a proven technique of altering diet and exercise that affects the natural processes for muscle gain and fat loss. Further, the information contained herein will provide a limited understanding of the hormones that activate protein synthesis; the intracellular biochemical pistons that drive energy release and energy reserves; and, diet and exercise that affect these same hormones and intracellular chemicals. Further information will be provided on how certain chemicals impact hormones (endocrine disrupters) as well as the need for detox programs, which will be the topic of my next paper.
Gaining muscle and losing fat is natural to your body; i.e. innate within your physiology provided that you understand some foundational physiological principles. All growth, disease and death starts at the cellular level. Growth and fat burning begin with cellular messengers that cause protein synthesis or fat break down. The biochemistry behind break down, repair and growth of muscle fiber as well as the breakdown of fat for utilization of energy can be found at the following URL addresses (fat to energy) and, how muscles grow.
“Growth stimulating hormones and inhibition of fat gain occurs at a cellular level, triggered by a nucleotide, cyclic adenosine monophosphate cAMP”.1 cAMP triggers the release and actions of certain hormones. Hormones that are water soluble act on the cell membrane while hormones that are fat soluble act within the cell of the target tissue. Hormones that messenger to the cells of the target tissue will activate adenyl cyclase. This reaction then produces cAMP, which actually brings the effect of the hormone in the cell.
“Other chemical reactions occur in the cell causing enzymes to acquire phosphorous which in turn amplifies the action of cAMP, causing breakdown of glycogen stores in the liver and muscle and lipolysis (fat burning in fat cells). The reaction continues when cAMP activates protein kinase which catalyzes phosphorylation, activating a ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase. The polymerase will stimulate the production of RNA that acts as a messenger for protein synthesis. Additionally cAMP will cause the production of anabolic hormones such as steroid male hormones and growth hormones.”1
When energy is expended the body has innate chemical reactions that cause energy to be resupplied. The regaining of energy involves an external source, which is food. Eating the wrong food causing an imbalance of nutrients will impact the following innate cellular reaction. “Repairs at the cellular level are regulated by cyclic guanine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is insulin dependent and in turn inhibits the actions of cAMP. Under normal conditions these two are the pistons that drive the energy/growth cycle at the cellular level.”1
The energetics of expenditure and gain drive skeletal muscle growth when challenged by resistance training. The trauma/injury to the muscle fibers activates satellite cells, which are exterior to the muscle fibers between the basement membrane (basal lamina) and the plasma membrane (sarcolemma) of muscles fibers. Satellite cells are activated by muscle tears, causing the nucleus to replicate leaving some of the cell organelles on the muscle fiber while others fuse to muscle fibers to form new muscle protein stands (or myofibrils) and/or repair damaged fibers. (Charge and Rudnicki 2004).2
The understanding of muscle gain and fat breakdown is further understood by the actions of certain hormones within our endocrine system. The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.
Androgens (steroid hormones) are fat soluble, meaning they can pass into the cell’s nucleus, bind to specific receptors and genes and trigger the cell to make proteins. Steroid hormones moving through the cell cytoplasm will form a hormone/receptor that moves into the nucleus of the cell attaching to the DNA binding sites, activating protein-producing genes. Steroid hormones have a base structure made from cholesterol.
Corticoids are chemically related steroid hormones, being a fat molecule with a cholesterol polycyclic core. The adding and removing groups to the cholesterol polycyclic core is spurred by proteins called enzymes, causing the following chain of chemicals: pregnenolone (precursor to corticosteroids, mineral corticosteroids), 11-deoxycorticosterone (a steroid produced by adrenal gland that is a precursor to aldosterone), 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone then to corticosterone, cortisol and aldosterone.
The production of glucocorticoids and mineral corticoids occurs in the adrenal glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Glucocorticoids provide the energy (release glucose) by signaling the liver, fat and muscle to speed the breakdown of stored sugar, fat or protein. The signaling will soak up muscle proteins and fat from the blood and convert them to glucose.
Mineral corticoids regulate the minerals sodium and potassium and the hydrogen ion to maintain water balance. Usually sodium is retained while potassium and the hydrogen ion are excreted in the urine. As sodium is retained so is water, increasing blood volume and blood pressure. As these two increase sensors in the kidney will turn off mineral corticoids release, creating a balance; i.e. homeostasis within one’s blood pressure.
Another hormone that impacts energy is built on the amino acid tyrosine, having its structure populated with iodine atoms. These iodinated amino acids are clipped to form the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, with thyroxine being the most abundant thyroid hormone and triiodothyronine (T3) is being the most active thyroid hormone. Thyroid sensitive tissues receive T3 on the cell membrane and inside the cell on the organelle mitochondria or in the nucleus, activating chemical processes and protein producing genes that control cell energy and metabolic functions.
Other hormones include water-soluble polypeptide hormones such as insulin, growth hormone, and prolactin; all consisting of long chains of amino acids. The water-soluble hormones will bind on protein receptors on the surface of the cell, which in turn will activate enzymes and other cellular proteins affecting gene expression, regulating processes as metabolism, lactation, growth and reproduction.3
The balance (homeostasis) of energy, neuro-hormonal signaling is constantly challenged by environmental toxicants and life style (stress and eating habits). Therefore, before discussing the muscle gain/fat loss program there is a need to briefly explain how homeostasis is disrupted through chemical exposures and diet. The subject of toxicology takes years to master, thus restricting the following discussion to a few chemical categories.
The delicate balance and the biological functions of the aforementioned hormones are impacted by external environmental and occupational chemicals known as endocrine disrupters. These environmental pollutants include but are not limited to pesticides, plasticizers and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs will interfere with the body’s energy balance. They will interfere with iodide use and delivery affecting thyroid hormone processes. Additionally PCBs will alter thyroid delivery to body tissues by affecting the protein-binding transfer to thyroid sensitive tissues.4 In addition to PCBs interfering with thyroid transport proteins they will boost hormone destroying liver enzymes.5, 6, 7
Another endocrine disrupter is arsenic which interferes with glucocorticoids hormone-receptor
complexes, causing inhibition of gene transcription, believed to cause cancer.8,9 In toxicology there is a saying that the dose makes the poison, meaning there is a threshold dose below which will not cause an adverse effect on one’s physiology. However, with carcinogens and endocrine disrupters there is no threshold dose. Carcinogen exposures are structured into probabilistic formulas with acceptance criteria for human exposure to same that equates to a one-in-one million incremental increase of risk above background risk.
The aforementioned material on toxicants and their affect on hormones should stimulate one’s interest toward detoxification. In today’s environment detox programs are recommended as long as it is under the supervision of a health professional. Detox will be a topic for my next article.
The next primary factor that impacts homeostasis is diet. Foods that are ingested such as food altered genetically, having residual pesticides/herbicides, having been processed, containing high fructose, containing the wrong fats, browned to contain advanced glycation end products will affect the body’s innate biochemical program for muscle growth and fat loss. Therefore, it is important to consult a nutritionist to obtain knowledge on proper foods.
Nutrition will impact the two intracellular chemicals cAMP and cGMP. Restrictive/under eating coupled with cardio-exercise will cause cAMP to be a dominant factor in the cell, which in turn will cause adrenal and glucagon hormones to activate G-proteins, causing increase of cAMP.
Restoring the expenditure of energy through the ingestion of nutrient dense foods will trigger cGMP to activate cellular repairs. cGMP being insulin dependent will dampen the activity of cAMP and allow sugar to enter the cell, which in turn is used to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule critical to our inherent energy.
This cycle of energy expenditure and gain driven by cAMP and cGMP can malfunction by simply eating too often, to large of a meal and/or too many carbohydrates causing cGMP to increase which in turn inhibits cAMP. An increase of cGMP will inhibit the enzymes that break down fat and glycogen, causing fat deposits rather than fat burn. Prolonged increase of cGMP leads to a sluggish metabolism, weight gain, insulin resistance, fatigue, lack of energy and accelerated aging.
The intracellular chemical imbalance cascades into metabolic decline by involving thyroid hormones which are essential in maintaining and regulating the body’s metabolism. Triiodothyronine (T3) is the most active of the thyroid hormones. Approximately 85% of circulating T3 is produced by monodeiodination of thyroxine (T4) in tissues such as liver, muscle and kidney. Selenium and zinc are required for this process. Reverse T3 (rT3) is an inactive form of T3 that is produced in the body particularly during periods of stress. rT3 differs from T3 in that the missing deiodinated iodine is from the inner ring of the thyroxine molecule compared with outer ring on T3. [rT3 is measured by a blood test.]
Under normal conditions T4 will convert to both T3 and rT3 continually and the body eliminates rT3 quickly. Under certain conditions, more rT3 is produced and the desirable conversion of T4 to T3 decreases. This occurs during fasting, starvation, illness such as liver disease and during times of increased stress. rT3 competes with T3 as a substrate for the 5-deiodinase enzyme. This inhibits the conversion of T4 to T3, with more T4 being converted to more rT3. In effect prolonged periods of fasting, stress and other environmental factors shifts the cycle to rT3 leading to energy decline, metabolic imbalances, fat deposition, cycling the body into deficits, muscle loss and fat gain. Specifically, an increased production of rT3 is often seen in patients with disorders such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome and stress.10
The discussion on cAMP and cGMP along with androgens, corticosteroids and thyroid hormones was to favor an approach for maximum muscle gain and fat loss. The program that will accomplish maximum muscle gain and fat loss involves alternating a short period of restrictive diet concurrent with cardio exercise followed by short period of nutrient splurge and strength exercise cycled over a 30 day period. This program is summarized by two professionals, Dr. Mercola11 and Mr. Nick Nilsson12.
To lose fat, you need a caloric deficit and to build muscle you need a caloric surplus. If you try to do both at the same time, you may just remain exactly where you are. The key is to do the program in sessions that are consecutive and not concurrent. By alternating rapidly back and forth between reduced-calorie/fat loss circuit training and higher-calorie/mass-oriented strength training, you can achieve maximum fat loss and muscle gain. Proper manipulation of these factors will greatly enhance the body’s hormonal response to this program, which is the real key to maximizing your results.1, 11, and 12
Noteworthy is a precaution specific to imbalances that are caused by protracted fasting or extended carbohydrate loading. Extended periods of fasting or carbohydrate-loading will damage the biochemical processes that influence muscle gain and fat loss. For example, fasting for long periods will cause metabolic decline, causing an inactive thyroid (refer to rT3, above). The thyroid gland regulates energy production, body heat, fat burning and steroid hormone activity. When the body has a deficiency of energy for long periods there will be a metabolic decline.
References:
1Hofmekler, O. Maximum Muscle Minimum Fat. North Atlantic Books. 2008.
2Charge, S. B. P., and Rudnicki, M.A. (2004). Cellular and molecular regulation of muscle regeneration. Physiological Reviews, Volume 84, 209-238.
3Cato A, Nestl A, and Mink S. 2002. Rapid actions of steroid receptors in cellular signaling pathways. Science’s STKE 2002: re9
4Howdeshell KL. 2002. A model of the development of the brain as a construct of the thyroid system. Environmental Health Perspectives 110(Supp 3):337-348
5Moccia RD, Fox GA, and Britton A. 1986. A quantitative assessment of thyroid histopathology of herring gulls (Larus argentaltus) from the Great Lakes and a hypothesis on the causal role of environmental contaminants. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 22:60-70.
6Leatherland JF and Sonstegard RA. 1980. Structure of thyroid and adrenal glands in rats fed diets of Great Lakes coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Environmental Research 23(1):77-86.
7Zoeller RT, Bansal R, and Parris C. 2005. Bisphenol-A, an environmental contaminant that acts as a thyroid hormone receptor antagonist in vitro, increases serum thyroxine, and alters RC3/neurogranin expression in the developing rat brain. Endocrinology 146(2):607-612.
8Glennemeller K. and Denver R. 2001. Sublethal effects of chronic exposure to an organochlorine compound on northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) tadpoles. Environmental Toxicology 16:287-297.
9Kaltreider RC, Davis AM, Lariviere JP, and Hamilton JW. 2001. Arsenic alters the function of the glucocorticoid receptor as a transcription factor. Environmental Health Perspectives 109(March):245-251.
10Healthscope. Functional pathology. Practitioner Manual 2011
11Mercola, J. Nine Natural Ways to Boost Testosterone. July 28, 2012.
12 Nielson, N. How to Lose the Most Fat and Build the Most Muscle in 30 Days. BodyBuilding.com. Jan. 11, 2013.
The post A Natural Program Proven to Increase Muscle and Decrease Fat appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
For most fitness professionals, national certification is the first step toward laying the foundation for a successful career. Yet a simple web search will render dozens of certifying bodies with vastly varying degrees of credibility and requirements. Thus, when a consumer hires a personal trainer, or signs up for a group exercise class, there is no guarantee that the trainer or instructor has enough knowledge to help their new client safely achieve their goals. As a growing range of certifying bodies continues to flood the market, there is great disparity among the credentials of certified professionals.
In light of the variance in qualifications among fitness practitioners, there has been a movement afoot for the past several years to standardize baseline requirements for certification. Many feel that licensure provides a reasonable route to ensuring that fitness professionals universally provide the same quality of service, reducing the threat to client safety. Others feel that standardizing credentials through licensure will enable trainers and other fitness practitioners to demand more equitable wages. It could also potentially put fitness professionals on a par with other care providers, including physical and occupational therapists, and make clients eligible for insurance coverage for fitness services.
Most of us can agree that there should be some standard by which we measure qualifications. However, some argue that licensure is merely a mechanism to keep fitness practitioners from competing with therapists and other health care providers. Indeed, a recent effort to regulate personal trainers through licensure under the guise of consumer safety failed miserably in Washington D. C. There is no statistical evidence to support the argument that unlicensed trainers pose a threat to consumer health. Furthermore, the D.C. legislation was engineered by the Board of Physical Therapy, and critics argue that the proposed bill aimed to eliminate competition between fitness practitioners and physical therapists.
While most fitness practitioners agree that all certifications are not created equal, many worry that licensure will impose rigid standards that will bar many individuals from entering the industry, or from maintaining their current profession. Gym owners are concerned that wages will go up, cutting into their bottom lines. But in an industry where pay scales are as variant as credentials, it is difficult for ambitious fitness professionals to carve a career path that promises to provide long-term stability and upward mobility. Licensure could be the solution that makes fitness a viable career choice on a par with other health care services.
Whether you are thinking about a career in fitness, are a novice beginning your fitness career, or a seasoned veteran who has watched the industry evolve, the issue of licensure should command your attention. What do you think about standardizing credentials? Is licensure the way to go, or are there other solutions? Who should steer the path toward licensure and engineer legislation? Please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!
W.I.T.S. is dedicated to promoting professionalism in the fitness industry. We feel that fitness professionals should be able to build a life-long career, with pay scales equitable to other health care professions. We provide tools to help you build your business and grow your cash flow. To make the most out of your career, stay on the cutting edge with courses from the W.I.T.S. Fitness Business Institute, and visit our booth at the Club Industry Show, October 9-11, 2015 in Chicago.
Club Industry: Personal Trainer Licensing Remains a Topic of Discussion in the Industry
http://clubindustry.com/certificationeducation/personal-trainer-licensing-remains-topic-discussion-industry
Daily Signal: DC’s Plan to License Personal Trainers Hits a Snag
http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/25/dc-backs-away-from-plan-to-license-personal-trainers/
IDEA Health and Fitness Association: Licensing Debate: Personal Trainers, Group Fitness Instructors
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/personal-trainer-licensing-debate
*Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.
Emphasis
The primary muscles stressed in this movement are the chest muscles (pectoralis major and minor). The secondary muscles are the shoulders and triceps.
Starting Position
Place the pulleys of the cable machine slightly higher than your chest. Grab the handles of the two pulleys with a pronated grip (palms down). Step forward approximately two feet in front of the pulleys. Lean forward to a position where the cables are in line with your chest muscles. Push your chest out and squeeze your shoulder blades together. This will help to isolate your chest muscles. Place your feet with one foot in front of the other. Pull the handles down to a position where your elbows are in line with your shoulders, keeping a slight bend in your elbows.
Movement
Push your arms down and in until your hands are extended out in front of you about one inch apart. Contract your chest muscles hard during this movement. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, take two to three seconds to return your arms to the starting position.
Training Tips
Options
Warning Tips
Robert Bovee Certified Master PPT, RTS, ETS, FTS
As one of the most successful Professional Personal Trainers and Exercise/Fitness Therapists in the United States, Robert continues to remain at the forefront of the industry by providing his clients with a thorough education and the tools to implement that education. By improving his client’s physical health, strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness and nutritional habits, he is able to motivate them to lead longer, happier and more productive lives. Find out more about Robert and his personal training career and services, here.
The post How To Do Bent-Over Cable Crossovers appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
A gym is much like an adult playground, so it’s good to know how to get along with the others in the sandbox. Instead of building sandcastles, we’re building fit bodies.
I am a professional writer and a personal fitness trainer certified through National Federation of Professional Trainers. I published a book, Gym Etiquette 101, this summer and will be writing some blogs with snippets from my book. I hope you’ll follow along…no sand shovels or buckets needed, but you might want to keep a sense of humor close by.
The book offers 10 helpful tips for surviving and eventually loving a gym. I will share some of these in my blogs, as well as some of the illustrations created by Sloane Williams.
To give you some background, I did lots of research, interviews and observations before
writing the book. Through the power of social media, I surveyed people across the country and a few overseas to find out the top 15 complaints at a gym. I call them #gymfails. Most likely you have seen these if you are a gym rat; you may have even committed one or two.
Join me over the next several weeks as we begin walking through the ins and outs, dos and don’ts at a gym. Feel free to share the blogs with trainers, gym rats, gym rat wannabes and anybody else. Check out my book/website: www.gymetiquette101.com. You know you want lots of copies. See you in the gym!
The post Gym Etiquette 101: the pet peeves appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
If you’ve had any changes to your household income, it’s important to let the Marketplace know as soon as possible. Your new income can affect the health coverage or savings you’re eligible for.
I don’t normally vent online, but okay, for this topic, I’ll make an exception. I came across an article titled…”Certification is a Scam”. That’s what ‘they’ said. Who are ‘they’ you ask?? Well, maybe the same ‘they’ who wrote the same article a couple of years ago and got my goat. But, usually, ‘they’ are people with some kind of an agenda. In the case of personal trainer certification (which was the basis of the article that I read) I believe that ‘they’ are people who don’t think that the average consumer is responsible enough to educate themselves and make wise choices. Okay, maybe that’s harsh, but true. Unfortunately, in my view, the new social norm is a bunch of hand holding entitlement where everyone wins a trophy. Okay, maybe that’s even more harsh…but this is my personal opinion, I’m going with it. IMO, if you’re going to win a trophy, you better earn a trophy! So how does this circle back around to personal training? Well, as a potential client, if you’re going to ‘win’ a great trainer, then you should do your homework. ‘Interview’ your potential trainer, don’t commit until you know that they’re the trainer for you…and, for some icing on this cake, a savvy client should at least know that certification for personal trainers exists. There is a consumer responsibility in everything we purchase, why not training services? A lot of clients don’t even know that a trainer should be certified. And, on the flip side, as a trainer, you should educate your clients and potential clients on this subject. If you’re going to ‘win’ a successful personal training career, then be prepared to go beyond what the client assumes or expects…teach them. And also be prepared yourself to learn a thing or two along the way. We can live and learn, or we can research and learn.
First Things First…Getting Certified.
Certification is nothing new. People like to ‘dog’ on certification, or, better yet, get their cat certified to prove some crazy point. Come on, really?? I could enroll my dog (I don’t have a cat) to an online technical college if I was really committed to the scam. This doesn’t do it for me. And I doubt, after I get my dog certified as an Automotive Technician, that anyone will hire her. Just sayin. We could all pretend to be something we’re not if we really try hard enough. My point: certification isn’t the be-all end-all to life as a trainer, especially a successful life as a trainer – but it’s the start. Just like getting your Automotive Technician certification doesn’t mean you’re going to be the best darn mechanic in town and everyone’s going to be thrilled with your work. That proof is in the pudding. But if you want to be a mechanic, you have to start somewhere, so you get certified. And, as a consumer of mechanical services to my own personal vehicle, I’m going to ask around for recommendations, I might even look at my mechanic’s track record and I’m going to at least go in to that relationship with a good feeling that my mechanic knows what he’s doing…if not I could be in a world of hurt. But the risk that I took when I brought my car into the shop is partially mine. On the other side of that, if my car stalls out on the highway (and I live to tell about it), well then I’m going to make sure that my now ex-mechanic doesn’t work on any other car of anybody that I know…and I’m probably going to spend some time reporting, and poorly reviewing, him too.
Certification for validating the skill of the individual, where it pertains to job applicable knowledge, is nothing new – it’s just not the whole picture. The concept of certification has been around for a very, very long time. There are many types of certification across hundreds of different industries, it’s a pretty standard concept for establishing a baseline. Here’s why I say ‘Certification is NOT a scam':
We All Start Somewhere.
Every expert was once a beginner. You start with a desire for something, a strong passion to be better at something, to know more and grow in it – and then you have to take the first step. Certification is the first big step to getting serious. But to think that certification alone makes you an expert is just not true. The ‘certification is a scam’ argument works off the assumption that people equate certification with expert, and maybe that’s where the bigger problem lies. Maybe the focus should be on making clear what certification does do, instead of everything that it doesn’t. Certification offers a baseline, a foothold, a pre-qualifier to greatness (if you will), but it’s all up to the person getting certified to take it to the next level. Becoming an expert in anything (or even just ‘good’ at anything) takes experience, practice and continual education. To be certified opens the door, but you still have the whole house to walk through.
Certification Establishes a Baseline.
There has to be a baseline for just about everything, how else would we discern between two people that say they’re good at something? If it weren’t for certification, then what would be the baseline – a degree or a license perhaps? In my opinion, that may be a very good solution, for the aspiring expert, but what about the guy or gal just getting started? Should the enthusiast turned trainer have to spend a small fortune (or large fortune, depending on who has their hands in it) and wait to become an expert before they’re allowed to motivate me to work out? Since when is personal training rocket science?! Sure, it can be if you’re working towards expert level greatness and wanting to work in a medical facility, for example – but I think they call those Physical Therapists. For the trainer who is working hard to get their client great results, in their local gym or in their private studio, it’s not rocket science. Science constitutes about half of it, the other half is the person themselves. There are a lot of qualities that make a trainer great, like being a great motivator, an effective communicator, a person who cares about what they put into their body and how they train it, a person who leads by example, in and out of the gym – that’s at least half the job.
The Paper Isn’t the Person.
When you get certified, you get a certificate. This certificate tells people that you have passed a test. Plain and simple enough. Whether it be a degree or a license, you have to pass tests – to varying degrees of difficulty and quantity but, still, tests. My degree hangs on my wall, I got it in 2001 from a top-ranking business school, but, I’ll admit, I can’t remember too much about what I learned in my advanced math or brain wracking stat courses – it’s gone, poof. But what I can tell you is what I’ve learned in my business, at my job, in my industry and among my peers – because practice makes perfect (now don’t get me wrong, I’m nowhere near perfect, I just like the adage. It gets the message across). The time I spent in college was invaluable, I’ve never questioned that, but it doesn’t make me, me. If I left my position with NFPT and pursued another, my degree would get me an interview, but it wouldn’t get me the job. The paper isn’t the person.
So it’s time for me to get off of my soap box and bring it home. Reputable certifiers are not running a scam. Notice the qualifier. In every industry, ours being no exception, there are continuous improvements which should be made, no doubt about that. From our individual selves to companies to industries, we all need continual improvement and accountability. Standard setting is a good thing. With that, please note that my thoughts on the subject of ‘certification is NOT a scam’ does not reach so far out there that I mean every Tom, Dick and Harry who slaps the word ‘Certified’ on something makes it legit – not true. Insert sentiments on being a careful consumer here. I say again, standard setting of Certification Companies is a good thing. Solve the problem from the source, not after the outcome. Unfortunately, the challenge with standard setting of personal trainer certification companies is who gets to call them ‘worthy’ of being reputable? A bigger subject, for another time.
Certification is not a scam. It’s the people who prey on the misunderstanding or heedlessness of others who are scammers.
The post Personal Training Certification is NOT a Scam appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
Emphasis
The primary muscles stressed in this movement are the chest muscles (pectoralis major and minor). The secondary muscles stressed are the shoulders.
Starting Position
Grab a dumbbell in each hand and carefully lay on a decline bench (your head above your feet) with your arms extended up toward the ceiling. Push your chest up toward the ceiling and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
Movement
With your elbow slightly bent, take two to four seconds to lower the dumbbell out to the side until your elbows are level with your shoulders, keeping your wrists straight and your palms facing up toward the ceiling. Raise the dumbbells straight up to the starting position again, keeping your elbows slightly bent. Contract your chest hard before repeating the movement.
Training Tips
Warning Tips
Robert Bovee Certified Master PPT, RTS, ETS, FTS
As one of the most successful Professional Personal Trainers and Exercise/Fitness Therapists in the United States, Robert continues to remain at the forefront of the industry by providing his clients with a thorough education and the tools to implement that education. By improving his client’s physical health, strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness and nutritional habits, he is able to motivate them to lead longer, happier and more productive lives. Find out more about Robert and his personal training career and services, here.
The post How To Do Decline Bench Dumbbell Flyes appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
To help prepare you for those first hours, days, and weeks of life, here's a head-to-toe guide to newborn health.
Looking for an easy way to assess your client’s current level of cardio and aerobic efficiency? Using the talk test to identify their ventilatory threshold can help do just that. Plus, learning to apply this information gives you the details needed to design their personalized metabolic cardio programming to achieve the goals they are chasing.
Part one of this two-part cardio series provided the scientific background to understanding the metabolic significance of ventilatory threshold one (VT1). In this article, we will describe a simple field test used to measure VT1, then discuss programming around this marker for overall health and fitness – built using a basic 2-zone model. We will also discuss how training with this model provides benefits to many individuals, those with weight loss goals as well as athletes seeking to improve their aerobic efficiency for performance.
Determining VT1
This protocol aims to identify VT1, the intensity at which continuous talking becomes challenging. This signals a shift in our primary utilization of fuels from fats to carbohydrates, also reflecting a loss in aerobic efficiency (i.e., ability to sustain fat utilization) (1).
The talk test is relatively simple to administer although it may require minor pre-scripting in regards to what will be said for “talking” to simplify the testing procedure. The test, explained below, incrementally increases the exercise intensity. It requires a steady-state (SS) response at each stage before assessing the talk test challenge as VT1 is an aerobic marker (aerobic measures necessitate SS responses). This SS response is the plateau effect or leveling-off of heart rate response after 15 – 45 seconds of exercise at an increased intensity (2). The test modality (e.g., bike, treadmill) and margin of workload increases are ideally determined by individual preferences and conditioning levels (less conditioned requiring smaller increments). Follow the steps provided below to assess VT1:
* Gauging the Talk Challenge
- Easy – Comfortable – no compromise to talking; speaking in whole paragraphs, using longer sentences and words are not forced; chest does not appear to move significantly.
- Challenging – ability to only use shorter sentences where words are slightly forced, but not rushed; appearance of chest movement and mouth-breathing sound is more evident.
- Difficult – compromised talking where only very short sentences and phrases are possible; evident; words are forced and rushed; noticeable gasps for air in between words; chest moving significantly during ventilation; sound of ventilation (breathing) is clearly evident.
Individuals often mistake ‘difficult’ for ‘challenging’ – it is important to clearly differentiate the two; VT1 is associated with challenging talk (talk-threshold) whereas VT2 is associated with difficulty in speaking.
Table 1-1 provides an example of a continuous talk test performed using a treadmill with a preference for speed, which was incrementally increased every minute. After attaining SS at each stage, the individual’s HR and RPE were recorded as markers of intensity. Minute 7 represents this individual’s measure of VT1, yet the test proceeded through one more stage (minute 8) to validate the practitioner’s finding.
Table 1-1: A continuous talk test protocol example to determine VT1.
| Time | Speed | Talk Test | HR | RPE (10) |
| Warm-up: Min 1 – 3 | 4.0 mph | Easy | 117 | 3½ |
| Minute 4 | 5 mph | Easy | 125 | 4 |
| Minute 5 | 5.5 mph | Somewhat Easy | 133 | 5 |
| Minute 6 | 6.0 mph | Somewhat Easy | 138 | 6 |
| Minute 7 | 6.5 mph | Challenging | 142 | 6½ |
| Minute 8 | 7.0 mph | Difficult | 147 | 7 |
| Minute 9 – 11 | 4 mph | Cool down | 120 | 3 |
VT1 can vary between exercise modalities (e.g., treadmills, bikes) due to body orientation and the involvement of additional body parts, so consider individual exercise preferences when contemplating testing. If heart rate is used to measure VT1, also remember that it may be noticeably higher (as with any cardio test) if this test is conducted following resistance training. This is because of possible cardiovascular drift, an increase in HR attributed to reduced blood volume that accompanies the ‘muscle pump’ associated with resistance training which moves fluid (in blood) into the spaces between cells) (2).
Your Turn…
Now that you have reviewed a sample protocol to determine VT1, assess your own VT1, measuring HR preferably with a HR monitor. Map out your own protocol and achieve SS-HR at each stage before competing your own talk-test. Continue through incremental stages until you estimate VT1 as best as possible. Consider pushing yourself one additional level for validation purposes. Bear in mind that speaking out loud in a commercial facility may draw attention to yourself, so plan accordingly.
Key Benefits of VT1 Training
For individuals seeking to lose weight, they often participate in programs built around higher-intensities of exercise (e.g., high-intensity interval training- HIIT) believing this to be the best weight loss solution. But, consider these following points:
How about the athlete? Let’s use the following scenario to understand this issue. Take an athlete burning 20 kcal/minute (e.g., 170 lb. @ 8.8 mph) – this intensity favors more carbohydrate utilization than fats (e.g., 80% of fuel from carbohydrates):
So what are we to do? Ask the individual to slow down? Unlikely. What if his carbohydrate burn rate was dropped to 60% while maintaining that same exercise pace of 20 kcal/minute? How does this change his numbers and avoid glycogen depletion (now only needing 540 g over 3-hours)? Taking time to train athletes FIRST to become more aerobically efficient by building VT1 (i.e., burning more fats) is a critical off-season training strategy that will ultimately boost performance (2).
Programming with VT1
Figure 1-1 illustrates a systematic training model that begins by establishing aerobic efficiency as its foundation (for any health, fitness and performance goals), before pursuing anaerobic capacity and anaerobic power (aligned more with specific fitness or performance goals).
Figure 1-1: Systematic cardio training model
When targeting aerobic efficiency, we utilize a simple 2-zone training model:
This 2-zone model follows four programming guidelines:
Guideline #1: Determine your zone size (smaller are better). As illustrated in Figure 1-2, zones are determined using whichever markers of intensity are measured (e.g., 10 beats defining zones, 1 mph defining zones; 1 RPE defining zones).
Figure 1-2: Using HR or RPE to determine zones.
Guideline #2: Design a 4 – 6 week training cycles as VT1 should demonstrate a noticeable shift to higher intensities (i.e., burning more calories) within 12 – 15 sessions. For example VT1-HR may move from 142 bpm to 148 bpm.
Guideline #3: Build sessions around an Aerobic Interval (AI) training format. AI format incorporates specifically-timed work intervals in zone 2, followed by specifically-timed active recoveries in zone 1. The time spent in zone 2 provides the necessary overload to enhance fat utilization at higher intensities, but this requires SS within zone 2 to be attained. Subsequently, the zone 2 workload should be no shorter than 3 minutes to ensure SS-responses plus some overload on the energy pathways. Although SS training in zone 2 (as opposed to AI) can provide adequate overload, they can often be disengaging for some and drive poorer exercise experiences.
Guideline #4: Manipulate the training variables that follow the acronym FITR. The overall goal over the 12 – 15 session microcycle is to progressively spend a greater volume of time working in zone 2 and a shorter volume of time in recovery in zone 1.
Table 1-2: Examples of WTR Ratios when using a 4-minute work interval
| W-T-R Interval Ratio Example | Work (Zone 2) | Recovery (Zone 1) |
| 1:2 | 4 minutes > VT1-HR | 8 minutes < VT1-HR |
| 1:1 | 4 minutes > VT1-HR | 4 minutes < VT1-HR |
| 2:1 | 4 minutes > VT1-HR | 2 minutes < VT1-HR |
| 3:1 | 4 minutes > VT1-HR | 1½ minutes < VT1-HR |
| 4:1 | 4 minutes > VT1-HR | 1 minutes < VT1-HR |
After approximately 12-15 sessions, re-assess VT1 to determine whether it has moved into higher intensities. This represents improved aerobic efficiency – a greater number of calories expended each minute, but with a significant contribution being derived from fat.
In closing, as we strive to help clients achieve their unique goals, the ability to shift our programming to using markers unique to one’s individual metabolism enhances opportunities to promote better exercise experiences and attain results. Research over the past 10 – 15 years has provided such methodologies that have shifted our programming away from tools built off highly variable and flawed mathematical calculations (e.g., % maximal heart rate) towards more personalized metabolic events happening within the body. As our metabolism is as unique as our fingerprint, shouldn’t our methods for modifying metabolism be equally unique?
References:
The post New Programming Ideas for Traditional Cardio Exercise, Part 2 appeared first on NASM Blog.
With 2016 Open Enrollment starting November 1, it’s a great time to sign up for reminders and updates from the Health Insurance Marketplace about 2016 coverage.
Do you want to be more effective in getting your message across to clients? Or promote a class that you’re teaching? The way you communicate can make or break your ability to succeed in every day conversations. Cleaning up your vocabulary is a great way to “sell” yourself – and your ideas more effectively.
Read the sentence below:
“So, I’m teaching a little workshop this Wednesday. It’s for women in like their 40’s and 50’s. I just really want to help them with losing weight, you know. Do you um, want to sign up?”
How many “filler words” can you count in the statement above?
There are six words that don’t need to be in that sentence. Why do people say “like”, “um” and “just” when they’re talking? My guess is that they do it in place of a PAUSE. Perhaps it’s our fast-paced, multi-tasking society, trying to get the message across quickly. For some reason, it seems easier to talk fast than to PAUSE and gather thoughts.
“So, I’m teaching a little workshop this Wednesday. It’s for women in like their 40’s and 50’s. I just really want to help them with losing weight, you know. Do you um, want to sign up?”
When you’re busy blowing over your words, you might lose your listeners full attention or confuse them. These extra words can make it hard for people to follow along with you. They might even tune you out.
Here is the sentence above without fillers, does it feel different this way? More confident? More clear?
“Jamie, I’m teaching an awesome workshop this Wednesday. It’s for women in their 40’s and 50’s. I’m excited to to help them with losing weight. Are you free?”
Find one or two words that you overuse and then work toward reducing your use of them and pausing instead. Or, find more powerful words to replace them, like the ones above. “Awesome” and “excited” are two examples. Of course, those words can also get over-used and then you’ll sound like a cheerleader! Awesome! It’s a step in the right direction…
Once you’ve cleaned up your word choices, you’ll get your message across more clearly and confidently. It’s not that you need to eliminate these words. Instead, use them less frequently and not all in one sentence. Add pauses into your dialogue and it will allow you to make better word choices.
Seven Words That Act as Fillers and Their Impact
#1 So. People start their sentences with this word. “So, I went to the grocery store yesterday.” It’s unnecessary. They also use it to place emphasis, “I’m sooooo happy!” It works, but can be overdone. “I’m so happy. We get to go hiking and it’s so cool. So, do you want to come?” You get the point. It happens.
#2 Just. “I just want to get more clients.” vs. “I just went to the market.” Do you see the difference? The first use of “just” is to add drama. It also sounds whiny. The second use is appropriate because it’s describing an action that happened recently.
Try this: “My schedule is usually full, but I have a few spots available. Do you know anyone who is looking for a trainer?” This is much better than “I just want to get more clients.” See how whiny it is?
#3 Like. Teenagers and valley girls are not the only ones over-using this word. It’s often heard when someone is trying to find the word that they really want to say. It’s a filler for lack of vocabulary. “It’s like….” “Oh, it’s like…. what’s the word I’m looking for?”
Stop saying this word so much and you’ll sound more educated, without having to get a degree!
Pause while you search for the right words to say. It allows the listener a break to gather their thoughts.
#4 You Know. These two words often become a phrase that seeks approval. Ideally, they’re used to clarify if the listener understands. “You know what I mean?” This is great, if you can wait for a response – but many people keep talking after asking this question.
Its especially frustrating when speakers say this to an audience and the answer to that question is, “No, I don’t know what you mean” but can’t reply. People also say “you know” in the middle of sentences and it’s usually when they’re not feeling confident. Listen and you’ll hear what I mean. Know what I mean? (ha ha)
Examples:
“I’ve been out hiking in the mountains, you know.”
“We went to that new grocery store and then the sun was setting, so we stopped at the place, you know – where people run a lot by the beach.”
“I think she is trying to convey that she’s frustrated, you know?”
Try This: Read the above sentences without “you know”. You’ll see it doesn’t need to be there.
#5 – I mean. These two words are often paired with #4, but show up on their own. “I mean, yeah I want to go.”
#6 – Um/Uh. Obvious, but everywhere. It pollutes the English language. Pause people. Please!?!?
#7 – Little. This is often used when talking about something you want to make smaller. As the example in the beginning demonstrated, it’s not good to use when talking about an event you want people to attend!
I’ve caught myself saying this when I don’t want to intimidate the other person. “It’s just a little convention I’m speaking at.” NO! “I’m speaking at a wellness convention with leaders from around the region.” Two completely different outcomes!
Remember, these words aren’t bad, they’re extras. Reducing use of them can bring more flow to your speech and force you to pause more often to collect your thoughts.
Which word do you use the most? Tell us in the comments below!
How will you work to reduce it’s use?
The post Personal Training Client Communication: 7 Words That Interfere appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
What started out as a search to cure chronic and fatal diseases, gene doping has been making its way into the arena of sports performance. Many of the risks are unknown and possibly uncontrollable, yet the potential of improved muscle strength, endurance, oxygen delivery, and reduction of pain perception could be enticing for those searching for a competitive edge. But does this hard to detect gene-altering intervention take cheating too far?
Could you imagine seeing ad like this?
“Attention sports dopers everywhere: Why inject the hormone when, better yet, you can inject the gene that encodes for that hormone? It’s as simple as (and as complex as) having genes injected into your body that will produce higher levels of strength and stamina-boosting hormones. You’ll soon scoff at old, detectable doping methods, as scientists reiterate the difficulties of detecting your manipulated DNA (1-5).”
It sure sounds irresistible, which is why gene therapy is the newest medical phenomenon primed for use by athletes. But will the rewards of gene doping be worth the risks? The use of gene therapy – in patients with life-threatening diseases – is, after all, still in its infancy, and some clinical trials have gone awry. Yet if we’re to be instructed by history, then the answer is yes – sports teams and institutions have always been willing (and financially able) to try illegal, and untested, substances if the potential outcome is victory (1).
Gene Therapy
Over the past few decades, scientists have made great strides in the area of genomics, with the expectation that it would revolutionize medicine. Gene therapy is one perfect example – a treatment that could cure chronic and fatal diseases by altering a person’s genetic make-up (1). This is how it works:
A sick person is injected with a gene that will begin encoding for a specific protein that has the ability to overturn their illness (1). This specially prepared dose of genetic material, also called a vector, is injected via a de-activated virus, then travels to the target cells (or, it can be injected directly into the target organ) where it will turn on, and begin encoding (1). Once injected, the gene could take days to activate, or in some cases, months or even years (1).
The World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) saw gene therapy as a threat to sport ethics in the very early stages of its development. In 2003, WADA added genetic modification to the list of banned substances and practices for competitive athletes, and began ardently seeking detection methods (1).
Misuse By Athletes
Diseases that show promise with gene therapy treatment include anemia, muscular dystrophy, heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease (1). Interestingly, the benefits of therapy for these ailments coincides beautifully with the parameters of athletic performance – improved muscular strength, increased quantity of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, quicker return to sport from injury, and prolonged athletic careers (1,3,4).
In their review article, Haisma et al. listed the gene therapies they considered most feasible for use in athletics (*noted to have the highest plausibility in terms of safety and effectiveness):
The Dangers of Gene Doping
New genetic therapies will be enticing to athletes thanks to the seemingly low (to no) risk of getting caught (1,2,3,4,5). (Although WADA claims that after a decade of research they’ve developed viable detection methods (4)). Proteins created by the transgene would look identical to the ones individuals already carry, and site-specific vectors (those injected directly into the target organ, like muscle) would be particularly hard to spot since they wouldn’t show up in the athlete’s urine or blood (1).
But what are the risks of this potentially undetectable performance boost? They’re indeed greater than athletes may know. First off, they make not work. In two notable animal trials, researchers observed a complete reversal of the intended enhancement. Monkeys delivered the EPO gene developed severe anemia following an autoimmune response to the artificially-produced protein (1,2). In another study, mice given a gene that coded for a myostatin blocker (to stimulate muscle growth) displayed reduced muscle force and overall stamina than control mice (2).
Athletes may also get too much of a good thing. Once injected, controlling the expression of the gene can be difficult (i.e., how much and for how long). An overexpression of EPO, for instance, could over-produce red blood cells, resulting in blood so thick that it’s comparable to sludge (1,2). Or, raising an athlete’s GH or IGF-1 levels – known mitogens that stimulate cell division – could create a carcinogenic effect (2).
Then there are the means by which athletes might obtain genetic materials. In government-approved trials, injectable viruses are heavily tested for toxicity and contamination. Illicit lab standards may prove less stringent, resulting in athletes receiving “dirty” doses (1).
Lastly, gene doping is a public health issue. For a short time post-injection, athletes can pass vectors to other people, through saliva, blood, and feces. In authorized treatments, patients injected with genetic material aren’t permitted to leave clinical care until the vectors become undetectable in their body fluids (1). Another public danger is the formation of new viruses if adequate care and precautions are not exercised by the scientists preparing the athletes’ dose (1).
Prevention of Gene Doping
What we know is that sports teams and institutions could find scientists to illegally prepare the synthetic genes and inject them into their athletes. But if coaches and athletes knew the risks, would they really bother? Creating awareness about gene doping would hopefully moderate future practice. Educators should emphasize the health risks, as well as the potential unknown effects posed by scientists (1): Will altered athletes pass their genetic manipulations on to their children? Will healthy athletes experience side effects not displayed by the sick? What happens to these athletes in the long term, post-alteration? With any luck, we’ll never know.
References:
The post Gene Doping: Are the Risks Worth the Rewards? appeared first on NASM Blog.
19th century and early 20th century life was much different than today. Work was hard and laborious and typically extended from sunrise to sunset. There was little time for recreational activity and of course just about all of the modern luxuries that we take for granted today did not exist. For many, life during this time was limited to completing chores and surviving the elements.
One such element that many people faced was sickness due to infectious diseases. People got sick from measles, scarlet fever, typhoid, whooping cough and other nasty diseases that there was no preventing or curing with medicines (mostly because they didn’t exist). This was an era of ‘the strong (or lucky) survive’ and it came with little talk about fitness, health promotion or disease prevention. The progressive thinking of that time was actually the opposite of today’s ‘get fit’ theme…it was a ‘don’t work yourself to death’ theme. Vigorous physical labor coupled with limited resources and rampant illness left more people needing to rest their bodies than work them out.
In fact, the word ‘fitness’ wasn’t even used because people just lived ‘fitness’. Fitness wasn’t something they had to work into their schedules or do for the purpose of getting a good workout, because it just was. The term ‘Physical Culture‘ was coined more frequently in the 19th and early 20th centuries to describe what we now refer to as ‘fitness’. Thanks to some revolutionary periods of time, like the Industrial Revolution and the California Gold Rush, the transition from farm to city life was prominent. The Physical Culture lifestyle took on more meaning. It was slowly being understood and recognized as a part of life that didn’t have to exist for survival but instead existed for mental and physical health and well-being. But this shift in thinking came about slowly and exponentially alongside better working conditions for laborers, coupled also with medical science advancements. City folk may not have been plowing fields any longer, but they were still working an estimated average of 60+ hours per week in grueling conditions. Preventative methods for thwarting off illness, though improving, were still very, very limited. Much like any other time in history, today included, it took the ingenuity and passionate spirit of man (meant in the general sense, like hu’man’) to start something great and get people thinking and doing. In my next ‘100 Years in Fitness’ fun-fitness-factoid I will talk about some 20th century pioneers (the noun and verb forms…’pioneers’ who ‘pioneered’) who built the foundation of what we could call modern ‘Physical Culture’….a.k.a. ‘Fitness‘.
The post 100 Years of Fitness: the Physical Culture appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
Whether we like it or not, society has a lot of feelings about overweight people. Take, for example, the recent drama surrounding Nicole Arbour's "Dear Fat People" video, which contained hurtful stereotypes about obese people. To address these types of harmful ideas about others, BuzzFeed found five self-proclaimed fat folks to complete the sentence, "I'm fat, but I'm not . . . " on camera. Ranging from "I'm fat, but I eat less than my skinny male friends - metabolism's a b*tch," to "I'm fat, and I look good naked," their enlightening responses will make you smile. Banish all your pesky, preconceived notions about overweight people and press play!
Most gyms charge trainers a monthly rent or percentage of income in exchange for using their space and services. The numbers can get confusing, but taking the time to understand them can save you money. Knowing how to do the math and adjust the numbers helps you negotiate gym rent wisely, with confidence.
Whether you’re looking for a gym space for the first time or re-evaluating your current situation, follow these steps. A little preparation goes a long way.
7 Steps to Prepare for Negotiation
1) Find out what the gym fees are and any options available (rent vs. percentage).
2) Find out what the average session price is at the gym or in the general area.
3) Choose your session rate based on #2 and what you feel you’re worth (education, certifications, experience factored in).
4) Plug in the numbers and compare any options available at that gym and others.
5) Know what your income needs are (see below for help).
6) Change the numbers to meet your needs (remember to subtract ~20% for taxes).
7) Return to the gym and negotiate.
You’ve got to earn a living and the gym knows this. The more organized you are, the easier it is to make your case to a gym owner and negotiate a reasonable rate. When they see you understand numbers, it shows you’re on your game and responsible.
Some gyms are willing to set up a starting rate/fee and gradually charge you less as time passes. They may want to see your commitment and income earning capability before they “pay you more”. Especially, if they get a lot of traffic and referrals, bringing you more business.
When I started personal training, I found it worth it to pay higher rent while building my business. If you’re already established with a full clientele, you might be able to negotiate rent to be lower.
What are your monthly expenses?
A surprising number of my business coaching clients aren’t sure how much money is ESSENTIAL for them to live. They spend more money than they need each month on things like coffee, alcohol, clothing, water, etc. Going back to step #5 from above, keep your receipts for a month or two and find out the truth. Or, use credit card statements and your bank account to estimate expenses from last month.
Knowing what you really need to earn a living is a great way to keep more of the money you earn and essentially become more wealthy.
Keep track of your finances the way you do your eating habits and they will both be healthy as can be!
Happy Negotiating…
Let us know if you have any questions or thoughts in the comments below
See Renting Gym Space as a Personal Trainer for more on the numbers.
The post Negotiating Gym Rent As a Personal Trainer appeared first on The NFPT Blog.
Wonder if you qualify for savings on health insurance?
We’ve created a quick and easy tool to help. Just enter your state and the number of people in your household.
In a nutshell, professionalism is the image that your project to the public, and that image has many sub-parts. Your appearance, grooming, behavior, mannerisms and likability are all important factors that contribute to your professional image. But it is not just your superficial attributes that single you out as a true professional. In an article for the IDEA Health and Fitness Association, Peter Twist, president and CEO of Twist Conditioning, offers some insight into the less overt components of fitness professionalism. He identifies scope of knowledge, commitment to lifelong learning, core values like integrity and ethics, a confident but respectful attitude, and good business savvy as some of the markers of a dedicated fitness professional.
Maintaining your credentials by pursing continuing education and professional development are fundamental to professionalism in the fitness industry. Clients count on your knowledge and expertise to help them reach their goals without injury. In an industry where sweating is part of your job description, you may find it challenging to find a balance between professional appearance and job performance. Good personal hygiene, clean and modest clothing in good condition, clean professional footwear, and neatly groomed hair all serve to offset the rigors of what is a highly physical job.
The focused and personal nature of training often leads to a level of social intimacy between you and your clients that can easily erode your professional boundaries. The finesse of preserving the fine line between your personal and professional life is an essential skill for a fitness professional. Maintaining confidentiality with what your clients tell you, while refraining from oversharing about your own personal life, will help to keep your professional parameters intact. Using discretion when communicating is also key. Choose your words wisely, concretely conveying what you mean. Do not use profanity or colloquial language while interacting with clients. Use correct grammar, enunciate your words, and make good eye contact when speaking to others.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a novice, the fitness industry promises increasing opportunities for professional growth and career success. However, in order to gain and keep the respect of the public, we must all hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. In the near future, you can expect to see the bar raised for professional credentials and baseline qualifications. Our industry will be scrutinized for evidence that we deserve a place at the table with other health care providers. The measures that you take today to improve your professional image can play an important role in helping you secure a rewarding and lucrative life-long career in the future.
W.I.T.S. is dedicated to promoting professionalism in the fitness industry. We feel that fitness professionals should be able to build a life-long career, with pay scales equitable to other health care professions. We provide tools to help you build your business and grow your cash flow. To make the most out of your career, stay on the cutting edge with courses from the W.I.T.S. Fitness Business Institute, and visit our booth at the Club Industry Show, October 9-11, 2015, in Chicago.
ACE Fitness: The Dos and Don’ts of Being a Professional in the Fitness Industry
https://www.acefitness.org/blog/4980/the-dos-and-don-ts-of-being-a-professional-in-the
Harvard Business Review: What Does Professionalism Look Like?
https://hbr.org/2014/03/what-does-professionalism-look-like/
IDEA Health and Fitness Association: Professionalism in a Service Industry
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/professionalism-service-industry
*Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.
