Becoming a personal trainer

aprylkemper

I've been thinking about trying to be a personal trainer part-time (as I have a great job that I enjoy) and was wondering if anyone out there in this great community has any advice for exploring that. What certification would be worth getting, if any, and what's the best way to get started?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :happy:

Peanutmanda

Bump

Peep_chic

I'm curious about it too!

plagirl227

Bump

notoriousgtt

This is what I am working towards at the moment and I am managing to fit it around work so far.

I'm at college doing a level 2 gym instructor course at the moment, that will lead on to a NASM level 3 Personal Trainer course which is what most gyms etc look for when they are employing personal trainers.

If you need any more info feel free to PM me.

emilydmac

what does it mean when people say "bump"?

registers

I've been thinking about trying to be a personal trainer part-time (as I have a great job that I enjoy) and was wondering if anyone out there in this great community has any advice for exploring that. What certification would be worth getting, if any, and what's the best way to get started?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :happy:

NASM is the most respected. There are many others CSCS, ACE is good too. My friends who are personal trainers, have many certificates not just one. They work as personal trainers.

Getting started, there is a dvd and book set for the NASM. That's how I got started. I highly recommend understanding how macro nutrients work, talking about things like Gherln and GH relationships, glucagon, insulin. How diet affects that stuff. Once you know that stuff, you're realize that most of the stuff in the health and fitness community is just pure bs. Most of the tips and advice is marketing, pretty much people are brain washed with misinformation. Sorry for sounding so negative, but that's just how i feel. Even my friends who are PT's, don't really how to manipulate diet for maximum results. Some of them have like 5 certifications. I think that nutritional science is highly important. So we can pass the right information to the clients.

You can't be too ridged with your approach to training someone. If you went through the complete NASM protocol, you can end up training someone for 3hrs. It's just crazy.

BigBoneSista

Thank you for the info. I was going to inquire about this as well. I am thinking about going back to college to get my degree to be a dietician but I also want to be a fitness trainer so I can give my clients the best info as possible. Checking out the NASM website now.

registers

haha I found this webpage. This guy has been a trainer for a long time. I quote him, "Please people relax.I have been a trainer for 16 years.I train a pro hockey player.I give seminars to various school districts sports coaches.I am a successful trainer.You never need a cert from anywhere to be great at what you do.As long as you are able to learn the information on your own and have reasonable intelligence you will be fine.Most of what tests ask you is so far removed from being of any importance.Geez a sample question from NASM asks how many ACL injuries happen every year.Believe me that has no bearing.So too for many other questions.Just read everything you can and be perceptive of your clients actions.NASM needs to take off the lab coat and grab a pair of lifting straps. "

It's good advice, that's why i mentioned to learn about nutrition on your own, expand yourself beyond the certification, which ever you choose.

jend114

I've been thinking about trying to be a personal trainer part-time (as I have a great job that I enjoy) and was wondering if anyone out there in this great community has any advice for exploring that. What certification would be worth getting, if any, and what's the best way to get started?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :happy:

NASM is the most respected. There are many others CSCS, ACE is good too. My friends who are personal trainers, have many certificates not just one. They work as personal trainers.

Getting started, there is a dvd and book set for the NASM. That's how I got started. I highly recommend understanding how macro nutrients work, talking about things like Gherln and GH relationships, glucagon, insulin. How diet affects that stuff. Once you know that stuff, you're realize that most of the stuff in the health and fitness community is just pure bs. Most of the tips and advice is marketing, pretty much people are brain washed with misinformation. Sorry for sounding so negative, but that's just how i feel. Even my friends who are PT's, don't really how to manipulate diet for maximum results. Some of them have like 5 certifications. I think that nutritional science is highly important. So we can pass the right information to the clients.

You can't be too ridged with your approach to training someone. If you went through the complete NASM protocol, you can end up training someone for 3hrs. It's just crazy.

Was it this dvd and book set? http://www.nasm.org/1/shop/fitness/Introduction_to_Personal_Fitness_Training_Course/

bbush18

[/quote]

NASM is the most respected. There are many others CSCS, ACE is good too. My friends who are personal trainers, have many certificates not just one. They work as personal trainers.

Getting started, there is a dvd and book set for the NASM. That's how I got started. I highly recommend understanding how macro nutrients work, talking about things like Gherln and GH relationships, glucagon, insulin. How diet affects that stuff. Once you know that stuff, you're realize that most of the stuff in the health and fitness community is just pure bs. Most of the tips and advice is marketing, pretty much people are brain washed with misinformation. Sorry for sounding so negative, but that's just how i feel. Even my friends who are PT's, don't really how to manipulate diet for maximum results. Some of them have like 5 certifications. I think that nutritional science is highly important. So we can pass the right information to the clients.

You can't be too ridged with your approach to training someone. If you went through the complete NASM protocol, you can end up training someone for 3hrs. It's just crazy.
[/quote]

i agree! the thought of becoming a personal trainer has crossed my mind several times, at least once during my daily workouts! but i honestly believe that most of it is BS and it's all about learning how the body works and the food you use to fuel it. and as far as workout regimens go...it's all about form and consistency to your healthy lifestyle. so i think about getting my degree in nutrition...just a thought!

registers

I've been thinking about trying to be a personal trainer part-time (as I have a great job that I enjoy) and was wondering if anyone out there in this great community has any advice for exploring that. What certification would be worth getting, if any, and what's the best way to get started?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :happy:

NASM is the most respected. There are many others CSCS, ACE is good too. My friends who are personal trainers, have many certificates not just one. They work as personal trainers.

Getting started, there is a dvd and book set for the NASM. That's how I got started. I highly recommend understanding how macro nutrients work, talking about things like Gherln and GH relationships, glucagon, insulin. How diet affects that stuff. Once you know that stuff, you're realize that most of the stuff in the health and fitness community is just pure bs. Most of the tips and advice is marketing, pretty much people are brain washed with misinformation. Sorry for sounding so negative, but that's just how i feel. Even my friends who are PT's, don't really how to manipulate diet for maximum results. Some of them have like 5 certifications. I think that nutritional science is highly important. So we can pass the right information to the clients.

You can't be too ridged with your approach to training someone. If you went through the complete NASM protocol, you can end up training someone for 3hrs. It's just crazy.

Was it this dvd and book set? http://www.nasm.org/1/shop/fitness/Introduction_to_Personal_Fitness_Training_Course/

This is a tough one to answer, I don't know. I didn't get the set by ordinary means. What the package contains looks right on. I believe that is it, but not absolutely sure.

registers

i agree! the thought of becoming a personal trainer has crossed my mind several times, at least once during my daily workouts! but i honestly believe that most of it is BS and it's all about learning how the body works and the food you use to fuel it. and as far as workout regimens go...it's all about form and consistency to your healthy lifestyle. so i think about getting my degree in nutrition...just a thought!

This brought up a very good point, why do you want to be a PT? Is it for yourself, or to help other people with fitness, or what? I do understand if you want to be a PT to help athletic performance, that makes sense. I mean how hard is it to lift a weight, you know? There are some things you will learn, like stabilization exercises, and keeping proper muscular balance. I never seen anyone talk about that, except NASM. While I was working on my NASM CPT course I was being trained by a friend of mine who was already certified by NASM. Not once have i seen any trainer work on stabilization exercises or balance exercises.
Before him i was working with someone else who was also certified by NASM. He started me out with plyrometic exercises. Which is one of the last steps in periodization. I confronted him on it, i am like "why you having me doing these exercises, they're part of the power phase?" he said "because it trains multiple fiber types at one time, they're very effective." He did make a very good point. I am just trying to say is that, what you learn more than likely won't be applied in the real world the way you learned it.

I am currently doing a double major right now, computer science and chemistry. I am fascinated by chemistry, computer science, i just been good at it. It's really easy for me. If I just something to fall back on if the chemistry industry gets tough. As I learn more, I want to get in to more of a biochemical approach to fitness. Learning to manipulate biochemicals for maximum performance with diet and exercise techniques. This might be more along the lines of nutritional science. To understand how poweful this really is. I lost 20lbs in 3 weeks, on week 2 i was really tied down with finals for school. I barely exercised, and on week 3 I injured my back. I pretty much exercised for 1 week, and i lost 20lbs. I think that's crazy, still shocked by the results.

LJSpady

bump-


usually when people "bump" something, they're trying to make sure the topic stays current, i.e. stays on the recent posts list, or they want it to show up in their "my topics" section so they can come back to it later.

aprylkemper

This is something I've wanted to explore because, in my experience with personal trainers, you pay them lots of money and the only aspect they ever hit is the exercise part, which is important but only a piece of a much larger puzzle of helping someone get into shape and stay in shape. I truly believe what's been lacking is along with the exercise, holding someone accountable to food choices and really helping them understand how they got out of shape, how to stay motivated and how to set goals that will help them do it on their own after the personal training is over.
I want to help people stop believing the hype of every new diet 'miracle' that comes along and commit to a lifelong change. I would like to look into a certification in order to assist in getting clients but I agree that the food side of things is just as, if not more important than the exercise.
Plus, I have been working to make myself an expert in all that over the past year and it would be rewarding to 'pay it forward'

registers

This is something I've wanted to explore because, in my experience with personal trainers, you pay them lots of money and the only aspect they ever hit is the exercise part, which is important but only a piece of a much larger puzzle of helping someone get into shape and stay in shape. I truly believe what's been lacking is along with the exercise, holding someone accountable to food choices and really helping them understand how they got out of shape, how to stay motivated and how to set goals that will help them do it on their own after the personal training is over.
I want to help people stop believing the hype of every new diet 'miracle' that comes along and commit to a lifelong change. I would like to look into a certification in order to assist in getting clients but I agree that the food side of things is just as, if not more important than the exercise.
Plus, I have been working to make myself an expert in all that over the past year and it would be rewarding to 'pay it forward'

I am with you, that is what i do. I bust the myths in the fitness community. I do get a lot of opposition, when i state my point with evidence and common sense, they just have a tendency to argue that's not even on the subject. Below are some links you might enjoy that bust most of the myths dead in their tracks.

Common myths are "you need to eat 6 times a day to speed up your metabolism and burn more fat", "you will go in to starvation mode if you don't eat enough calories", "breakfast is the most important meal of the day"

fasting burns 5 times more fat.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12051710


resistance training and fasting, weight is
perserved, insulin is down
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/5/684

Weight training prevents muscle loss on a low
calorie diet
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10204826

Multiple feedings has no effect on the BMR or
Active metabolic rate
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8399092

gherlin triggers Growth Hormone (gherlin is the biochemical associated with hunger, GH burns a lot of fat)
http://ajpendo.physiology.org/content/293/3/E819.full


breakfast slows down fat oxidation
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10967612

fasting longer than 6hrs increses fat oxidation
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15212756

Low fat high carb diet lowers fat oxidation
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11171592

JDMPWR

I've been thinking about trying to be a personal trainer part-time (as I have a great job that I enjoy) and was wondering if anyone out there in this great community has any advice for exploring that. What certification would be worth getting, if any, and what's the best way to get started?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :happy:

NASM is the most respected. There are many others CSCS, ACE is good too. My friends who are personal trainers, have many certificates not just one. They work as personal trainers.

Getting started, there is a dvd and book set for the NASM. That's how I got started. I highly recommend understanding how macro nutrients work, talking about things like Gherln and GH relationships, glucagon, insulin. How diet affects that stuff. Once you know that stuff, you're realize that most of the stuff in the health and fitness community is just pure bs. Most of the tips and advice is marketing, pretty much people are brain washed with misinformation. Sorry for sounding so negative, but that's just how i feel. Even my friends who are PT's, don't really how to manipulate diet for maximum results. Some of them have like 5 certifications. I think that nutritional science is highly important. So we can pass the right information to the clients.

You can't be too ridged with your approach to training someone. If you went through the complete NASM protocol, you can end up training someone for 3hrs. It's just crazy.

More stuff you read on the internet?

BigBoneSista

My main reason is to help severly obese people who feel like they are helpless when it comes to weight issues. They want to reach their goals but because of the lack of knowledge and support they are prone to fail before they even begin. My plan is to seek out a physchologist that will team up with me so that I can offer a full circle of support for my clients. If I set it up correctly I may even be able to have the insurance companies pay for the cost of training instead of it coming out of the patient's pocket. If not I will try to keep the cost at a minimum because I think helping save someone life weighs more than money on a much higher level.

I feel like since I've been there both emotionally & physically I could be a great help to others. I'm trying to play it forward.

natskedat

I earned my certification through ISSA and thoroughly enjoyed the program. I balanced work and mothering to achieve this dream. While ISSA might not be the "most respected" program, I learned a lot and have continued to educate myself. Graduation from Harvard does not ensure success. Hard work and dilligence is the name of the game.

The PT is a perpetual student. In addition to remaining abreast of current news, information, studies, and breakthoughs in the world of sports fitness, I must continue to take classes to retain my certification. I have to stay current!

I view my job as a map-provider. My clients tell me where they want to go, and I provide a healthy, sensible, sustainable plan for their success. They do all the work! My job is satisfying. I help people break through old, unhealthy, self-confidence diminishing habits to find new-and-improved selves. I help people feel "worth" the time it takes. I'm a cheerleader. I'm a nurturer. I'm understanding, but I'm not a very good sounding board for excuses. I'll help you get there, and I will cheer the loudest along the way! But my clients have to do the work for themselves. Few things satisfy me more than a client who achieves their own success!

If you love people, do it. If you feel a drive to improve people's lives, do it. If you love solving puzzles, do it. If you're willing to dole out tough love, do it. If you are kind and loving, and really want to make a difference in the lives of individuals, their families, and their futures, do it.

Honestly, I'm living the dream. OK, off to work!

aprylkemper

i love it - wonderful sentiments! I agree with all of that. It isn't something I ever pictured doing but it has been pulling at my heart for the last 6 months or so. Seeing so many people on here struggle, seeing so many people in my everyday life that are frustrated, disappointed and alienated by fitness and nutrition I really want to help.
I am a CPA, so I am completely used to the continuing education plus I am the nerd that loved school and I enjoy reading and learning new things.
You guys have really got me thinking this is something I can do!!