Hi everyone,

I'm really looking forward to this forum for advice and support as I am currently studying for my PT cert. I am a former professional basketball player in Europe and looking forward to learning everything I can to help people in their personal fitness and life goals. I believe fitness and a healthy lifestyle isn't only a given period of time in someone's life, rather a CHOSEN LIFESTYLE!

Let's make a change!

I just wrote this article and thought it is one of those topics which seldom gets discussed or written about.

Let me know if you have any comments.

http://www.exercisebiology.com/index.php/site/articles/why_should_older_people_do_power_training/

I would go over the CSCS and do exactly as they outlined. Look at the sport - the biomechanical and biochemical needs, the joints and muscles most used, the type of injuries, and so forth.

If you find enough information, you can submit an article for the NSCA journal!

Hi Martha,

Congrats on getting your CPT!

If I had to suggest, I would maybe consult a lawyer and come up with your own informed consent and waivers. Since you are working on your own, everything will be different. I think it would be a worthwhile investment if you are going to do this for a long time. I know how people got sued and had to pay the damages because they didn't use the 'right' word or wrongly worded the waiver. Also talk to someone who does private training. 

Hi Matt,

I work as a therapist in an outpatient clinic and I would also recommend the new CSPS certification.  Almost every single patient I see has some co-morbid condition along with an orthopedic issue.  It is crucial to know how your exercise interventions will impact the patient in all situations.

Adding:

1. Take the practice test. This way you know the questions format and which are your weak areas. 

2. Questions at the end do every chapter shows you what you need to emphasize from that chapter. 

2. Don't study for the test. Study to become a good trainer/coach. The test will be easy.

Hi Giacomo,

You can contact the gyms directly. Email them with your resume. 

I am sure you will find a PT job, but I don't know if that is enough for you to get a visa. I moved from India to do my M.S and now I am doing my Ph.D. So that is one option for you. 

Hi C.H.

I hadn't checked this post for a while. My practice exams are from May 2010. My textbook, Essentials of Personal Training says copyright 2004, I didn't see a print date. And Exercise Manual for resistance Training Second Edition copyright 2008. Good luck.

My company recently released a new product called Progressive Fitness Software. It is a free application that runs through Excel 2007 or newer (requires Excel 2007 or newer and a Windows Operating System).

It will take about 30 minutes to learn how to use the application. Once you've built a main exercise list you can build workouts in a professional format in as little as 1-2 minutes per workout. You can design workouts 1 session at a time on the "ITS Screen" or up to 60 sessions at a time on the "Progression Design Screen." I usually design about 12 workouts at a time depending on how much experience I have with the exerciser. It probably takes a few weeks practice with the application to get proficient enough with features to design in 1 minute/session. Obviously more complex training progressions may require more time.

Workouts can be emailed or printed in seconds. There have also been a few feature updates since the video tutorials were made (such as the ability to email workouts as PDFs with hyperlinks to webpages/videos for exercises). As a side note, there are no preprogrammed exercises with this software. You can find many free exercise videos and lists on the internet that you can easily link up to the application if you need them for yourself or for a client.

You can find Progressive Fitness Software at www.freefitnessapp.com

Also, feedback is always appreciated to help make the application more user friendly and more versatile to meet every training style. Feedback can be sent to support@FreeFitnessApp.com

-Ryan, Owner

Progressive Resistance Training LLC

 A few months before the NSCA changed their website and wiped out all the prior posts a member posted some info on DOD SC positions and locations.  I would appreciate it if someone can repost that.

I have registered my business so I can bid on DOD contracts.  I was awarded a contract many years ago and kept it for 3 years but then got deployed and the contract expired.  A similar but larger contract is now owned by a large business that has no fitness background.  There are many DOD fitness contracts and getting the award requires proof the business can perform the contract requirements satisfactorily.  In many cases a small fitness business can't compete with large businesses that target DOD contracts purely on the basis of they have a good shot at winning the contract and after getting the contract they hire fitness people for far less than the position should pay or sub contract to a few small fitness businesses.  The large businesses make huge profits for doing nothing but filling out the contract solicitation forms and sending them in, then hiring fitness professionals.

I will be talking with some army contracting officers next month who have responsibility for some fitness contracts to try to even the playing field for the smaller, more qualified fitness businesses to be competitive for future contracts.  If you have a fitness business and are interested in DOD contract opportunities or are interested in being a trainer, SC or fitness professional working for a DOD fitness contractor, feel free to contact me so I can keep you informed of any contract or job opportunities and let you know some of the future possibilities.  

At present we don't have much ability to compete for DOD fitness contracts unless you are in the fitness business making multi-millions a year.  These contracts are not in locations you are probably living at so moving and some travel will be required.

It would be nice if the NSCA would also help out with this problem.  An experienced SC probably would not consider a new job if they had to move and only got 36K a year but they might for 60K or more a year.  

healthy regards,

Dennis

I just took the CPT Test October 6, 2012 in NYC. Good luck to my fellow candidates. 

My Email Address is risyde@optimum.net.