Personal Trainers Insight into Weight Loss

Unfortunately, in today's world, the easiest way is the best way. Today, if you are overweight, there are a million and one diets, training programs and supplements which guarantee you success. Indeed, many of them deliver and customers have excellent success. 

But more often than not, those who begin a diet or program fail. They either drop out, or the results don't come.

But why? Why is it that the obesity epidemic is sweeping the world with a force, if there are so many easy weight loss methods available? 

Because current trends are to let others do the thinking for us.

We follow a particular diet. Foods we can eat, cant eat. Train at this time, run for this long. All you are doing is following someone else's rules without actually learning anything yourself. And this is the key to a new lifestyle and weight loss- knowledge. Understanding which you can act on in any situation at any time in your life.

If you understand how the body works, in relation to nutrition and training, if you become familiar enough to recognise and react to your bodies messages and changes, if you understand enough about yourself- its then, and only then, you can live a LIFESTYLE of healthiness which will keep the weight off with no drudge diet, no starving, no 0 carb or 0 fat menu's.

This is the difference between those who lose weight and keep it off and those who are forever struggling. Those who learn not only rules, but the reasoning and the knowledge behind these techniques, who understand bodily processes, how their body works, why it works that way, and how to ensure your lifestyle is optimum for your body, these are the ones who not only will lose the weight, but can simply live a healthy lifestyle armed with this knowledge. Day by day they can live happy and sure, knowing how to treat their body correctly without any crazy diets.

Im not saying that weight loss programs out their are incorrect- they will work in many cases. But your body is a clever thing. It adapts, it resists. Unless you can manipulate your lifestyle for your particular needs, and react to different situations not outlined in a general diet, you wont succeed, or your success will come at a dear price. Who wants to follow a certain menu day in day out? Its bound to fail. Who wants to cut all the carbs out of their diet? The only thing which will happens is your metabolism will slow so much, when you do eat carbs again it will result in weight gain. The cycle begins. It's the knowledge of the science of your body which will allow you to understand EXACTLY why your putting weight on, or why your losing weight, and how to reverse or encourage trends in your everyday life.

In the morning when i wake up, i know if i don't eat within 30 minutes my body will start to tap into my muscle stores and fat stores for glucose. As im trying to gain muscle, this is unacceptable. When my body is overly tired, ill postpone a workout, consume some extra protien and carbs and allow plenty of rest. Its all about understanding your body and meeting its needs. One diet can work for everyone. You need to know your body and know how to treat it in any situation. This is the key to long term weight loss, and a fun, invigorating new lifestyle.

So before your begin your diet or training program, take the time to learn about the science of your body. Research the processes of fat storage, fat breakdown. Research muscle growth, research nutrition. Knowledge. Its worth more than its weight in gold. Aquire it. Understand the world you life in and the body you walk around in. This is your key to success.

What Is Men's Personal Fitness Training About?

Most men, when it comes to men's fitness training, look at building mass instead of losing weight. There are two different options then when it comes to this type of training. The first is getting a really solid buff body, while the other is just a healthy body. Either way, these workouts are the way to go.

No matter the reason men are choosing this training program, they will receive many health benefits as well. In fact, such training can give men many health benefits. These include living longer and losing weight if desired. Not only can this form of training let men live longer, but also live a healthier life.

When it comes to these workouts you can choose from doing it at a gym or at home. Which one you choose, is ultimately up to you. These questions when it comes to this form of exercise it will depend on your time limitations and what you want to achieve. At home you can have privacy and more time. While at a gym you can have a trainer to help you, but it costs membership fees and you may not have a lot of time. You will also have to work around the gym's schedule, unless you are lucky enough to find one that is opened twenty-four hours a day.

Before you decide which way to go with the program, you should first get a doctor's opinion. This opinion can be invaluable and help point you in the right direction. Some suggestions from friends can also help as well.

When you decide that you are going to use a gym for your fitness training, you will want to decide which one you are going to join. This will involve looking at prices and facilities offered. This includes if they offer personal trainers or not. Compare fees to find the best one for you and your needs.

On the other hand, if you choose home equipment for your training needs, then you will need to shop around as well. This includes comparing prices and warranties of the products that are offered. There are many out there, but is up to you to choose the training equipment that will suit your personal fitness needs and goals.

As you can see, if you are a man, you may have many options to choose from when it comes to these workouts. Men's fitness training also has many health benefits. Whether you choose a gym or home equipment and whether you are choosing to bulk up or just tone what you have, these workouts are the way to go. Either way you will avail the health benefits and that is a good a reason as any.

Why Do We Need Personal Fitness Trainers?

If you are looking for a new fitness routine, you may want to consider checking out personal fitness trainers. Personal fitness trainers are a good idea to help motivate you and keep you on track. Not only that, but they can make up a good exercise routine that is personalized just for you and your fitness goals and needs. Besides this, these trainers can help you in some other areas as well.

Of course the main job of these trainers is to keep you on track with your workout routine. This is great for those who are not very disciplined when it comes to this aspect of staying in shape. It is also great to have positive motivation no matter what. They sometimes use pushy techniques to get you there, but this may be what some people need to really stay on track.

Besides keeping you on track with your workout, personal fitness trainers will show you how to eat properly. They will show you some healthy alternatives to other foods that you may want to eat. They can also show you how to prepare some of these dishes. Not only will they show you how to eat healthy and properly, but they can show you the correct size proportions to eat. Because it isn't just eating right, but eating the right amounts that will make a difference. They will also know what kinds of food and serving sizes will work with your fitness routine, in order to maximize your weight loss.

The first thing to do when you begin looking at personal fitness trainers is to get advice from your doctor. They can not only give you advice but also refer you to ones that may be right for you. Local fitness centers can also give you some referrals as well. Asking your friends isn't a bad idea either. Once you find a few that you may like, taking the time to interview them thoroughly. Let them know what your fitness goals are and ask them what they would do to help you. Be very specific with them, in order that they have all the details to choose from. Go over every aspect of their plans afterwards and compare them side-by-side. This will help you pick the one that you believe will meet your needs the closest or best. Another thing to check out when it comes to choosing among personal fitness trainers is the times that they are available. This is very important when coinciding with the times you are available. You want to make sure that you are meeting with them at least a couple times a week.

As you can see, choosing personal fitness trainers will take a little research and time. But in the end, if you desire good motivation and a healthier lifestyle, it just may be the option for you. Once you find one and see how well they work out, you'll be glad you took the time.

Does Your Personal Trainer Know Squat?

Is your personal trainer qualified? How experienced are they? How can you know before committing to a long-term agreement? These are all questions that clients looking to hire a personal trainer have or should have.

Personal trainers hold a great deal of responsibility in their hands, as they "direct" their clients how to exercise safely and effectively. Personal training can be a lucrative career too, with some trainers charging as much if not more than doctor or lawyer consultation rates.

It is unlikely that you would hire a lawyer or a doctor strictly on heresy, popularity or if they "looked the role" but rather you would spend a good deal of time researching his or her credentials, track record and education. So why if you're going to pay a personal trainer equivalent fees should choosing an exercise professional be any different?

Rather than re-hash the details of the typical "How to Choose a Personal Trainer" cliche, this article provides the lay consumer just two helpful pieces of information to help when deciding on how to choose a personal trainer.

Grade the trainer's qualifications

A personal trainer is an exercise professional so their credentials should demonstrate this. Check to see if the trainer has had a formal education in exercise science, physiology or sports medicine.

Exercise is about science and is grounded firmly in the fields of anatomy, physiology and nutrition. Each field complements and builds on the other. Even the most experienced (or well-built!) personal trainer cannot fake knowledge he does not have. A thorough understanding of these fields is essential to effective and safe exercise instruction and is unlikely to be gained in a weekend or even a multiple week study course.

The client looking to hire a personal trainer should also check the certifying organization. Currently the most respected credentials are offered by the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) and ACE (American Council on Exercise).

Some certifying bodies such the NSCA require certain educational requirements to be completed before sitting for the exam. An example is the NSCA's Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), which requires a bachelors degree in a related field to sit for the exam.

Grade the trainer's experience

An experienced and well-educated exercise professional can easily recognize others on par with themselves simply by observing the manner in how they work with their client and by watching the client's exercise technique.

But what about the casual exerciser who knows nothing of exercise or fitness? How can they discern the small details that give clues to a trainer's experience and quality of instruction? After all, certification only means that the personal trainer passed a written exam.

The answer is that it is very tricky for a layperson to judge personal trainers themselves from simple observation and as a result, may rely too heavily on the opinion of others.

Don't get me wrong there is nothing more valuable to a personal trainer than a good reputation and "word of mouth", but an informed consumer looking for a quality exercise professional should do a little more homework.

While there may be dozens of time consuming and complicated ways to assess a personal trainer's instruction quality and experience, this article describes a single test that will give the client a basic insight before committing to a contract or agreement. A client should not be embarrassed or scared to use this test; it is the full right and privilege of the client to interview and consult with the trainer before committing on a long-term or contractual basis.

The importance of the squat

The squat is a very functional movement that mimics everyday tasks such as lifting and getting out of the seated position. The squat is also quite a complex movement to both learn and teach and must be performed correctly with optimal technique to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Consider the importance of instructing safe technique in the squat. A loaded bar resting on a client's back places them in a compromising position, opening the door to the possibility of a crippling injury. A personal trainer then needs to be particularly attentive to detail when their client performs such an exercise.

The squat test then is a good means of roughly assessing the trainer's instructional ability and experience.

How can I use the squat test for grading my personal trainer?

If you can do it before signing with the trainer, try to observe him or her instructing other clients in the performance of a squat. Does the trainer carefully observe the client's technique (in a mirror if spotting) and offer pointers if necessary or does he or she look around or out the window and seem indifferent? As I mentioned, a squat can be a dangerous exercise to perform, especially for the inexperienced exerciser so attentiveness to detail is essential here.

If you are unable to observe the personal trainer's technique beforehand, request a free consultation and during this time have him or her instruct you in the performance of a body weight squat (even if you hate squats and never plan on doing them as part of an exercise routine, request that the trainer observe your technique and offer pointers as if it were a barbell loaded squat).

In either situation, if the observed client's technique demonstrates the following pointers, or if the personal trainer confidently makes mention of most or all of them, it indicates a good working knowledge in how to teach and ensure safety and correct form in the squat.

If the trainer passes the squat test, the experience and skill they demonstrate will most likely transfer to the instruction of other exercises too.

Here are some of the most important pointers for safe and effective performance of the back squat:

· The bar rests on a platform base of the lower neck and shoulders

· The feet shoulder/hip width apart and very slightly toed out; the heels should only be placed on blocks if the instructor observes the heels rising off the floor in the decent (tight calf muscles)

· The lifter inhales before the descent and holds his/her breath (kudos if the instructor mentions avoiding the "Valsalva Maneuver"* here)

· The legs "buckle" under control - like "sitting down in a chair"

· As the knees bend, they remain directly in line with the toes and do not move past the toes

· The spine remains straight and very close to vertical throughout the entire movement (a slight "hole" is allowed in the lower back, but it is essential that the upper back does not "round")

· The chest remains up and out (extra points if the instructor mentions keeping the gaze straight ahead or slightly above to prevent spinal rounding)

· The back of the head remains approximately parallel to a vertical line from the back of the heels - which remain flat on the floor

· The bar tracks a near vertical line throughout the movement while "pressing with the heels"

· The client exhales through the "sticking point" 

(Your flexibility may limit the performance of a perfect squat but the pointers are still valid).

While a client must consider the other attributes of a personal trainer such as personality and rapport, it is important to have some means of measuring his or her experience and credentials before making a decision to commit to a contract or long-term agreement. Hopefully this article has provided some very basic information for the lay fitness consumer to be a slightly more "informed" one.

Should I Use a Personal Trainer?

Someone asked me if they could write into smart-bodybuilding and get the same advice that they would from a personal trainer? The answer is yes, and no. I give the same information that you may get from your personal trainer. But my answers to your problems will be general in nature, not specific for you the individual. A personal trainer will be able to give an answer that is more tailored to you specific needs.

Personal trainers will be able to help you in areas where working out on your own just won't. If you are new to working out and you have the money get a personal trainer for your first month or so, I suggest that you get a personal trainer.

Some people that are already confident working out on their own still get personal trainers. The reason for more advance trainers going back to a personal trainer can be any number of things, here are just a few that you might consider.

• Motivation is one of the most important value of a personal trainer for the neophyte to the gym as well as the more experience bodybuilder. In the case of the new comer a personal trainer will help to keep you on your schedule and help you reach your goals.
• If you are new to exercise then a personal trainer can help you develop a beginner's routine that is in line with your goals.
• A personal trainer can help you with form and the correct working of the machines
• A personal trainer can help you with break though plateaus and shorten non-progressive time in the gym.
• A personal trainer watches your form, monitors your vitals and can provide objective feedback about your limits and strengths.

Many professional bodybuilders have trainers that guide them in not just how to do an exercise but also the nuances of muscle movements. More importantly a good trainer is not afraid of hurting your feeling. He/she will say when your legs chest or arms are lagging behind, or that your present diet is not what it should be. Remember your success is also his/her success so you best interest is (if he is worth a dime) also his best advertisement.

How To Prevent Personal Trainer Burnout

Why did you decide to become a personal trainer? Was it your love of exercise? The rush you felt when you lifted a new max weight or beat your best time on the track? Maybe it was the thrill of being able to do what you love each day and help others to follow suite. Most likely it was your passion for fitness, and your passion for helping others, combined.

With clients who are dedicated and excited about their workouts, co-workers who share common interests and ideals, and constant access to exercise equipment and health food we have a wonderful and rewarding job.

Unfortunately, we usually end up with a few clients who make it difficult to stay passionate about our work. Some of our clients cancel at the last minute, or show up twenty minutes late. Some seem to expect us to lift the weight for them, on every rep of every set. And some simply want us to wave a magic wand and grant them new bodies on the spot.

While the former type of client fuels our fire, the latter snuff it out. So how do we keep our passion alive?

We take time to evaluate our situation, and make changes where necessary. There is no point in spending hours in the gym waiting for clients who do not show. Make a contract that states the amount of time you will wait before the session is canceled. Set up a prepay system; if the client has already paid for your service they are more likely to utilize it.

Get to know your clients on a non-exercise level. Find out their likes and dislikes, their hobbies and favorite types of music. This is done simply with a short questionnaire, in your introductory conversation, and over a period of time. Use this information to tailor their workouts. For example, if a client is a baseball fan incorporate some baseball drills into their warm up, or have them play catch or run bases as part of their cardio routine.

When your client has fun, you have fun.

Of course, sometimes it is more a matter over time that causes our passion to burn out. We tend to put so much effort into helping and pleasing our clients that we forget about ourselves.

Just as we plan our workouts and menus we need to plan time to relax. If you spend all day in the gym with clients, squeeze in a quick workout for yourself, and then rush home just to eat, sleep and wake up to start all over again, it's no wonder you're burnt out.

As fitness professionals we know that our muscles need adequate time to rest, refuel, and repair. The same goes for our mental and emotional health.

Perhaps this means taking a break from training clients on Saturday mornings, or making sure you are out of the gym by seven each evening. Maybe you need to schedule regular visits to a masseuse or buy tickets to your favorite sporting event or musician. Even spending as little as ten minutes in the sauna or whirlpool after your workout to simply relax and regroup could help.

Passion was what drove us to become fitness professionals, but it is not in endless supply. Take a look at your schedule and habits and then make the necessary changes. The spark of passion is always there, and just a small change can be enough to refuel the fire.

Tom Perkins is a fitness business coach/advisor, radio host, speaker, author and certified personal trainer/fitness nutritionist with more than 30 years in the fitness industry as both a consumer, fitness professional, and business coach/advisor.

Having owned six startups since 1990 Tom provides fitness businesses and professionals with the systems, tools and support they need to get to the next level and beyond, as well as the freedom and income to enjoy a unique quality of life.