Health Center | About Weight Loss

Archive for August, 2010

One of the best low impact fitness exercises is using a rowing machine. A rowing machine is also a great piece of fitness equipment because it tends to be more compact than other home gyms, which allows you to easily fit one in your home without having to dedicate a whole room for your fitness equipment.

Stationary bikes and treadmills are big and bulky and often only work out one area of your body. A rowing machine will give you strength and endurance training.

A rowing machine is one of the best ways to strengthen and condition your back. This is extremely important as back problems later in life can be very debilitating.

This piece of fitness equipment not only works out your back, but also you arms, shoulders, abdomen and leg muscles. A rowing machine also offers a great all around exercise routine and a fan favorite for sure in terms of gym equipment. It uses all of your muscles without much impact having to be put on your joints while doing so, which makes it very convenient and suitable for all ages.

The ideal resistance on fitness equipment like a rowing machine is one which is going to allow you to move fast but smoothly. If you are able to do this, then you will be able to get a great aerobic workout that will develop muscle endurance and tone. You will know that the tension being used is correct when you find yourself able to make it through a session without over-exhausting yourself.

Where To Look For Rowing Machines

If you are interested in purchasing fitness equipment, like a rowing machine to add to your existing collection of gym equipment, then you should check out your local gym or fitness stores.

Many pieces of fitness equipment, such as rowing machines can also be purchased online. I would suggest going to your local gym to try out some of the different machines and then go online or to you local store to purchase the one that suits you best.

Just to get you acclimated to some of the brand names you might find in a store or at a gym these are some of the most well-known, high quality brand name companies:

* Precor

* Pacemaster

* Nautilus

* Cybex

* Bowflex

* Everglide

* Bodycraft

* Diamondback Fitness

* Schwinn Fitness

* Torque Fitness

* Northern Lights

Each of these rowing machines offers a wide variety of features and benefits. How many features you need on your piece of fitness equipment depends on how often you use it and what you are using it for.

If you are training for the Olympics, for example, you are going to want a machine that offers very high resistance and multiple exercises. If you are only going to be using your rowing machine once a week for ten minutes you could save some money and purchase a very basic one, although I would suggest using any piece of fitness equipment at least three times a week.

Whether you are buying a rowing machine or other pieces of fitness equipment, make sure that you take your time by trying out different machines to see what suits you best. Then shop around and compare prices to get the best deal.

Just make sure you use whatever rowing machine you pick out. Remember you only get the benefits from a rowing machine or any piece of fitness equipment by actually using it.

It’s all about fitness now a days and definitely looking younger and slim. Many people nowadays are very much conscious about their own health and fitness. In addition to that, these people, and many others as well, are now having that desire to sculpt their bodies to achieve that magazine-cover look. We have fitness concerns and as a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have proliferated all over to cater to the needs of the fitness buffs and aficionados.

What’s up with the fitness machines and other fitness stuff ? Even on television exercise machines, weight loss products, and other paraphernalia to improve fitness have more or less gained control over the airwaves and made their way into the households. We have all those miraculous products that claim to fight fat and yet we have to see some encouraging results in ourselves. But exercise is not the only way to build that body beautiful. It also entails certain amount of responsibility on the foods one chooses to eat. Being healthy and fit requires one to observe diet fitness and watch his calories closely.

Diet fitness is as essential as exercise itself. In fact some people can loose weight controlling their diets only. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth. Diet fitness should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different views, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by many professionals. Among these are high carb diets and high fat diets. We shall try to know know the fundamental differences between these two diet approaches. As the name implies, high carb diets concentrates on taking in carbohydrate-rich foods while high fat diets endorses fat-rich foods. High carb diets are utilized to glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen is a glucose complex that provides large amounts of energy ready for use in anaerobic exercises.

What comes to mind when we talk of high calorie intakes ? Avoid whatever comes to your mind. Fats are well-known for being the richest source of calories. It actually contains 2.5 times more calories than carbohydrates and proteins alike. Studies also show that it takes the body 24 calories to metabolize carbohydrates while it only takes 3 to burn down fat. So which one to follow? A person can follow a high carb and low fat fitness diet or the other way around. It is absolutely not recommended to follow both at the same time; unless of course if you want to gain body fat.

So closely watching your calories and matching the daily intake with one of the diet approaches can be good idea and estimate how much weight can you expect to lose soon. Diet fitness is not all about losing fat, one must also consider his diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle, medical profile and satiety signals.

Diet programs can definitely work. Diet programs all over can help you shed off excess pounds, but only one diet can help you stay sexy, and it is the one that satisfies you most. Other important aspects of having a fit diet are moderation, balance and variation. One must be careful not to leave out important nutrients and other substances necessary for healthy body functioning. health organizations are clear about the amounts of nutrients an individual should have in the body.

Don’t go crazy with the dieting program! Striving for a sexy and healthy body does not have to burden an individual, diet fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. One may even try to be adventurous and try out new foods out there. Who knows? one may even discover spinach interesting.

A fitness craze is steadily sweeping across the globe as people realize the benefits a healthy lifestyle regiment can bring. Combining a well balanced diet with a daily fitness routine can go a long way towards obtaining that healthy regiment. Walking, swimming and tennis are prime examples of activities that can easily be incorporated into a daily routine. Another exceptional exercise option is joining the local gym for workout sessions.

All of these are tremendous examples of ways to get moving and keep the body in shape. Another great option that is growing in popularity is Pilates. This exercise program provides body shape results through a series of easy to follow techniques. Pilates provides a whole body response that can not be matched by other fitness programs. This is achieved through isolation and targeting techniques to tone and strengthen the core.

The composition of the core consists of the main muscles within the body.

From a fundamental standpoint, Pilates combines yoga, swimming and Greek Roman exercise with deep breathing techniques. Workouts can be completed in any position that an exerciser feels comfortable in. In addition to the flexibility in position, Pilates offers wide range of motions through techniques. For these reasons, a Pilates session can be completed on an individual basis or as a group workout. These group workouts can take place in a private home, fitness gym or anywhere else participants desire. Everyone from stay at home moms to celebrities are getting involved in Pilates.

With this trend in full motion, fitness trainers have been hard pressed to come up with new and innovative ways to conduct Pilates fitness workouts. This is where aerobics is introduced to the world of Pilates. In the 1980′s, aerobics was thought of as the best way to get in shape and stay in shape. Movements brought heart rates up and increased body sweat. These elements produced results that were believed to be the most efficient way to exercise. What better way to bring two exercise greats together than to create aerobic fitness Pilates classes.

On the surface Pilates does not appear to be an aerobic fitness program. Like many other exercise programs, there are a few moments taken at the beginning to warm up the body and get ready for action. After this, aerobic fitness Pilates moves works the body into a sweat and raise heart rates. This is achieved through upbeat movements that incorporate balls, exercise ropes and other related exercise equipment.

Numerous benefits are produced from engaging in an aerobic fitness Pilates program.

Keeping the body toned and shaped leads to less risk for diabetes, heart disease and strengthens the immune system. The great thing about aerobic fitness Pilates is that it is an exercise routine than can be followed by virtually anyone. The range of participants goes from children all the way up to senior citizens. The senior citizen group received extra benefits due to the fact that aerobic fitness Pilates maintains body circulation systems. The more aerobic fitness Pilates one engages in, the quicker a healthy lifestyle regiment will start showing through a healthy body.

Many people nowadays are very much conscious about their own health and fitness. In addition to that, these people, and many others as well, are now having that desire to sculpt their bodies to ahieve that magazine-cover look. As a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have proliferated all over to cater to the needs of the fitness buffs and afficionados.

Even on television exercise machines, weight loss products, and other paraphernalia to improve fitness have more or less gained control over the airwaves and made their way into the households. But exerise is not the only way to build that body beautiful. It also entails certain amount of responsibility on the foods one chooses to eat. Being healthy and fit requires one to observe diet fitness.

Diet fitness is as essential as exercise itself. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth. Diet fitness should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different views, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by many professionals. Among these are high carb diets and high fat diets. Whih one is more effective and which one should one choose to follow?

First thing to know would be the fundamental differences between these two diet approaches. As the name implies, high carb diets concentrates on taking in carbohydrate-rich foods while high fat diets endorses fat-rich foods. High carb diets are utilized to glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen is a glucose complex that provides large amounts of energy ready for use in anaerobic exercises.

Fats, on the other hand, is well-nown for being the richest source of calories. It actually contains 2.5 times more calories than carbohydrates and proteins alike. Studies also show that it takes the body 24 calories to metabolize carbohydrates while it only takes 3 to burn down fat. So which one to follow? A person can follow a high carb and low fat fitness diet or the other way around. It is absolutely not recommended to follow both at the same time; unless of course if you want to gain body fat.

But then diet fitness is not all about losing fat, one must also consider his diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle, medical profile and satiety signals.

Diet programs all over can help you shed off excess pounds, but only one diet can help you stay sexy, and it is the one that satisfies you most. Other important aspects of having a fit diet are moderation, balance and variation. One must be careful not to leave out important nutrients and other substances necessary for healthy body functioning. health organizations are clear about the amounts of nutrients an individual should have in the body.

Low fat high carbs, high carbs low fat; the question is not which diet program will work out but which is it that will work for you. Striving for a sexy and healthy body does not have to burden an individual, diet fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. One may even try to be adventurous and try out new foods out there. Who knows? one may even discover spinach interesting.

Do you want to transform your body? Do you want to transform your golf game? How do you go about finding the right golf fitness book for yourself? Most fitness books for golf are written to give you ready-made golf fitness programs, exercises, step-by-step instructions and illustrations can quickly transform your body and your golf game. So then the questions become: what are the components of a complete golf fitness book? What areas should a golf fitness book should cover? Basically, a golf fitness book should cover the following four topics:

1. Strength specific golf exercises

2. Flexibility

3. Aerobic conditioning or endurance training

4. Nutrition

Keep in mind that all four of these topics should be specifically designed for a golfer and not for a person looking to just improve their physical fitness.

The book you choose to improve your golf and fitness should offer multiple plans for different physical levels. In addition, the book should have a golf fitness evaluation in the book to determine your current fitness level and ultimately decide on the starting point for your program. Using this type of book, you are sure that the program or exercises you are using are right for you and the program will help your game not hurt it.

The main reason I hear from my students on why they put off beginning a golf training program is, they are not sure where to start and knowing they are in the right fitness program for them.

In addition, the fitness book should discuss the direct benefits of any exercise to a golf swing. Many people are motivated to use an exercise or an exercise program once they read and understand how it will benefit their game.

Finally, a golf fitness book should have progressive golf fitness exercises and complete golf programs. You should be able to logically see how these fitness exercises and golf programs to take you to your next level. Many books offer general exercises that are not golf-specific and in turn, have no logical sense of format or progression. This will only leave you frustrated and not knowing where to start and if you do start a program unable to chart any progress.

To find a golf fitness book that works for you, the next time you go to a bookstore or get online and do a search for golf fitness book or golf fitness books, make sure you thoroughly evaluate the explanation and chapters to reassure you are doing the right thing.

When you talk about sports fitness, what comes first in your mind? It is, basically, the different sports activities, right? This is because sports fitness has always been referred to as the sports itself.

Generally, sports entail physical activities that are usually carried out for some “recreational” functions such as self-satisfaction, entertainment, competition, etc. It uses physical activity that is why most fitness experts regard sports as one way of staying fit and healthy. It can also be considered as one way of physical fitness; the only difference is that sports fitness is more inclined to the development of skill or ability.

However, like physical fitness, sports fitness is also capable of toning down the body fats of a person. Because of its rigid and strict health program, a sports enthusiast is able to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle in order to cope up with the strenuous demands of sports.

In sports, people should learn how to value their health. Otherwise, they can never endure the kind of energy that is required when playing sports activities.

Therefore, for people whoa re into sports fitness, here are some tips that you could use in order to stay healthy and be active on whatever sports you want to pursue:

1. Drinks lots of water

Humans can survive days, or even months without food, but they can never last a day without water.

Water is, indeed, the most important element needed by the body. Excessive perspiration, without any means of replenishing the lost fluids will result to serious health problems, and even death.

Therefore, for people who are into strenuous exercises and trainings, it is best to always drink lots of water.

However, for sports enthusiasts, water may not be enough to replace the kind of fluid lost. Hence, it would be better if they would have sports drinks instead. Aside from the fluid, sports drinks have tow additional important ingredients needed by a person who is into sports fitness: carbohydrates and electrolytes.

Electrolytes are usually lost during strenuous physical activity, and this can only be replaced through sports drinks. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are also needed by the body during rigid workouts to provide more energy so that the body can cope up to the demands of the activity.

2. More veggies!

People who are into sports fitness require more intakes of vegetables and fruits. This is because the body is craving for more vitamins and mineral supplements. It makes the body stronger and healthier enabling it to cope up with demands of the activity.

3. Calcium intake

People who are into sports fitness should have calcium present on their diet. This is to provide stronger bones to the body.

Since the body is more exposed to greater physical activities, it is important to have stronger bones in order to avoid fractures or certain bone diseases like “osteoporosis.”

Calcium can be found in different vitamin and mineral supplements. They are also abundant in foods like sardines, tofu, dairy products, etc.

4. Warm exercises are always important before any kind of strenuous activities.

This kind of activity is needed in order not to strain the body. Hence, before playing the sports that you have always love, it is best to do some warm-up exercises first.

Indeed, engaging into sports activities is one great way of being physically fit. The best thing about it is that in sports, you get to enjoy the best of both worlds.

With the prices of golf equipment where they are today, it only makes good sense to be custom club fit for your new golf clubs. Yes, it may cost you another fee to be club fit for a set of golf clubs but, trust me; this will be less than 10% of the price of your new investment. If this still seems like to much money, find a local PGA professional who will include the cost with a purchase of a Driver or a set of golf irons. To use the phrase from Nike, Just Do It. Let me tell you why owning a set of golf clubs that is built to your spefications is so important.

All golfers are not created equal. Every single golfer is a little bit different in size, body frame as well as the shape of their golf swing. A proper custom club fit will result in a set of clubs that are specifically suited to your height, strength, club head speed and individual swing characteristics.

What most people do not realize is that off-the-shelf golf clubs are one-size-fits-few. Approximately 10% of all club fittings end up with standard specs. Actually golf manufacturers have changed their standards multiple times over the last ten years. Since custom fitting has gained popularity with the average golfer, manufacturing companies have made lie angles more upright and lofts stronger. This obviously is in an attempt to help the average to higher handicap golfer.

A club fit can be performed by a PGA Professional. How do you go about finding the right PGA Professional to fit you? Ask a lot of questions. Just like you are trying to find a doctor or a dentist, ask your friends, co-workers and call golf shops. The proper questions to ask are as follows:

- Is the professional certified by a major manufacturer to fit their clubs?

- Does the PGA Professional have a fitting cart or multiple fitting carts with what you are looking for (Mens, Ladies, steel, graphite, right-handed, left-handed clubs) available?

- How experienced is the PGA Professional?

- Will I be fit outdoors to see the entire ball flight?

Contrary to the belief of many, this does not have to be a time-consuming or expensive endeavor. A very basic clubfitting might take as little as 15 minutes, with the average being 30-45 minutes.

As for price, some clubs will give you a golf club fitting free of charge as long as you agree to purchase your new set from them. Most charge a modest fee, perhaps $35 to $50 being typical.

Expect to hit many variations of the same type club. For instance, a well-equipped fitting center might have dozens (in some cases, hundreds) of a particular club, usually a 6-iron for men and a 7-iron for women. Each of the 6-irons will be different from the next in some way.

The idea is to find the best combination of shaft (length, flex and kickpoint), loft (standard, strong or flat), lie (strong or flat), grip and swingweight, among other factors.

By watching the ball flight produced by each variation of a club, and checking chalk marks left on adhesive strips attached to the clubface and sole, a clubfitter can quickly narrow the search and lead the student to the best fit.

The club fit procedure can be done for every club in the bag, including putters, but iron fittings are most common, with driver fittings following closely behind.

Of course, a proper club fit only works if you follow up by purchasing a set of clubs custom made to those specifications. Two things to keep in mind: If you want a set of, for example, Titleist clubs, the ones you order after a proper clubfitting will cost approximately the same as the same set bought off the shelf; and a golfer is under no obligation to purchase a set from the pro doing the measurements.

So there’s little reason for anyone in the market for new clubs to avoid a proper club fit.

Copyright (c) 2008 Janine Giorgenti

Are you frustrated with ill-fitting pants? Many men simply don’t know how their pants should fit. They settle for dress pants that are uncomfortable and unflattering not because they don’t care, but because they feel they have no other choice. Before you buy another pair of pants that bind, sag, pull or pucker; learn the basics of how to choose a great fitting pair of men’s dress pants.

How Should the Waist of Traditional Pants Fit?

For a traditional cut, the waist of your dress slacks should be at the natural waistline. A well-fitted waist will be comfortable and allow you to breathe. There should not be any unsightly pulls or puckers at the hips or around the pockets.

How Should the Waist of Low Rise Pants Fit?

Low rise pants are fashionable and popular with the young and those who have the physique to wear them. While not appropriate for a formal business setting, they are stylish and fun for weekend wear. Low rise pants are worn below the waist and are typically a flat front or non pleated style.

Make sure the pants lie flat around the hips and are well fitting in the seat, without binding, bagging or sagging. The Rise

The rise of your dress pants is crucial to the fit of your pants. The crotch should not bind and be tight, nor should it sag, becoming loose and baggy. If you have too much fabric, you will look sloppy. Too little and it will cut into your groin area making your pants very uncomfortable. There should be just enough fabric in the rise to contour your seat without being tight and allowing you comfort when you sit.

The Drape

Your pants should have form, but with a graceful drape of the cloth. This means that your pants should not be too tight and show horizontal lines or bulges across the front, back and sides.

The Length

The desired length of your pants is predicated upon your personal preference and style sense.

No Break

For the conservative. The bottom of the pants hits the shoe and the mid-heel with no crease or break. Make sure the pants length is not so short that one can see your socks when you walk.

Single Break

This is the most common pants length. The golden rule is for the pants hems to finish with a single break (crease of fabric) at the front of the shoe. In the back, the hem should end where the heel meets the lower back of the shoe.

Double Break

A double break is popular with the young, who like a “drapey” full pants leg and hem with deep folds on the shoe. (Great for hip-hop; bad for business.) Just remember that your pants should not drag the floor.

A Happy Solution

Now that you know how your pants should fit, you can explore the various options available to you. If you can’t find a good fit off-the-rack, don’t be intimidated by getting your pants custom made. This is a great option for many men with hard-to-fit physiques. You will find custom made pants are much more affordable than you might think and the fit and comfort are definitely worth it.

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Do you need a motivational boost in your fitness regime? Tired of the same old, same old? Wish you had someone to work out with but don’t feel like going through the hassle of finding someone compatible?

What would you say to letting your fingers do the walking and finding a work out buddy that is not only available when you want to work out but is part motivational speaker, part nutritionist and part fitness guru?

In the 90′s, hiring a Personal Fitness Trainer became the rage – someone dedicated to helping you improve your overall fitness level quickly and safely. Celebrities had been doing it for years with amazing results and suddenly it was possible for everyone to benefit from the one-on-one attention of a trainer. Fitness levels improved as did the overall knowledge of the typical exerciser as trainers taught as well as trained.

Since then, the Personal Fitness Instructor industry has blossomed into solid a niche within the fitness industry. While they still offer the one-on-one training and counseling, they have discovered that variety is the key to overall fitness and have developed individual and group programs that incorporate sound fitness with fun! Most trainers offer programs such as boot camp classes that take fitness out of the gym and into the real world to add variety, motivation and a killer workout! Many trainers also offer beginner-running classes and some even offer a mini-triathlon class for people interested in competition.

The latest fitness trend is making the exercise enjoyable and developing a program that suits the individual – Personal Fitness Trainers corner the market on exciting new exercise ideas!

How do you find a trainer that you will challenge you, motivate you and, most importantly, listen to you? The same way you find any professional – talk to friends, look in the local yellow pages, talk to the staff at your fitness club and, once you have a few names, make some phone calls. Most trainers offer free first appointments that do not include any exercise but instead offer a chance to sit down and see whether their programs fit your lifestyle. Keep in mind that personality is a significant part of whether you enjoy working with a Personal Fitness Trainer so take your time to find out if this is a match that will work over the long haul.

Some questions to ask when you first sit down with a trainer include:

? Their credentials and experience. Generally, you want someone who has been in the fitness industry for at least five years or has a degree in physical education or kinesiology under their belt. This is your health you are putting in their hands so do not take it lightly!

? Do they have insurance?

? What are their views on fitness and training? Do they take a hardcore approach where everyone should exercise to the point of exhaustion or do they have more of a real world attitude?

? Success stories. Do they have any before and after photos or testimonials from clients? What are their views on weight loss and body image?

? Their availability. Its all fine and dandy to hire the most popular trainer in your city as there is a good chance they will live up to their reputation but if they do not have time to work with you that fits your schedule, no matter how good they are, it is not going to work. Busy trainers often hire assistants – make sure the confidence you have in your trainer also includes their assistant and that your personalities will work well together. Nothing is worse than paying the big bucks to have the best and end up with the blue light special when it comes to trainers!

? Finally rates. Trainers that offer packages are wonderful – they know that you will both see better value if you see them more then once and a package guarantees your return. Another nice offering is a package for one-on-one work once a week but also group exercise sessions for the other two to four days a week are the most cost effective. If they are hung up on only the one-on-one sessions then question the benefits of that type of session versus doing some group sessions.

After talking to several trainers, you will have a good idea of what works for you and what will not. Make a choice based on personality balanced with knowledge, cost and overall attitude. Not completely sure this partnership will work? Hire them for a few sessions to see how it fits – you can always rehire them but nothing is worse then having three months worth of sessions paid for and no way to back out of the contract.

The important thing to remember is to take your time and make sure that the investment in a trainer is going to give substantial enough returns to make it worth the cost. Hiring a fitness instructor should be a fun experience, not a chore – the work should only begin once you change into your sweats!

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A couple days ago, I saw something ridiculous in the gym. I witnessed a personal fitness trainer putting his client through activities more akin to practicing for a circus tryout than building a stronger and shapelier body. The client was being instructed to do pushups with one hand being elevated by a medium-sized, air-filled ball. In between pushup repetitions, the client was told to roll the ball back and forth between hands. He did a pushup with his left side elevated by the ball (shaking precariously while trying to balance) – then he pushed it across to the right hand. He trembled in getting it beneath his right hand for a repetition. Then he flung it over to his left hand again after a rather shaky (and unbalanced) right-handed pushup.

I was secretly rooting for the client to end the session by bouncing the ball off his trainer’s head a few times.

What the hell was that all about? Is half the world going bonkers or is it just a lot of the personal fitness trainers and their clients who follow any instructions they’re given, no matter how silly? You couldn’t convince me with a Ph.D. candidate’s dissertation that this client was deriving benefit from what his “personal trainer” was having him do. It was a complete and utter waste of time and appeared to only feed that trainer’s ego with the belief that he was in possession of proprietary or esoteric knowledge.

Don’t get me wrong. There are some good fitness trainers out there. They’re just interspersed among a bunch that is mediocre at best and downright counterproductive at worst. In an apparent attempt to make their profession appear that it doesn’t consist of merely demonstrating basic exercises and counting repetitions, many are taking this “core training” fad a bit too far, in my opinion. When will they come back to basics? When will they realize that there’s much more value to provide a client within the realm of effective basic training combined with powerful mental performance enhancement? It’s a visually nicer body that most people are seeking – not the ability to balance on their knees atop an exercise ball while attempting to do one-armed dumbell rows (I actually witnessed that too).

So how does one choose a personal fitness trainer? These guys and gals aren’t cheap. They can charge a good chunk of change to essentially teach you some circus acts, or just arbitrarily walk you through some exercises. It’s not pleasant to think of wasting time and money in this manner.

I have a unique criteria that I recommend people follow when choosing a personal fitness trainer. In fact, I’m not aware of anyone else who will provide you with this list. After going through it, however, you will find that it makes sense. These are not numbered in level of importance, but the final one listed is THE most important. So here it is:

1. MAKE SURE THE TRAINER IS IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE

Sounds like a given, doesn’t it? Well, it’s amazing how often I see a client trudging along behind a personal trainer whose gut is hanging over his belt and whose muscles appear to have not been worked in years. I don’t care if the trainer has a degree in Kinesiology or won a bodybuilding contest years ago; if that individual can’t keep their own ass in shape, what makes you think they’ll be of much help getting and keeping you that way? All else being equal, it’s not motivating to have an out-of-shape fitness instructor and it can set doubts in your mind at a subconscious level.

2. HIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS MENTAL TRAINING CREDENTIALS AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL ONES

Most of your ability to positively change your body and keep these positive changes is a mental thing. We know this intuitively. Yet how many people take it seriously enough to hire a personal fitness trainer who can also help them get their mindset in shape?

I recommend finding someone who has credentials in Sport’s Mental Training or Hypnotherapy/NLP and can effectively combine these disciplines with the physical regimens when necessary. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did.

3. MAKE SURE THE TRAINER IS CERTIFIED BY AN NCCA ACCREDITED COURSE OR REPUTABLE COLLEGE

The NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) is an accrediting organization holding standards for reputability of certification programs. Top quality fitness certifications that are NCCA accredited include N.F.P.T. (National Federation of Professional Trainers) and ACE (American Council on Exercise) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).

Of course, certification from a reputable college or trade school also represents quality fitness credentials.

Bottom line: Be sure your trainer has high quality nutrition and exercise knowledge.

4. ASK THE TRAINER FOR REFERENCES

Just like hiring any other professional, it’s best to ask for references. Make sure to ask for past clients who’ve gotten positive results within the same area of improvement that you’re seeking for your body.

5. MAKE SURE THE TRAINER RECORDS PROGRESS FOR HIS/HER CLIENTS

I’ll say it plain and simple: If a personal fitness trainer isn’t keeping a record log of your workouts, then you’re wasting your time and money. That is; unless you just want to pay them to be your friend.

A trainer who doesn’t keep a record of what he or she has you doing is just arbitrarily choosing your exercises, sets, and repetitions. Assuming they’ve got a lot of clients, it’s unlikely they’re able to keep it all in memory.

Watch your prospective trainer handling other clients for about a week or two before deciding whether to hire them. If you’re serious about improving your physique, don’t shell out your money if they’re not doing any writing along with their instructing.

There you have it; some tips for hiring a good personal fitness trainer. If you follow them, you’ll be more likely on your way to a stronger and better looking body, and less likely to end up doing stupid human tricks with a ball on the gym floor.