1. Fitness Instruction Chapter 3

2. Physical Fitness  What is Physical Fitness? –The strength, endurance, and mental well-being to be comfortable in daily, recreational, and sports activities  Fitness Instructor vs. Fitness Consultant –Page 3-3

3. What is your main job as a trainer?  Your main job as a trainer is to: 1 st - Motivate your client to work their hardest 2 nd - Educate your client on how to pursue fitness in a way that will be healthy and safe for them.

4. Trends in fitness -Interest in fitness tends to peak at what two certain times of the year? -First part of January (New Years resolution) -Beginning of summer (getting ready to fit in a bathing suit) -As a trainer, you should encourage your clients/athletes to stay fit year- round and establish a life-long fitness plan

5. Characteristics of a trainer  What are some characteristics of a trainer? –Caring –Motivational –Knowledgeable/well educated –Good sense of humor –Leadership skills –“people person” –enthusiastic  What about physical characteristics? –Well-groomed –Physically fit

6. Educational Requirements  Universal Requirement: –CPR certification  Lots of different programs that you can do in college –Anatomy/physiology –Exercise physiology –Health and Physical Education –Exercise management/Leadership  Programs to certify you: –National Strength and Conditioning Assoc. (NSCA)-only national accredited certification program

7. Working with your clients  Establish a good rapport right away –Remember something personal about the client/athlete  Establish good communication –Pay attention when they are talking to you about concerns or questions

8. The first session with your client/athlete  Make advanced contact  Handshake and smile…Enthusiastic attitude  Always be on time if not early  Make sure your level of fitness, exercise clothing and attitude reflect a professional attitude  Provide educational material –Brochures, pamphlets, hand-outs  Be organized! –Keep a chart or folder for each client/athlete for you to keep ALL information in

9. First session cont.  Allow extra time with a new client/athlete –First session will last ~1 ½ hours –~30 minutes for paper work –~15 minutes for goals –~45 minutes for introduction to the gym and the machines and how they function  Do not have your client do strenuous exercises on the first day! –They may get too sore and be too uncomfortable to workout the next session

10. Evaluating their current level of fitness  Objective evaluation –Based on measurable facts –Uses observable and measurable facts to assess an individual’s level if fitness –Ex- height, weight, body composition, blood pressure, flexibility, muscular strength, etc  Subjective evaluation –Based on client’s self-image –See how the client views his or her level of fitness

11. Two factors to consider when developing a fitness program  Skill Factors –Balance, coordination, speed, power, agility, etc –Help keep client’s interest level up by bringing some challenge to a daily routine and to keep them from getting burnt out  Health Factors –Strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body composition

12. Health factors  Strength- Ability of a muscle to exert a maximum force against a resistance. –Balance of strength is important in fitness  Muscle endurance- ability of a muscle to apply force repeatedly over a period of time.  Cardiorespiratory endurance- the MOST important aspect of physical fitness –Ability of the heart, blood vessels, and lungs to perform efficiently during sustained physical activities.

13. Health factors cont.  Flexibility- ability to stretch/move the muscle through its full ROM without causing pain or muscle tearing –Most OFTEN OVERLOOKED component of fitness  Body Composition- ratio between lean body mass and fat –Weight of the body after the body fat has been subtracted –This is the BEST way to determine ideal body weight

14. Motivating the client/athlete  Fitness (or rehab) is not an easy task, it takes hard work and dedication –You are the one responsible for motivating your individual  Two main reasons why people quit their workout routine –Time –Energy

15. Motivating your client  Help your client set goals –Make sure their goals are reasonable and realistic.  Two types of goals you should help them set: –Short term goals –Long term goals  What if your client does not meet their goal? –Stay positive! This happens to everyone. –Don’t blame them, but encourage them to get right back into the routine  Goals are met, now what? –Have them plan a reward

16. Short and Long term goals  Make sure they are attainable!  Short term –Attainable in a two-four week period –Ex. One-two pounds a week –Ex. Increase reps by 2 –Ex. Decrease mile time by 30-60 seconds  Long term –Attainable by end of your training period –Ex. Lose 40 pounds –Ex. Run a marathon –Ex. Get pbf to 15% –Ex. Lift a desired amount of weight/gain inches

17. Goal and Fitness progress cards  Help to keep track of their progress  Helps to give them “ownership” of the program and a sense of motivation and progress  Page 3-19 and 3-20

18. Fitness trends  They offer a “quick fix” that is neither realistic or healthy  They get the interest of people who are not educated about the harm they can do  Educate your clients/athletes about the harm they can do  The best way to get good results is diet and exercise

19. Emphasis to client  The main emphasis you want to get to your client/athlete is: Fitness is a journey NOT a destination!