PFI Online Blog

Hi June Boot Campers!

Just a friendly reminder that I’m looking for your pictures to post here in the online blog! I’m looking forward to seeing what you took pictures of and how you remember the week.

For me the week was a whirlwind of highlights- when I think back on the week it’s pretty hard to choose one “favorite moment”. Maybe it was watching you guys push yourselves and challenge each other at Camp Lee, or the excitement that you all had when Tommy was going through the sport workouts (even though the temperature was over 100 degrees!), or the relief on everyone’s face after getting out of the exam? One thing does stick out in my mind though- the snores that I heard during Yoga class! It’s all good though- at least you were relaxed enough to fall asleep the morning of the exam

Here are a few of the pictures that I took over the week- I’ll be posting more soon!

Thanks,

Tina

Grant, Terry, Aaron and Jon discuss Postural Assessments, Tommy and the box jumps, Ron’s Resistance Band Workout, Ron and Shem pose for a pic, Aaron going for the Push-up record, Orange Team rockin’ the high knee pull, Kaye demonstrating the twisting lunge, Warner’s Workin’ Hard!, Chas talks about the finer points of functional training, Pool Time, At the sign

Sarah Brown and Austin Smith are watching out for you guys- they have both sent me some great pictures! Below are the ones that Sarah sent, Austin’s are posted online at: http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/austinsmith85/Vegas%20Bootcamp/

Thanks!

Thanks to Ryan Bonzato, the March boot campers have a few more memories to look at online.

Ryan is currently working at Extreme Fitness and has three steady clients.  He also runs a fitness boot camp that meets three times a week.  The boot camp includes running and agility work, I’m sure his clients are tired but in great shape!  Go Ryan

Wow, that had to be the weirdest weather that I’ve had for a boot camp yet- we started out the week with a high of 113, then the temps dropped almost 40 degrees!!! And it rained. In Vegas. That NEVER happens! Anyway, despite the crazy weather, we had a great boot camp. Tommy’s Monday workout stressed technique, coaching, and the importance of monitoring clients during the exercise session. Tuesday’s deep water pool workout showed us that water is not for wimps- you gotta be tough to hang in the deep water for an hour! For me, the highlight of the week was the high ropes course at Camp Lee- to see Yamille, Amber, Stephen, and Angie conquer their fear of heights was incredible. Everyone was so supportive, motivating, and geared up that I think all of the students were able to challenge themselves to do something that they never thought they would do. Pictures from Sunday’s lifting session with Tommy and the Las Vegas Sign are here, I’m waiting for everyone else to send me theirs!

I’d also like to take a second to congratulate our Boot Camp King and Queen, Ernest “Will” Williams and Francine Winkler. I think we all could have guessed that Will was going to win, but Francine was definitely the “sleeper” contender for the Queen title! As always, it was so tough to decide who will win the “Most Motivated” award, we had so many great people here this week! Sara came really close with all of the help and motivation that she gave everyone in the pool, but in the end, we had to give it to Eric Mosqueda for all of the great questions, answers, and motivation that he gave during the week! The “Boot Camper of the Week” award goes to the student that embodies the boot camp experience, and this time we had no trouble deciding that the award should go to Austin Smith.

On a personal note, I would like to thank all of the students from the May boot camp. You guys all have such great personalities, and that made it so much easier to remember all of your names for the week! This is the first large boot camp that I actually was able to remember everyone’s name and something about each of you. So thank you for being distinguishable, I know that you will take those personalities and have incredible careers.

As always, if you need anything, just let me know!

Kristina- actually, now it’s just Tina so that Chris and I don’t confuse you guys!

Sign- crazy, Sign- nice, Olympic Lifts 1, Olympic Lifts 2, Olympic Lifts 3, Olympic Lifts 4, Olympic Lifts 5, Olympic Lifts 6, Olympic Lifts 7, Olympic Lifts 8, Olympic Lifts 9, Boot Camp King, Boot Camp Queen

Hi All,

Becki just sent me her pictures from boot camp, and (as promised) here they are!  Enjoy

We have had such a great time this week- between Speed and Agility training in the park on Monday, the pool on Tuesday, and the adventure course on Wednesday it’s definitely hard to pick a favorite from this week! Boot Camp week always starts out with a little bit of nervousness- everyone is so focused on taking the NSCA exam, but the students quickly realize that there is so much more to the week than the test. If there was just one thing that I could recommend for every student to bring to boot camp, it would be an open mind. Not everything that we do and say at boot camp is going to fit with your training philosophy, but take the things that make sense to you and use them in your practice. Use this as an opportunity to challenge yourself and challenge your knowledge- that is the best way to grow as a personal trainer, and as an individual.

Recently, the Early Show on CBS ran a segment investigating the personal training industry. While I do not agree with everything presented in this segment (I have not ever come across a gym that will hire a personal trainer with a second rate certification, nevermind someone who has no certification whatsoever), the report does bring up a good point. Not all certifications are worth the paper that they are printed on. There are four certifications that are well respected in the fitness industry: NSCA, ACSM, NASM, and ACE. If your certification does not come from one of these industry leaders you have wasted your time and your money.

Even with a certification through one of these organizations, a 2002 study showed that education (not experience) in the fitness industry is the major predictor of a trainer’s ability to develop a safe and effective exercise program.

Certification and education are important factors when considering your personal training career. The educational program offered through Professional Fitness Institute and our partner institutions concentrates on the art and science of personal training. Through the program, students learn anatomy, physiology, psychology, business, and exercise prescription. Also, PFI students take the NSCA certified personal trainer exam- one of the most well-respected credentials in the fitness industry. So, if you are looking for a CAREER in the fitness industry, and you care about helping people pursue health and fitness, you are the student that we’re looking for.

Hyponatremia (abnormally low levels of sodium in the blood associated with excess water consumption) has received a lot of attention in the media lately, particularly after the article “10 medical myths” was published in the British Medical Journal.  In the article, the authors state that the 8 glasses of water per day standard is a myth created in the 1940’s that gained popularity after it was supported by a well-known nutritionist.  The authors further state that “Existing studies suggest that adequate fluid intake is usually met through typical daily consumption of juice, milk, and even caffeinated beverages.  But drinking excess amounts of water can be dangerous, resulting in water intoxication, hyponatremia, and even death.”   These two sentences have led to a rash of dire reports regarding the “dangers of drinking water”.  What are we to do as fitness professionals?

The truth is that hyponatremia is a very rare condition that develops partially due loss of electrolytes through sweating and through excess rehydration with water only (i.e. no sports drinks!).  Symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, malaise, nausea, and vomiting.  In very rare instances, an individual can develop this condition through consumption of water alone, but the sheer volume of water that the person would have to consume is mind-boggling.  In actuality the risks associated with dehydration after  exhaustive exercise are much more common than those seen with excess hydration after exercise.  The NSCA recommends that athletes rehydrate with 16 oz. of fluid per pound lost during the exercise session.  Other drinks, such as gatorade and powerade, should be considered depending on the specific goals of the client.

A recent study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research says that yes, personal training does help! 

The study was conducted on 46 women who were currently training in a health club for at least three months.  Half of the women had been training with a personal trainer for at least three months, while the other half of the women were working out on their own.  The study found that women who had worked with a personal trainer self-selected higher weights on the leg press, chest press,  leg extension, and seated row.  Training with more weight is associated with all of the positive benefits that we always hear about for weight training: increased bone density, increased muscle mass, increased basal metabolic rate, decreased fat mass, etc.  In addition, the women who had worked with a personal trainer also used a greater variety of gym equipment than the women who did not work with a personal trainer.  This is important because people who depend on machines as their only source of resistance training tend to become bored with their fitness routines which eventually leads them to stop coming to the gym!  Lastly, women who worked with a personal trainer reported that they depended on thier trainer for resistance training information.  This seems like an obvious conclusion, but it also means that these women were less likely to rely on information from the television, magazines, and relatives; all of which are less reliable sources of safe and effective information regarding fitness and nutrition than personal trainers.

What does all of this add up to?  It means that as a trainer you will be seen as an information source, people will depend on you to give them a workout that uses a variety of equipment in the gym, and your clients will train at higher intensity levels and will reach their goals faster than the people who are just coming to the gym on their own! 

What a great boot camp we had last week! All of the students brought their best efforts and really made it difficult for us to decide on the final awards! We did finally come up with our Boot Camper and Most Motivated Student of the week (after much deliberation, drum roll please…)

Most Motivated Student: Sean Peeler

Sean showed great initiative every day, and (as this award states) did his best to motivate himself and his fellow students throughout the week. Sean’s positive attitude, insightful questions, and willingness to “get dunked” made him the natural choice for the most motivated student of the week.

Boot Camper of the Week: Nicole Peeler

Wow, Nicole came out to Vegas to kick some butt on the NSCA exam, but we found out that she kicked butt on all of the boot camp activities! The Boot Camper of the week award is given to the student who embodies boot camp- someone who shows leadership, professionalism, promotes team work, helps others, tries his/her best during both lecture and workouts, and is willing to do just a little bit extra to make sure everyone gets the most out of boot camp.

I’d like to thank all of the students who came out to Boot Camp last week!

Keep in touch,

Kristina