THE FITNESS EXPERT By John DeFendis
A Personal Trainer? (Week #2)

Knowledge is POWER! This statement definately holds true, especially when it comes to fitness and health. After making the decision to lose weight and get in shape, we must now learn how to put our plan into action! After you have joined a local gym, the next step is to hire a qualified trainer.
I think that it is a great idea to hire a trainer, even if it is just to make sure that you are on the right track and that you are training up to your capabilities. So many times I see personal trainers just babysitting their clients and not teaching them or pushing them to their personal limit on their exercises. This is a waste of money. You are not paying them to be your friend. My clients have personal goals that I set for them in all their workouts and they must reach those goals. This is what creates positive results and keeps them motivated. You must strive to be the best that you can be.
As for recommending a good trainer for you, I would rather tell you what to look for when hiring a personal trainer and let you decide who would be best suited for your specific needs.

Guidelines for selecting a Qualified Personal Trainer:
#1. Make sure that the trainer has been certified through a recognized certification program. Some of the better recognized certifications are: IFPA (The International Fitness Professionals Association), ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association), ACE. and ACSM (American College Of Sports Medicine.)

#2. Certifications due have merit, but it is also imperative that the trainer have practical knowledge through years of experience in working one on one with individuals who have had specific goals such as Fat loss, Cardiovascular Conditioning, Bodyshaping or Strength and Muscle Gains.

#3. Ask the trainer for Before and After photographs of some of their success stories. This is a must. A good trainer should be able to produce dramatic results in just a few short weeks. Also ask if you could speak with some of the trainers clients or if you could have a list of references.

#4. Interview the trainer to make sure that your personalities do not clash and that he/she is the type of person that you would like to have work with you. This is very important. You must enjoy the workouts and have confidence in the trainer in order to stay motivated.

#5. Find a trainer that focuses on Nutrition and the importance of a low fat, low salt and low sugar diet, and how it can be applied in conjunction with an effective exercise program. Also learn the importance that vitamin supplements and nutrients play in speeding up your progress.
As always, I wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect trainer for you. And please call me with any questions or just to update me on your personal progress! Stay healthy and motivated.
Your Coach & Friend,
John DeFendis (The Fitness Expert)

NOTE: JOHN DEFENDIS IS A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE FORUM NEWSPAPER. HE IS A FORMER MR. U.S.A. AND HAS BEEN FEATURED ON "ABC T.V.'S 20/20", "GOOD MORNING AMERICA", AND "THE JOAN RIVERS SHOW". HE HAS BEEN A TRAINER FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND IS THE DIRECTOR OF EXERCISE WITH THE IFPA. HE DEVELOPED THE BURN FAT BUILD MUSCLE PACK AND CAN BE CONTACTED AT (561) 968-6578.