Are any posters here certified trainers?

[checkmate36]

Just noticed this part of 2+2. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Im just curious if anyone here has a certification as a trainer? Maybe we could get a discussion going about this part of the gym lifestyle.

Im certified by Fred Hatfield's ISSA. Worked part-time for 4 years at a local gym. Kind of burned out on it and now just train myself and wife.

Some questions I have that may be of interest to discuss would be...

What cert did you get and how much $$$/long did it take to complete?

With the many choices of certs to get are you happy with the one you chose?

Whats the heaviest person you ever trained? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Whats the best transformation you helped someone achieve?

How much loot did you charge and did you do blocks of sessions or just single sessions?

Ever had a bad incident where someone tried to claim you hurt them?

Anything else?? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[sanmarcosrun1]

I am certified personal trainer. I got certified by ACE my Junior year of college I am in my Masters program now. Also got ACSM exercise specialist following my BS completion. It was about 225 dollars for the ACE test and 240 ACSM. ACE Test is application based for half of it and other half is technical stuff for areas in biomechanics, anatomy, laws, etc. ACSM pretty much same excpet lots more detail.I chose them as they are pretty highly regarded in the field but I will test for certification once I finish my grad studies. Will test with ACSM for registered clinical exercise physioloigst as they are considered the gold standard in the field. Didnt really study for the certs as department head said it was not necessary as my education was the studying needed.

Heaviest person ever trained was 548 lbs. His brother was also with him but he was slighlty less being 476. They both are now in the 260 range. I dont take credit for this much as they were dedicated individuals who wanted a life change after their parents died due to their obesity. They set goals and went after them I only pointed them in right direction and guided them through the process. Those are the best people to work with and really make the job more fun. I only charge $55 dollars a session which is cheap in Southern Cali area where I am. No bad acidents THANK GOD. Those can be messy in court. I have heard some nasty horror stories about that.

[clearcut]

I'm currently studying for my ISSA cert

[checkmate36]

Nice resume sanmarco!

I only did the ISSA cert. You seem to have the whole area covered with your college studies as well. Im sure $55 per hour is a deal with your credentials.

I trained a guy who was 600+. He was a free one that I was trying to get hooked onto the healthy lifestyle by seeing results. His buddy brought him to me and he decided he wanted to eat 3 boxes of cereal for a snack instead of going to the gym. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I never hurt anyone. I did have a guy who works for the city claim I hurt him though. During the winter the city needs to do snow removal and he shovels sand into the back of the big dump truck. He hurt his back at work and said I did it. We found out it happned at work so I was off the hook. He claimed doing nautilus back extensions on 40 lbs for 12 did this too him.

I have a buddy who was set up by a client who was previously in a car crash. They tried to blame the stiff neck on the trainer. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[checkmate36]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm currently studying for my ISSA cert

[/ QUOTE ]

GL. I enjoyed the studies. Found them very interesting. Im glad I chose ISSA.

[clearcut]

checkmate,
Thanks! I'm enjoying it... I read everything I can get my hands on when it comes to fitness so, to be honest, I thought I was going to have to learn then un-learn if you know what I mean.

[jah7_fsu1]

Just noticed this as well, hope this forum stays I love helping people.

NFPT certified, ACSM certified. Someone answered the ACSM, but I can't remember my NFPT certification. It was a long time ago, when I was a freshman in college.

I guess I'm happy with the certifications, but honestly it isn't my goal to train people anymore. I have a huge passion for exercise science, and am still getting a degree in Kines, but I have other goals in life now. At one time I wanted to be a strength and conditioning coach for a college. I got kind of burnt out on being a personal trainer...too much BS in the fitness industry. I'm going to do my first love instead, (teaching/coaching) and train people on the side perhaps.

I have helped people with many transformations (I sorta kinda consider myself a "fat loss" expert), but I'm most proud of doing strength and conditioning in the summer for back to back state championship teams the last few years (High School). I've also trained athletes at the college level.

[jah7_fsu1]

Anyone else certified?

[TxRedMan]

I trained people when I was younger, and it was really satisfying work. I saw one of the most amazing transformations when a friend of mine was in a horrible motorcycle accident when he was 15 and was like, 6'1 160 before and 6'1 140 when he came out of the hospital. In two years he went from 140 to 190, 14inch arms to 17 3/4, a 135 LB bench to 300, and he had the most insane biceps peaks anyone had ever seen. Arnold-esque, seriously. When he was 16 he was built like a vv muscular college wide receiver. He even ran a 40 in four-six, and always had a six pack. We realized that he could train everything every 48 hours and still recover, and eat as much as he could and not get fat. Talk about a recipe for growth. TBH, he gained as much as I did and I was juicing. His genetics were superb, although a little bit too lanky, but that just made his arms look even more huge than they actually were. Then he got his first GF and started [censored] and it was over.

I despise most trainers. Cliche, sterotypical, out of shape wannabe's who don't know [censored].

[jah7_fsu1]

TX: Part of the reason I'm not longer looking for a real career in the industry if because of personal trainers. Some are gold, but the vast majority are not. Very difficult to find a good PT.