You're a what? Whats s CSCS?

Recently I took an exam, the CSCS. Many people don't know much about it, from their website here is some information.

Scope of Practice

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCSs) are professionals who apply scientific knowledge to train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance. They conduct sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs and provide guidance regarding nutrition and injury prevention. Recognizing that their area of expertise is separate and distinct, CSCSs consult with and refer athletes to other professionals when appropriate.

History

The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) program was created in 1985 to identify individuals who possess the knowledge and skills to design and implement safe and effective strength and conditioning programs for athletes in a team setting. The credentialing program encourages a higher level of competence among practitioners and raises the quality of strength training and conditioning programs provided by those who are CSCS certified.

Today, more than 21,000 professionals from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds hold this prestigious credential. This diverse group includes strength coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, personal trainers, physicians, chiropractors, researchers and educators. The CSCS is the only strength training and conditioning certification to be nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and has been nationally accredited since 1993.

Prerequisites

Registrants must submit an original, official transcript of their academic work, showing attainment of at least a bachelor's degree (BS/BA) or chiropractic medicine degree granted by an accredited institution.
(to clarify Bachelor's degree in the feild)

Its all about the heart

Being a personal trainer is about FAR more then just telling people to do push ups. So often I feel undervalued for the service I provide. Usually the people who don't value this type of thing aren't at a stage where they are committed to their health goals.
I feel like our energy, vibe whatever you wanna call it manifests itself in so many different ways. When you are happy in your life, you take good care of yourself and the things around you. Many times people come to me because they need to do the action so their heart will follow. Make no mistake fitness is about heart. literally and emotionally. The problem with doing an action so your heart will follow is that many times we build walls and barriers which are difficult to overcome.
Its about loving and respecting your body, accepting it for the place its at, and being willing to nurture it to become a partner instead of an obstacle. When we are in good health, the ball and chains falls off. There is no more "i can't bc my blank hurts" instead its "what can i try now?"
I had one lady who was always taking care of others first, and she had terrible back pain and was very anxious and just felt crummy. Her workouts with me were her "me time". By commiting to personal training she was committing to her self. She would leave smiling, we always had a great time, and she lost some weight while she was at it.
I can't re-invent the wheel. I can't make someone WANT to workout, I can't workout for someone else. What I can do is provide the tools and information, a well planned, and effective program, accountability and support.

In my excitement over the wonderful and healthy groceries I purchased it occurred to me another way to explain how we should view the choices we make about our food. In moving back to walnut creek, some of my friends growing up didn't make good choices, and in general I avoid bad influences. I don't hang out with people who are going to get me in trouble, or with whom I would be guilty by association. Everyone knows to keep good company, it reflects upon you.
Well keep good food company as well. There are diet culprits and saboteurs, when grocery shopping, these types of food needs to be kept out!
If I know I am allowed one cheat meal, and that I will be working all weekend, I plan on purchasing lunches to bring with me that don't defeat my diet. They keep the bad influences out! This is relatively easy and cheap to do. For breakfast, cereal is convenient, quick, and cheap. Starting off with a good breakfast gives me the energy I need and helps maintain a constant blood sugar level. Special K has a new protein one I'm giving a shot. Let's start the calorie count... To lose weight, for my ht, activity level, weight and goals my budget is 1600-1800. Breakfast =300. I can have a naked or odwalla juice on my 10 minute break and 2 60cal string cheeses, so 10 minute break =350 lunch break is a bit bigger meal, salad (250cal) and a sandwich (200-300cal). That's about 1200 cals to get me through my entire day. This also allows more freedom from dinner, which now can be a heavier meal weighing in at 400-600 calories.
When grocery shopping, I didn't have all of this planned out by the numbers because I have made a lifestyle of eating well. I knew I needed to eat one salad a day, I LOVE special K. I also knew I'd need some sugar and protein on my break, and that I'd be starving by my lunch break so I'd want more.
When shopping I did deliberate on some of my "cheat" choices. I do have a sweet tooth, so I got blueberries to satisfy that urge, but that would also do something good for me nutritionally. I got sun chips to have with salsa, and I got whole wheat bunnies by Anne's organic food. The thing is I looked at the 100 calorie packs, and knew they'd give me a sugar spike then let me down... and ultimately not be a "team player" for my goals. They'd be like inviting criminals into my nutritional home. $60 dollars of groceries that would keep my diet, energy and budget on track with only 2 minutes of planning sets me up for success!
So the key points, make your food work for you (recognize healthy choices and make them), know what you need going in, and keep good company :)

Do negative calorie foods really exist?

I love this article! it clarifies what negative calorie foods really are, and at the end gives a summed up list of foods that anyone trying to lose weight or get healthy. Its a MUST READ


Do negative calorie foods really exist?

Empowerment

One of the things I enjoy most about Personal Training is that I watch as people become empowered to change their lives. While life in general does through obstacles in our ways, its important to remember that with fitness, we do have a certain level of control that deeply benefits our lives. The control we have is behavior change. If a personal willingly ends a bad behavior, they lose the negative consequences, and even better if they ADD a good behavior they are rewarded. Over time even the smallest things add up.
Whether its self esteem gained by being the change we needed, or just simply the change and empowerment, fitness has a place in everyone's life

the good restuarant

I don't know why all my analogies and comparisons come back to food. Maybe its because its so universal.
While introducing my clients to the gym, I always take time to point out the free weight/dumbbell area. I also point out all the "intimidating" buff men/women. "look how in shape they are... they are very muscular" I'll say to my clients. They are so muscular because what they are doing works. Then we will walk to the machine area. "now look at the shape of these people." While there are obviously muscular people that also use the machines, they are primarily in the free weight area.
Areas in the gym are like a good restaurant. When a place has amazing food and good service, its always full and busy. People want to eat there because it looks good. No one wants to eat in a place where people are running out holding their stomachs, or a place that is mysteriously empty on a Friday night around dinner time. We know without over analyzing that a deserted restaurant is a bad sign, that no one wants to eat there.
But what about the gym? We see the results that are given by the free weights, and the dedication of those participants. So being afraid of the most popular parts of the gym is like being afraid to eat at the popular restaurants.

Mold

Many people do not realize that their health problems are much like moldy leftovers in the back of the fridge. If you leave something small and moldy in the back of the fridge and just pretend its not there, it will never go away. Not only will the problem still be there, but it will become worse and worse turning into a much larger more significantly gross tupperwear full of mold. If the leftovers had just been thrown out on day 5, the tupperwear just goes into the dishwasher, business as usual... but if not, the mold covered tupperwear must now be emptied, soaked in bleach, scrubbed and scraped before going into the dishwasher. and not in the fun easy way either.
Same thing with the human body. something as small as 10 extra pounds can be easily taken care of. However when its ignored and 10 turns into 20, turns into 50... then the severity of the problem is much worse. It can turn into a life threatening disease, and is not so easily or enjoyably taken care of. Now it has turned into a battle. things like high blood pressure, colon cancer, heart disease and diabetes are all connected too obesity, and with each of those problems many more risks like blindness and stroke are also on the coattails.
Many people take for granted their health and don't do what they should or could to help themselves. The road to wellness is more then just a workout or some green veggies, but its mostly mental. You have to have the motivation, dedication and passion to do it. These are traits we all want to have for life in general, so why not cherish our own lives and give our bodies the love and respect they need.