In search of an Atlanta personal trainer?

If you are in search of an Atlanta personal trainer you may have a few questions and specifications in mind.

Take a quick look through the list to help you on your search for the Atlanta personal trainer that is for you.

Before you hire a personal trainer you should ask the following questions:

1. What are their qualifications/certification

• Just about any trainer in Atlanta is likely to have an impressive-looking diploma or certificate indicating that he or she is a personal trainer, do not be dazzled. Find out just what organization performed the certification you will soon find that some ar better than others, some are just weekend classes, so beware.
  

There are about 400 organizations in the U.S. that purport to certify personal fitness trainers. Of those 400 or so only a handful are considered legitimate. Certifications to consider come form the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). The better organizations have specific requirements based on tested and practical knowledge, mandatory retesting at renewal periods, and continuing education. The ACSM has recently begun to require that its certified trainers have a formal educational degree in exercise science or a related field.

Be sure to read those acronyms closely. Some of the more dubious organizations select names that closely resemble the well-known and legitimate certifications.

Maybe the next most important consideration when selecting your personal trainer is whether you and your trainer are a good match. You and your trainer do not have to be the best of friends but do make sure it is someone you like.

It is a good idea to take your time in choosing a personal trainer. Make sure that you feel comfortable with him or her and that you're not afraid to ask questions. Because if there isn't a good rapport there, you're just not going to want to go back to the gym. Personal training should be a positive experience and possibly a lifetime habit. The personal trainer must fit your specific needs, goals, lifestyle, and limitations.

The American Council on Exercise, a certifying organization, suggests that by passing their certification a personal trainer will have a minimum level of proficiency and theoretical knowledge essential to screen and evaluate you, design a safe and effective exercise program, instruct you in the correct exercise techniques to avoid injury, and respond to the typical questions and problems that arise in a one-to-one setting.

Most certifications require continuing education credits which ensures that the personal trainer keeps current with the available body of knowledge.

Experience is an important aspect as well. Often experience and price go together, as experience increases you can expect the price to go up as well. Some will even say that experience is far more important than any certifications.

most important aspect in choosing a personal trainer

• goals

You must determine what they want out of personal training, that way you will get the most out of your training.

• For example, if the your goal is in improving sports performance, then a certified strength and conditioning specialist is the most appropriate person for the job.
  
• If your goal is to compete in a bodybuilding contest, perhaps having a bodybuilder as a personal trainer will provide you with the best results.
• If weight loss is your goal, find a personal trainer in Atlanta who also has a background in nutrition and weight loss. You may find that a weight loss boot camp may work for you as well.

You have to choose a personal trainer that can help you achieve your goal. Your personal trainer’s skills should match your needs. The first step there is to have a clear goal as to wht you want.

Where and how do you want to exercise?
In Atlanta there are a number of options as to locations:

• at home
• at a gym
• outside biking or out on the tennis court
• private studio
• outdoor boot camp
• train with a friend
  
• a group exercise class
• weight training
• cardiovascular training
• sports specific exercise
• or a combination

Personal training sessions can cost as little as $30 an hour to over $150 an hour. Some trainers will offer packages and discounts. It is a good idea for you to develop a budget for personal training and try to find someone who meets all of their criteria within that budget.

Finding a qualified personal fitness trainer can be difficult. Some people base more credence on educational background, some want a trainer they can be friends with, and some will base their decisions on how much the trainer costs. Whatever the end result, the process should still be the same.You will need to have a clear-cut idea of your personal exercise goals and should interview trainers like any other job interview.

Guidelines for Choosing a Personal Trainer

• Set your fitness/exercise goals before meeting with the trainer
• Determine if certification, education, specialization, or experience is most important
• Make a budget for personal training and know what your limit is
• Decide where you want to exercise and how you want to exercise
• Determine if you want to be alone or with a group
• Interview the trainer to determine philosophy, personality, and flexibility
• Rate the Trainer
  

To help the determine which Atlanta personal trainer is the best for you try this checklist. Rate each attribute on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being the best, and total each column. At a quick glance, this chart can give the client a comparison of trainers.

Trainer’s name:
Certifications:
Education:
Years of experience:
Personality:
Philosophy:
Rate:
Availability:
Flexibility:
Other:
Total:

For more information you can contact
Grounded Personal Training and Sports Performance

Grounded Personal Training and Sports Performance

Wanted to let people know of the new websites that we will be moving to

If you live in the Atlanta, GA in the Buckhead Midtown area and are looking for a personal trainer take a look at the new site: Grounded Personal Training In Atlanta

Weight loss and workout training tips and articles will be moving to the: Grounded Personal Training Blog

TRX - Bodyweight Workouts

I can not say enough about the TRX system. You can get a great workout anywhere at anytime. There are hundreds of exercises to choose from and plenty of variation to accommodate different strength levels. Enjoy the clip as you see some of the exercises that you can do with your bodyweight and a TRX. Great for sport conditioning in football and golf, or as a tool to build muscle and lose fat.

I want to know more about Personal Training with the TRX System

Atlanta area personal fitness coach that comes to you.
In the Atlanta area?

The TRX a gym in a bag

Email: weightworkout@yahoo.ca

Contact me here

Unconventional Fat Loss - Hybrid Training

Hybrid Training for Fat Loss

Adapting to the strength curve of an exercise is not a new concept - some do it through machines designed for the job...some do it by working on partial movements.

But literally COMBINING two different forms of resistance into one exercise? THIS is not something you see every day. And, strictly speaking, even the concept of combining two different forms of resistance itself isn't new - band training is a TREMENDOUSLY effective way to increase bench press, squats and deadlifts. Powerflifters do this all the time.

The idea I had was to not only ADD another form of resistance but also change the DIRECTION that secondary form of resistance was coming from.

This idea first occurred to me when I was doing dumbbell presses. I thought to myself, "hmmm...I'm getting great tension at the bottom of the exercise...I wonder if there's a way that I can increase the tension at the top, too?"

So I went over to the cable cross-over machine and set the two handles on the low pulleys. I set the bench in the very center then reached over and grabbed the one pulley handle, then reached over and grabbed the other. After sitting back up on the bench, I then leaned forward and picked up the dumbbells.

What followed was one of THE most eye-opening sets of bench press I had EVER done...

Picture this...when you're doing a dumbbell bench press, you get maximum tension at the bottom of the exercise. But as you press up to the top, the leverage changes and you lose most of that tension. By the time you're at the top of the exercise, you've lost pretty much all of it unless you're actively squeezing the muscles.

Now picture this...when you're doing a flat bench cable flye exercise (which is same as dumbbell flyes but with cables), you get practically NO tension at the bottom, but, as you bring your hands together above, you get MAXIMUM tension at the top, with the cables pulling directly out to the sides.

Got those two exercises visualized in your head? Good. Now mash them together...

Imagine the cable handles AND dumbbells in your hands AT THE SAME TIME.

This time, when you do the press, you're going to get maximum tension from the dumbbells at the bottom and almost no tension from the cables.

But, as you press up and lose tension in the dumbbell press, the CABLE tension starts kicking in. By the time you've hit the top, the cables are at MAXIMUM tension.

The result? A dumbbell bench press where your pecs get NO BREAK WHATSOEVER. The tension is just INCREDIBLE. I would say that one of these sets is worth THREE normal sets.

When I did this exercise for the very first time (and naturally, because it felt so good, I did too many sets!), I couldn't bring my arms across my body without them starting to shake.

And, of course, I couldn't stop there. I went ahead and came up with exercises like this for the ENTIRE body.

The Verdict:

A definite winner! This training technique has tremendous potential for increasing strength and muscle mass fast. I train with this technique regularly and, let me tell you, I KNOW there's a difference in how these exercises affect muscle growth and strength compared to standard exercises.

If you're interested in checking out a bicep exercise using this technique, check out this article:

Cable-Barbell Curls - "Hybrid Training" For Incredible Biceps!

And if you're interested in learning more about the rest of these "Hybrid" exercises I mentioned, check out the e-book "Hybrid Training."

It has ALL the exercises I've come up with using this technique, covering the ENTIRE body. This is POWERFUL stuff.

I want to know more about Personal Fitness Training and Fat Loss

Atlanta area personal fitness coach that comes to you.
In the Atlanta area?

Looking to improve your Health and Fitness?

A Internationally Certified Strength Coach can help.

 jason@inthegym.info

Email: weightworkout@yahoo.ca

Contact me here

FMS Certified Specialist

Functional Movement Screen Certified Specialist

Looking for a quick and easy way to determine if you or your athletes are at risk of injury? By performing the Functional Movement Screen you can quickly ascertain potential risk which often goes undetected in conventional training. Use the functional movement screen to refine training, check for imbalances, and faulty movement patterns.

Some professionals look at movement patterns to identify those who may be at risk for an injury as activity levels are increased. Others are interested in performance and consider movement patterns as they develop fitness and performance programs. Here is a system that does BOTH.

As 1 of only 2 certified Functional Movement Screen specialists in all of Georgia I am qualified to administer the FMS the can help identity problems that need to be addressed.

The FMS is an orthopedic screening process created to assess and document functional movement patterns. By identifying and correcting basic movement pattern limitations, risk of injury is reduced and improvements in strength and performance are optimized. This is crucial for clients ranging from serious golfers looking to lower their handicap to senior citizens looking to move and feel better.

The FMS is made up of seven tests that look at fundamental functional movements that make up the foundation for human movement. The Functional Movement Screen is simply a way to expose fundamental flaws that are masked by compensations. These limitations lead to poor efficiency, potential for injury, and decreased performance,or chronic pain.

The Functional Movement Screen is a non-invasive test comprised of seven tests that assess mobility and stability. Benefits of Obtaining Screening Information
- Helps to reduce the potential for training and sports injuries.
- Identifies physical imbalances or weaknesses.
-Identifies potential cause and effect relationships of micro-trauma as well chronic
injuries in relation to movement asymmetries.

After completing the FMS and analyzing the results an individualized Corrective Exercise Program can be assigned that will improve faulty mechanics and enhance physical development.

Please contact me for prices and details.

Email: weightworkout@yahoo.ca

I want to know more about the Functional Movement Screen

Atlanta area personal fitness coach that comes to you.
In the Atlanta area?

For more information on the Functional Movement Screen visit:
http://www.functionalmovement.com

Internationally Certified Strength Coach

Contact me here
jason@inthegym.info

High-intensity training Fat Loss

Find out why high-intensity training may be
your best bet for trimming your waistline.

But how can this possibly be? Everywhere you look, it's always said that long-duration, low-intensity training is best for fat loss. All high-intensity work does is burn carbohydrates, right?

Wrong.

After reading this article, I guarantee you'll develop a new respect for high-intensity cardio training for fat loss.

Low-intensity exercise is defined as working at a heart rate of about 60% to 65% of your maximum heart rate (which is equal to 220 - your age = maximum heart rate, thus if you are 20 years old, 220 - 20 = 200 max HR). High-intensity exercise is defined as working at about 75 to 85% or more of your maximum heart rate.

Using the previous example for maximum heart rate (max HR=200), working at 60% of your max HR would be 120 beats per minute and 80% of that would be 160 beats per minute.

There are several reasons low-intensity exercise is normally recommended for fat loss.

1. It's easy - In many cases people who are trying to lose fat don't always feel energetic enough to do hard training due to the caloric deficit (a.k.a. diet) that they are on. In these cases, just sticking to an exercise program can be hard enough, never mind making the exercise itself challenging.

2. It's low risk - A personal trainer generally can't go wrong by recommending low-intensity exercise to clients. Even the most out of shape person can usually do low-intensity cardio training safely. While this is certainly appropriate advice for novice trainers, it does not necessarily apply to the more experienced trainer when it comes to effective training.

3. It burns a higher percentage of calories from fat - this is very true: exercising at a lower intensity does burn a higher percentage of calories from fat than high-intensity exercise. But, as I will explain, this does not necessarily mean you're going to burn more fat.

Let's crunch some numbers to show you exactly what I mean when I say high-intensity exercise burns more fat.

Low-intensity training burns about 50% fat for energy while high-intensity training burns about 40% fat for energy. This is not a huge difference.

Say, for example, walking for 20 minutes burns 100 calories. Then 50% of 100 calories is 50 fat-calories burned.

Now say 10 minutes of interval training at a high intensity burns 160 calories. Well, 40% of 160 calories is 64 fat-calories burned.

By doing the high-intensity work, you've just burned 14 more fat calories in half the time. Starting to sound good? There's more...

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Low-intensity exercise only burns calories while you are actually exercising. That means the moment you stop exercising, your caloric expenditure goes back down to nearly baseline levels. Within minutes, you're not burning many more calories than if you hadn't done anything at all.

High-intensity exercise, on the other hand, continues to boost your metabolism long after you're done (often up to 24 hours after, depending on the length and intensity of the training session). This means you're continuing to burn many more calories all day long!

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Low-intensity exercise does nothing to build or support muscle mass. Maintaining muscle mass is critical to an effective fat-loss strategy as muscle burns fat just sitting there. Want to keep your metabolism working to burn fat? Do whatever you can to build or keep your muscle tissue.

High-intensity exercise has the potential to increase muscle mass. Compare the body of a top sprinter to a top marathon runner. The sprinter carries far more muscle mass. You won't get big bulky muscles from high intensity training but you will get shapely and more defined muscles!

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How To Do It

Now that you've seen how effective high intensity training can be for fat loss, how is it done?

The absolute easiest way to start this type of training is to get on a cardio machine at the gym and select the interval training program. As you'll see, you'll start off with a fairly light warm-up cycle, then quickly jump up to a high intensity level for a short burst. You will then drop back down to a low level for a period of time, then back up to a high level again, repeated several times and finishing with an appropriate cool-down period.

The repetition of these intervals is the nuts and bolts of high intensity interval training. You can also do it manually by adjusting your intensity level up and down over short periods of time.

For example, do 30 seconds at high power then 30 seconds at low power. Repeat. It's very simple and very effective.

Another excellent method for doing high-intensity training is called aerobic interval training. It is essentially the same concept as the previously explained interval training but the work intervals are longer with the intensity level somewhat lower. A good example would be running at a pace that you can only keep up for about 5 minutes then walking for 2 minutes then running 5 more minutes, walking 2 minutes, etc.

High-intensity training can be applied to any form of cardiovascular exercise. Anything from walking/sprinting to swimming to bike riding will work perfectly. I would recommend doing his type of training 2 to 3 times per week for best results. As always, be sure to consult with your physician before starting any exercise program.

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Remember, what you get out of exercise is directly proportional to what you put in. Work at high-intensity training for awhile and see just how much better your fat-loss efforts go.
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Article by: Nick Nilsson is Vice-President of the online personal training company BetterU, Inc. He has a degree in Physical Education and Psychology and has been inventing new training techniques for more than 16 years. Nick is the author of a number of bodybuilding eBooks including "Metabolic Surge - Rapid Fat Loss," "The Best Exercises You've Never Heard Of," "Gluteus to the Maximus - Build a Bigger Butt NOW!" and "The Best Abdominal Exercises You've Never Heard Of". He can be contacted at betteru@fitstep.com.

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What can a personal trainer do for you - Improved Sport Performance

Personal Trainer to Help for Your Sport or Event Training

One of the most effective ways to improve your sport performance is to enlist the services of a professional, in this case a certified strength coach.

If you are interested in running the Peachtree 10K next year, or want to standout on the playing field this year and professional strength and conditioning coach can help you achieve your goals.

No matter your chosen activity, training for a marathon, a golf tournament or some other type of sport or event, an experienced trainer can help you in three very important aspects of your training. The first and most important is keeping you healthy. I say this because if you are hurt you are not able to participate, and could be sidelined forever. Every sport and activity carries with it a certain amount of risk, this risk can be minimized if the proper prehab and conditioning has taken place. If you play golf are you taking care of your back, if not you better get to it or you may be stuck watching the game on tv as apposed to playing.

Strength coaches can help you figure out what you need to do to stay strong without taking away from your other training. They can also help create a training programs that work with you up coming event so you perform your best when you need to.

If you are serious about your sport then it is in your best interest to work with a certified strength coach.

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Want to Improve Sport Performance? Contact me Here.

Need Help Looking for a Personal Trainer

A Simple Gide to Help Choose a Personal Trainer

Everyone has their own reasons for enlisting the services of a personal trainer. Regardless of the reason, your personal trainer has to possess the skills to help you reach your health and fitness goals. In Atlanta and other cities the listing of fitnesses professionals is lengthy, selecting the someone to help you can be a daunting task. To help you sort through the list I have compiled a few suggestions that may help you select the best personal trainer for your needs.

Credentials are not everything but they are an excellent place to start. This article describes outlines a few credentials worth your consideration when seeking a professional personal trainer.

There are a number of personal trainer certifications for a professional to choose from. There is not a government agency or any regulations involved in personal training, because of this there are many people offering certifications and it is up to you to ensure the certification is reputable.

Out of the many quality agencies in the US those listed below are considered to be among the most respected in the field. It is in your best interest is to find a trainer who is certified by one of the following:

* National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
* American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
* American Council on Exercise (ACE)
* International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
* National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
* National Council of Strength & Fitness (NCSF)
* National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)

All the above trainers with the above certifications have had to demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology, exercise prescription, nutrition, and responsibility to the client. Plus they have to be certified in CPR in order to sit for the exams. Most of these certifying bodies require their trainers to continue learning enforcing a minimum amount of continuing education credits.

The above certifying agencies require their trainers to take an exam in person, some certifications allow their candidates to take home exams. If this is the case there is no way to ensure that the trainer in question actually took the exam, or cheated in some way. You can not be sure they have earned their certification.

Something else to look for - Do they practice what they preach? Would you go to a dentist with bad teeth? Why use a personal trainer that is not as fit or healthy as yourself?

I hope I have been able to point you in the right direction in your search for your private personal trainer.

Atlanta area personal trainer that comes to you.
Looking for a Personal Trainer? Contact me Here.