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1. What can I
expect from my first nutrition appointment?
2. What will happen during my first training
appointment?
3. How many follow-up, personal training/nutrition
appointments will I need?
4. What is the difference between a registered dietitian and a nutritionist?
5. Aren’t personal trainers only for pro
athletes and movie stars? Why should
I hire a personal trainer if I’m not interested in extreme fitness or sports?
6. How do I choose a personal trainer?
7. Will I be really sore working with a personal trainer?
8. Do you work with people with special needs?
Not every body is the same. Not everyone’s
nutritional and diet needs are the same. Our first nutrition appointment
is to figure out what your expectations are as a client and how I,
as a personal trainer and registered dietitian, can help you meet
those needs.
The primary purpose of the first appointment is to assess your nutrition
status and lifestyle habits. Before we meet, I will provide you with
several forms to fill out. These forms will help me better understand
your nutrition, exercise, and diet habits.
We will go over your past medical history, current medications and
supplements, weight history, exercise habits, food dislikes and likes,
possible food allergies/ sensitivities, meal and snacking patterns
and what you wish to accomplish by working with me. We will review
your daily food records and food frequency list to estimate your caloric
intake and assess the macro and micro nutrient balance of your diet.
The first training appointment
brings back those memories of PE class time trials. Lots of butterflies
and kids watching you struggle to do as many sit ups as possible
in 60 seconds.
Don’t fret! Being a NYC certified personal trainer and working
to build confidence and physical fitness in my clients is one of
the favorite parts of my job. (And I promise not to bring a stop-watch!)
Though we won’t be working out during the first meeting, I
need you to come in your exercise clothes. I’ll take an exercise
history and a medical history and determine any risk factors that
could interfere with your ability to safely participate in an exercise
program. I assess posture, flexibility, and strength. I measure
waist, hip, chest, arm and leg circumferences, body fat, lean mass,
total body water and resting metabolic rate. This is so I can determine
where to begin in an individualized training program. Each client
of mine is different, so this first session is to assess your needs.
We will also discuss business policies and you will be asked to
sign some business forms.
Read detailed description of personal training services here.
Every client’s needs and
goals are different. How many personal training, nutrition, or health
consultation appointments you need depend on the reason for your
visit, the complexity of your symptoms or medical diagnosis, the
level of nutrition and exercise knowledge you possess, and how well
you apply the new knowledge learned. As your dietitian and nutritionist,
it's my job to work with you to determine how many appointments
you need. For instance someone wishing to lose weight will need
more appointments than someone coming to discuss supplement use.
Some clients go through processes that need constant adjusting and
professional support.
A registered dietitian, or RD, is
a dietetics practioner who has completed specific academic and supervised
practice requirements that trains her in food and nutrition for
illness and health. An RD must complete a rigorous registration
examination supervised by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
of the American Dietetic Association. Individuals with this credential
have and maintain requirements for re-certification. “Registered
Dietitian” is a legally protected title. An RD with an MS
credential indicates a dietitian has an advanced degree in a specialty
area, such as sports nutrition or counseling.
Some RDs call themselves nutritionists. However, the definition
and requirements for the term “nutritionist” vary. Some
states have licensure laws that define the scope of practice for
someone using the designation nutritionist. Currently the state
of New York has approved some individuals as certified dietitian/nutritionists
(CD/Ns) and they are investigating licensure for the term nutritionist.
No not at all! Many people who join gyms
and start fitness programs are quickly discouraged because they
don’t feel like they’re achieving the physical results
they want. Others feel intimidated and have no idea where to begin.
Sound familiar?
Personal trainers are definitely not only for the rich and famous!
I am a certified personal trainer and work with men and women of
all fitness levels from the pro athlete to the beginner. I will
develop cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, and fitness programs
individualized to your health needs and goals. My job as a personal
trainer is to motivate you, correct your form and revamp your program
along the way so you continue to progress and achieve your goals
whether you want to lose body fat, build muscle and strength or
increase cardiovascular fitness. I also work with clients with special
health concerns like back problems, diabetes, heart disease, joint
problems and pre-post natal modifications. As a personal trainer,
my favorite clients are “regular people” who want to
learn how to live a better, healthier life.
Anyone can call herself a personal trainer
but not everyone can perform the important functions of a trainer.
You want to choose a personal trainer with an educational background
in fitness that holds a certification from a well-respected fitness
organization like The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM),
American Council on Exercise (ACE), The National Association of
Sports Medicine (NASM) or The National Strength and Conditioning
Association (NSCA). Here are some questions you might want to ask
before deciding on a personal trainer:
- What is your exercise and educational background?
- Are you certified by a nationally recognized organization?
- Are you a member of any of the aforementioned professional associations?
- Are you certified in CPR and first aid?
- Can you provide me with client references?
- How do you work with clients with goal setting?
- How do you chart progress?
- Do you require a physician’s release form? Will you update my medical history?
- How much do you charge per session? What are your billing and cancellation policies?
With a new exercise and fitness program,
a little bit of muscle soreness is more than normal. How sore you
get, though, depends on your fitness level, your goals and how quickly
you want to achieve them. It depends on how hard you want to exercise.
A good personal trainer will discuss all of these factors with you
and determine an appropriate program based on the type of exercise,
frequency, duration and intensity. If you have concerns about intense
exercise, getting injured or muscle soreness you should discuss
these topics with the trainer before committing to working with
him/her.
My clients include men and women of all ages,
from 25 to 73 years of age. I work with people who have diabetes,
heart disease, osteoporosis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases,
eating disorders, pre-post natal, pre-post bariatric surgery and
all types of musculoskeletal problems. I also work with people who
are looking to improve their performance, energy levels, appearance,
strength, and quality of life while preventing unnecessary ageing.
Are you ready to begin?
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