After 15 years in business and over 8000 personal trainers certified, the NCCPT has achieved what has become the “industry standard” in accreditation as recommended by IRHSA (International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association). The NCCA’s Standards exceed the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The NCCPT is only the 13th personal training certification company to receive this high standard of accreditation. “13 has always been my lucky number,” says John Platero, the Director of Education. “We feel we’re the most practical entry-level and cost-effective certification available for people wanting to enter the field of personal training.

Clubs are always in need of personal trainers. The NCCPT cannot only certify new personal trainers but actually removes the painstaking process of finding personal trainers by acting as a recruiting service for sports clubs as well.

Commercial facilities are constantly in jeopardy of litigious actions from their members and the public. There is an “industry standard” for fitness equipment . Each piece must be approved by the American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM). “The NCCA accreditation has become the industry standard for personal trainer certification and after a very extensive process, the NCCPT has met that standard. Certified personal trainers are the assets of a personal training department. We’ve been providing these assets for 15 years. We’re looking forward to increasing our relationships with commercial health clubs in recruiting and providing those assets, plus an additional “peace of mind” they both need and deserve.”

Q & A from Shape Magazine:

Q: Here’s another butt workout question. How do you work the backside without building up the quadriceps?

A: If someone is worried about bulking up their quads, they''re not going to do a traditional squat. They''re going to do a wide-stance squat or a plie squat, which is second position dance, opening up your legs and bringing the focus to the inner thighs and not to the quads. Don''t use excessive weight and keep repetitions high. I use body weight or a medicine ball or light hand weights.

John Platero''s answer: “Inner thighs” are your adductors correct? Yes, a plie squat will emphasize the adductors, however, if the knee is extending and the hip is extending then the quads and gluteus maximus are working. It’s impossible to do a squat that involves knee extension without involving the quadriceps.

The reason why your quads might not “bulk” up is because once you move your legs from a sagitall plane motion to more of a frontal plane motion, the moment arm is much smaller at both the knee and hip so there is less “load” therefore less intensity and less “bulking” up. Remember, size comes from testosterone, genetics, food and intensity or load. Since you’ve lessened one of those components (the load), the size or potential for growth should be less. Unless you’re eating too much food or you’ve genetically inherited big quads, then you have no choice but to starve and/or either not train it all, or do tons and tons of cardio.

Hi John -

I was looking through Shape magazine online "for fun" and came across this from David Kirsh - some trainer to some stars..... WHAAATT?? Worried about "bulking up your quads"...... not to do a "traditional squat".... Well, when I do a traditional squat I feel mostly my hams and adductors and glutes. Hams control my speed on the way down, adductors help navigate so my knees don''''t go wacko, etc..... I feel my glutes and some quad on the way back up.

Ok - just had to share this with you. Am I right here? Is this advice a bit off?

John''''s response:

First of all be careful of what you “feel” or what a person “feels” in an exercise. People feel all kinds of things.

Basically, if a joint is moving then a muscle is moving it. A squat involves, hip extension, knee extension and spinal extension.

In human ascension and descension, the quadriceps and the gluteus maximus are “anti-gravity” partners. Since the knee is extending the hamstrings lengthen at the knee but the hip is also extending so the hamstrings would be shortening at the hip, hence hamstrings don’t change that much in length. However, they do fire. Check this link http://moon.ouhsc.edu/dthompso/namics/lombard.htm

I wouldn’t consider the adductors prime movers in a squat, because only the gracilis crosses the knee and it’s action has nothing to do with hip extension or knee extension. They seem to act as synergists but not agonists. The glute minimus and medius as well as the hip flexors (both single joint and double joint) may have a role in “navigating” your knees, but most likely, actions at the foot and ankle may have a greater effect on the knee.

Remember, whatever muscles act concentrically also act eccentrically. The quads and glutes lower you eccentrically and lift you concentrically in a squat. They are definitely the prime movers at the hip and knee.

Bulky quads come from testosterone, genetics (muscle fiber type), food and heavy loads.

Check back this week for the trainers 2nd questions and answer!

Jane Fonda (known for her workout videos and leg warmers)is scheduled to host. Several other celebrity guests like Richard Simmons and Billy Blanks make for an impressive lineup.

The cause is noble. The fitness event will benefit GCAPP (GEORGIA CAMPAIGN FOR ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY PREVENTION).

Yet, I can''t help but ask...Since when are actors and actresses fitness experts?

Jeff Garlin, co-star of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm just released a book about his struggle with weight loss.

What is it about fitness that seems to always attract celebrities?

Brad Pitt doesn’t represent the medical community. I’ve never seen Tom Cruise in a commercial for dentists.

We’re in an uphill battle as an industry,if we want to be taken seriously, when the public perceives entertainers as the experts.

I guess that says a lot, 67% of us are overweight because exercise, good nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle is just entertainment.

We''d love to hear your thoughts.

What are your thoughts on these new drinks that can be found at any market or convenience store?

Do you drink them? Do your clients?

Is one a day OK? What about someone who already drinks tea or coffee? Are they safe for kids?

Have you read any valuable research on the positive or negative effects of energy drinks? If you have, share it!

They’re popular and probably not going away anytime soon.

You’re the professional, lets us know what you think!

Trust me, as a fellow personal trainer, no-shows, cancellations and late clients are one of the most aggravating parts of this business! You drive all the way to the gym, only to find a note at the front desk that your first client can’t make it.

The NCCPT online scheduler allows you to block out your time. This way no one can book appointments when you’re not available (like at lunch, or sleeping). Any appointment has to be approved by you first, and can be set to recur.

The icing on the cake is the email reminder that is sent to you and your client. 24 hours before the appointment you both receive a reminder email recapping the appointment time.

To give you an idea how valuable this is, take a look at your last few weeks of training. How many cancellations and no shows did you have?

Multiply that number by your hourly rate. Multiply how much income you missed out on times 50 (52 weeks in a year, minus 2 weeks for vacation).

Here’s an example…

Lets say you charge $50/hr and you have 3-6 cancellations per week on average. That’s $150-$300 per week. $7,500 - $15,000 PER YEAR!!!

Do yourself a favor...Give yourself a raise and start using the scheduler!

If you need help getting it set up just reply to this email and I’d be glad to help!

“Results Not Typical” is not enough anymore…

Advertisers must clearly disclose the results a consumer can generally expect from the product or service. In other words, if a fat-burning supplement is shown to have helped a man lose 25lbs, but most people who take the pill lose 5 pounds, the advertiser must disclose this.

Celebrity Endorsements – Yes even your favorite celebrity could be found liable for making false or unsubstantiated claims. The revisions state that celebrities are duty bound to disclose their relationship with advertisers. In fact, all material relationships (like payments of free products) between advertisers and endorsers must be disclosed.

These revisions to FTC Act 16 C.F.R. Part 255 will affect many industries especially nutritional supplements. They will also affect the fitness industry and you as a personal trainer.

The FTC lists many helpful examples to help clarify what these changes mean.

To read the Revised Endorsement and Testimonial Guide go here: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

You’ll also find short videos by Mary Engle, FTC Director of Advertising Practices, explaining these changes.

What do you think of these revisions?

How will they affect the fitness industry?

How will they affect you as a personal trainer and your use of client testimonials?

All of us here at NCCPT hope you are doing well and gearing up for a great Holiday Season.

With that in mind we''''d love to get your thoughts on this...

Your clients are going to get “how to not gain weight during the holidays” advice and tips from TV and magazines over the next few days. Don’t you think they should be getting that information from you, the expert?

Share your ideas on the kinds recommendations you give your clients to avoid packing on the extra stuffing.

For example, I tell my clients “EAT!” then I give them guidelines on how and what. This gives them a sense of freedom. Everyone else is going to tell them what NOT to eat and what NOT to do.

We’d love to hear from you!