What This Katy Personal Trainer Will Teach His Son

I think it's important to teach your kids good, healthy habits. So as a personal trainer in Katy, I have 10 things I want to focus on as my son grows up.

1. I want him to learn his basic skills first. I want him involved in tumbling at an early age. Next we are going to enroll him in a class at Showcase Gymnastics so he can start focusing on these basic skills. It sets a foundation that is invaluable.
2. The habit of stretching. Have you ever noticed that those who are flexible love to stretch, and those that are not flexible hate to stretch. My hope is that I can get him accustomed to stretching consistently at an early age so he will continue it the rest of his life.
3. Swimming at an early age. I know we are late by some standards, but I want my son to start swimming very soon. It's such a great activity at any age.
4. Play a variety of sports. I'm sorry, I know it's common practice to play a sport year round, but I want my son to rotate among various sports throughout the year. Ask anyone who works with injured athletes and they will tell you there are way too many overuse injuries in today's youth.
5. Learn Team Sports - I want my son to learn how to play with others, to learn teamwork. He needs to know that it take a collective group to achieve success. It's more than just about him.
6. Play Individual Sports - That being said, I want him to play some individual sports too. He can't always depend on a team. Also, as he ages he will find it's more common to play individual sports (tennis golf, etc...) vs team sports. He might as well develop some of those skills while he is still young.
7. Learn how to lift weight properly - I'm in no hurry for him to start pumping iron, but when he does, I want him to learn how to do it properly. Not from his coaches that are stretched thin trying to supervise 20 kids, but from someone who will work with him one-on-one. Once he develops his form, I will feel much better about his safety in a group setting.
8. Helping Others - This world is not all about us, and I want to instill in him the importance of helping his teammates. As he learns, he can share with and teach others. 
9. Nutrition is important - He will be taught what proper nutrition is at an early age. It is so important to eat healthy when you are active and we will do all we can to teach him good habits. It doesn't have to be crazy, excessive to be effective. Kids are smart and can learn.
10. Don't judge others - I don't want him putting other kids down that do not have the same things instilled in them. A kid's weight or skill level does not determine their worth. Simple as that.

Medical Exercise Training - The Future of HealthCare

It's no secret that our healthcare system has room for improvement. There is a huge gap between the medical and fitness world. Medical professionals look at the human body one way, and fitness professionals look at it completely differently.

Bridging the Gap Between HealthCare and Fitness

Dr. Michael Jones developed the Medical Exercise Training Institute to bridge the gap between the medical and fitness world. He teaches personal trainers how to work with various medical conditions and shows the medical community how to use fitness that creates measurable results. He developed protocols for over 60 different medical conditions, and created a foundation unlike any I have ever seen.

Changing Personal Training Forever

For those who are wanting to do more than just personal training, the Medical Exercise Training Institute takes fitness to the next level. With the aging Baby Boomer population, this information is a game changer. It allows you to help clients with knee injuries, back injuries, shoulder injuries, and Diabetes. There are many certifications that claim to help with this, but there is one major difference. This certification will tell you the difference in working with someone with a herniated disc vs spinal stenosis. It will show you how to create a program for an ACL injury vs a total knee replacement. If you are working with someone with Diabetes, this program will show you every precaution you need to know before you start their program.

Connecting with the Medical Community

One of the most important things about this program is the confidence it gives you to connect to the medical community. You will learn how to contact physicians and write progress reports. This is crucial for clients with a medical condition and will separate you from other fitness professionals in the area. It's not easy work, but you will quickly rise to the top by following the guidelines Dr. Jones has established.

Katy, TX Personal Training Facility

If you are looking for the best personal trainer in Katy, definitely take a look at Medical Fitness Pros. They have a team of educated staff members who have been in the business for years. They have an interesting specialty with their personal training, in that, they work with a variety of medical conditions. Having been in the business for years, it's expected that a personal trainer can help their clients lose weight. It's not hard to help improve someone's nutrition and exercise program and watch them drop 10 or 20 pounds. The hard part is when someone comes in with back pain, knee pain, or shoulder pain and wants to lose 20 or 30 pounds. This is when you really test the abilities of a personal trainer.

Katy Personal Training Facility

The facility they are in does not make you feel overwhelmed when you walk in. It's comfortable and a friendly atmosphere. The staff is great and so are the personal training clients that work out there. They offer one-on-one personal training as well as small group personal training, so you can find a program that will work for you. As far as I know, there is not another facility in Katy that even comes close to offering what they do. There are some workout facilities, but none with the level of medical expertise that the staff possesses.

Katy Personal Training Exercise

If you are considering hiring a personal trainer in Katy or Cinco Ranch, you should definitely make the time to visit Medical Fitness Pros. You can feel safe knowing they understand the right exercise program for you. I know they also coordinate with your physician when they are developing an exercise program for you, and that is head and shoulders above what anyone else is doing in the Katy or Cinco Ranch area.

Medical Fitness Pros Location

Medical Fitness Pros is located at 2004 S. Mason Rd, between Highland Knolls and Cinco Ranch Blvd. You can call them at 281-500-6055 or visit their Medical Fitness Pros website.

5 Ways to Guarantee New Year's Resolution Success

Now that the New Year is here, there is a good chance that your New Year's Resolution is weight loss. If you want to lose weight, here are 5 tips that will guarantee Katy residents' success in their weight loss goals.

1. Decide on a goal - Take the time to write out your personal goals. Write out how much weight you want to lose and how long you expect it to take you. Don't skip this step.
2. Devise a plan - Your plan should be specific. Without a specific plan, you are just randomly trying things hoping something works. It doesn't just happen that way. You have to write out your weekly and monthly requirements to achieve your goal. Your plan will include components of the next 3 steps.
3. Nutrition - Most people hate to hear this, but nutrition is the most important step if you plan to lose weight this year. Follow a specific nutrition plan that you can stick with for longer than 3 months. You want a lifestyle adjustment, not a quick weight loss plan.
4. Cardiovascular - You have to include cardiovascular training into your program. The program should include some aspects of an interval based program that will help you burn fat fast and reduce the amount of time you spend doing it.
5. Strength Training - If you plan on losing fat fast, strength training must be included. By building muscle, you will increase metabolism, therefore resulting in faster weight loss.
   

If your weight loss plan is missing any of these components, contact me so I can help you get all of the steps in place to lose your belly fat this year. As a personal trainer for almost 12 years now, I have helped hundreds of people lose weight. If you are determined to see weight loss results, contact me. I will take the guess work out of your program and ensure that this year is the year you lose weight, once and for all.

Interval Training - Cardio

The Key to Losing Weight and Keep it Off

Exercise Holds Key to Keeping Weight Off

Ramp Up Your Workouts to Shed Pounds, Keep Them Off, Study Shows

By Kelley ColihanWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Article Highlights:
1. The Key to Long Term Weight Loss is working out 55 minutes a day, 5 days a week
2. Women who did this kept 10% of their weight off or more
3. Women who made their leisure activity, more active, kept the weight off more

July 28, 2008 -- How much do you have to work out in order to lose weight and keep it off? The answer is hotly debated among people who study weight loss.
A new study says that obese and overweight women need to cut calories and exercise 275 minutes a week more than their baseline physical activity -- or at least 55 minutes a day, five days a week to lose weight and keep it off.
The research was led by John M. Jakicic, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues.
They tracked 201 overweight and obese women over a two-year period; 170 women completed the study.
At the start, all of the participants were sedentary. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups based on how much and how intensely they exercised and how many calories they burned.
The participants were told to eat or drink no more than 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. Researchers tracked them by talking to them on the phone and having face-to-face talks.
Participants were encouraged to spread the exercise out over five days during a week, done in at least 10-minute chunks. The women were given treadmills to use at home and taught to monitor their own heart rates.
At the end of the two-year study, women who had lost 10% or more of their initial body weight reported that they had done more physical activity compared with those who did not lose as much weight.
After six months, women in all four groups had lost an average of 8% to 10% of their initial body weight. But the hard part was keeping that weight off. Most of them regained the weight.
Biggest Losers
Nearly 25% of the participants managed to keep 10% or more of their original body weight off over the two years.
Those women exercised about 275 minutes a week more over their baseline activity levels.
They also got the most support, completing the most telephone calls from researchers, and said they participated in more eating behaviors recommended for weight control than those who gained the weight back.
Those who lost and kept off the weight also increased their leisure time physical activity, doing things like taking the stairs and moving about more at home and work.
A couple of limitations the study authors note are that diet alone was not included as one of the options and that the participants themselves reported what physical activity they did and how well they did it.
The study authors conclude that a relatively high level of physical activity is needed to lose weight and keep it off.
These results are likely to add fuel to the debate over how much is needed to lose pounds and keep them from creeping back.
General recommendations are for 30 minutes a day, or 150 minutes a week, of moderately intense activity most days of the week. But the debate rages on over a magic formula for sustaining weight loss.
The findings are published in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20080728/exercise-holds-key-to-keeping-weight-off

My thoughts.....if you seek to do the minimum, expect minimum results. If you truly desire to make a lifestyle change and see long lasting results, you will change your life's style. Desire to achieve more. Find a personal trainer or nutrition coach that will help you. If that doesn't work, find an accountability partner that is more disciplined and better shape than you are in that can hold you accountable. If you find someone who is struggling with the same things you are, it will be hard to hold each other accountable. Make up your mind to change your life and don't look back. If you want it bad enough, you will achieve it.

Fat Loss Secrets - Revealed - Newsletter from June 15th

Those of you who know me real well, know that I don't sit still very long. I've been working hard, and I have some things I really want to share with you. I've been really struggling for a while with the fact that people can be active and just not lose weight very easily. On March 14th of last year I wrote on my blog that I was determined to find what it will take for more people to lose weight. Well, I've been researching, and I've stumbled upon something that I never expected. Many of things that we talk about in the fitness industry is wrong. At least that's the way it appears right now. I really don't know how to say it any other way. There is research that completely contradicts some of the beliefs we hold dear to. Let me give you some examples:

• Low Carbohydrate vs. Low Fat diets. Which one really works the best?
• Aerobic Exercise. If you do aerobic cardio 5 days a week for 6 months, how many pounds can you really expect to lose?
• Calories in, Calories out. If 2 people consume the same number of calories and burn off the same number of calories, could they expect to see the same results?
• Either lose fat or gain muscle. Can you lose fat and gain muscle at the same time?
• Spot Reducing. Is it possible to lost bodyfat in just one part of the body?
• Fishy Results. Can eating more fish show a significant change in your waistline?
• Supplements. Are they a big waste of time, or do certain supplements really give you better results?
• "Fat Burning" Zone. This one will probably get me in trouble, so let me present it with the research to back it up.
• Strength Training vs. Aerobics. Which one will help you lose weight the fastest?
• EPOC. Don't know what it is? It could have a major role in your results.
  

I realize that some of the things I am going to say in the upcoming e-mails may contradict things that I have told people in the past. However, I am willing to open my eyes to new research results as long as they are credible studies. That's why each e-mail will only cover one topic, explained in full, and have sources to back up everything I am saying. So I apologize that I'm not giving you the answers to all of the topics above, but I have to do this the right way.
In the meantime, have a great week, and watch for my next e-mail.

If you are not a member of my newsletter yet, sign up at the top, right hand corner of my blog. I will never sell or give away your e-mail address and you will only receive tips from my newsletter 1-4 times a month.

The Meaning of Life

I have moments when I can't help but think about why I am here on this earth, and what my purpose really is. Some people never discover it. I thank God that He has directed me to knowing what my purpose in life is.

I see so many people that are hurting or dying and they sometimes don't see a way out. They really don't see any chance of changing their life, and that's where I have the opportunity to come in and help. I can't help everyone, and I realize that. I also know that it's not me that helps them, but the power of God that does it. I'm just merely there to be used by God. It's hard when you see some people who seem to have just given up on life. They have reached the end of their rope, and they don't see any hope. As long as there is breath within your body, there is hope. The greatest thing that can happen to an individual who is struggling is to realize that there really is hope for them. They need to know they are not alone, and that there is a path that can rescue them. It saddens me when I see people who are slowly killing their body. They either don't know, don't care, or have no clue how to be different than the way they are. There are so many lies floating around the Health and Fitness industry. It's absolutely horrible how many people are in it just to make a buck. But it's not just the people in my industry that are the problem. We have companies that make junk food and fast food and promote it like crazy while our kids are developing diabetes and high blood pressure. We have politicians that want to find the best way to line their pocket in the midst of laws that are passed or not passed that could save lives. We have drug companies that do nothing but promote medicating and doctors push the pills of the best compensating drug companies. But no matter what kind of corruption is out there, it still depends on the person to step and take responsibility for their own health. Learn what you are eating. Understand how lifestyle affects your kids.

If I am remembered for nothing else in life, I hope I impact people in a way that will change their view of their health and that they influence at least one other life as well. I believe lives can be changed. I believe more memories can be created as more people live longer. I believe more Christians can witness to and help more people the better they take care of themselves, and therefore live longer. Did you realize that some people never go to fast food restaurants? That's a shock to a lot of people. Can you imagine if everyone only visited the fast food restaurants 2 times a year? I live for the day that the fast food restaurants begin to hurt like the smoking industry now hurts. It would show that people are taking responsibility for their own health.

I don't like that the writers are having to strike in CA to get paid, but in a way I'm really glad it's happening. With shows going to re-runs. I really hope that more people begin to turn off their televisions and take care of their body. That would be great!

I want to make an impact on someone every day. I pray that the day that I die, that people will remember the things I have taught them, and that they have the oppotunity to do the things that I taught them.

Excellence

I received a fascinating e-mail the other day, and I can't get it out of my head. This isn't my typical post, so I apologize for those who are reading it and expecting some amazing fitness/diet information. I have a really good story I want to share with you about that, but not tonight. This is more of a post for other personal trainers who happen to run across my blog.

There are a lot of personal trainers that struggle to have clients to personal train. It's just like any other business out there. Trainers have bills to pay and so they are always in search of someone they can personal train. Trainers should be about more than just making money, and that's kind of the topic of this e-mail I received. Here's the quoted e-mail:

________________________________________

Typically, I spend most of my time talking to you about marketing, sales or systems - all those things that most fitness pros associate with growing their business and making more money. But I was listening to Dax Moy's Magic Hundred Audios the other day (for about the 100th time :)) and came across the section where he discussed people feeling that they deseved more. Yet, the word 'deserve' is derived from the from Latin d-serv-re - to serve zealously.
And only when Dax really embraced serving others at an even higher level than he ever had before, did his business really start to thrive.
What Dax was saying really struck a cord with me. We talk about serving our clients and getting them results - and often we do a very good job.
But we could do even better.
If you are truly extraordinary at what you do - the need to market decreases. People will seek you out.
See any ads for Rolls Royces lately?
Does this mean that you shouldn't market?
Of course not. You should market. You need to market.
But more importantly - you need to deliver EXTRAORDINARY service.
In our business that means alot of things, but it starts with being a great trainer. It starts with designing programs that always deliver on the promises that you make in your marketing. It starts with delivering results to your clients.
It's simple really: If you feel that you deserve more - deliver more service.
Help others get what they want. In turn, you'll get what you want.

________________________________________

I found that really fascinating. I truly try my best everyday to serve not just the people, like he mentioned in his article, but also to serve God in what I do. If you are in the personal training business just to make money, I will gladly suggest another field out there where you can make much more money without as much work. I don't want anyone to personal train someone who is truly struggling with something that is so personal and emotional as weight loss. If you can't care about the person in front of you, please go find another profession. It's only fair to the client and to you. Personal trainers, while not as critical to people as surgeons or doctors, can change someone's life in a positive or negative way. If you do the right thing, that person could have years added to their life and affect others along the way too, but when you treat a client the wrong way, it could be very detrimental. So if you got in this profession because you care about people, but suddenly became stressed about paying the bills, that's ok. It happens to everyone. But get back to serving the people like they deserve to be treated, and you will be able to pay your bills again.

For more information on personal training in the Katy, TX area, visit us at Medical Fitness Pros.

Baby Steps

How many of us started a New Year's resolution this year? What was your New Year's Resolution again? If you have fallen off already, let's try it again but take a slightly different approach. Instead of having some huge goal, why not take small steps instead. You have to have little encouragements along the way. Jessica Sinn, at Texas State University - San Marcos, recently published an excellent article on taking Baby Steps to get to your goals. It's a great article on how to accomplish your New Year's Resolutions this year. Tips she mentioned include:

- Give yourself small rewards
- Find a friend to workout with or hire a personal trainer
- Schedule time in your schedule to workout

Top 10 Things Your Fitness Club Won't Tell You

Smart Money recently published an article on the top 10 things your fitness club won't tell you. Some of these are irritating, and I have to argue back on them, especially in regards to where I work. They really demonize the gym industry. There is good and bad in any business, but I want to reply to their Top 10 list.

1. "If you're still here in April, it'll be a miracle." This is true. Most people that join in the beginning of the year, drop out, and I absolutely hate that. I can meet someone new and beg them to make changes otherwise they will drop off again, but they won't believe me. You have to get some help sometimes if you are going to try to accomplish something you've never done before.
2. "Don't touch anything -- this place is crawling with bacteria." True also. My gym does have wipes all over the gym, but there is bacteria everywhere. If this discourages you from joining a gym, let me add that I have worked in gyms for 10 years and I haven't been sick since around February of 2001, and rarely before that. I'm in the gym 8 - 1o hours a day. If eating healthy and keeping in shape keeps me from getting sick when I'm in there 50+ hours a week, you will be ok for the 2 - 3 hours you are in the gym.
3. "We're not equipped to handle health emergencies." This just isn't true for my gym. We have training, everyone is CPR trained, and we have electronic defibulators.
4. "Our trainers don't know what they're doing." Listen to me on this, it take 1 weekend for someone to become a personal trainer. Do your research and don't hire just anyone. I've already done some articles on this if you look around on this site, but there are several trainers that don't have a clue what they are doing. Lucky for members at our gym, our trainers have to pass the NASM, which is not easy for most trainers. It's pretty extensive, so lucky for our members, you have better trainers than most gyms.
5. "We won't let you quit." Don't enter a long term contract without reading the fine print. I'm so glad my gym is month to month. You can leave anytime with us, which is the way it should be.
6. "Be sure to read the fine print on our contract." Never sign anything without reading it first. That applies to everything in life.
7. "Our equipment can be downright dangerous." Again, my gym and some 24 hour fitnesses have a staff that does nothing but repair work on equipment. That's very important. I'm glad we have that.
8. "Everything is negotiable." I think memberships can sometimes be negotiated. That's not my department though, so my comments are pointless on this one.
9. "If your wallet gets lifted, it's not our problem." That's probably true. If you walk into a grocery store and your wallet gets lifted, I don't think they reimburse you either.
10. "Go ahead and sue; you'll never win." This isn't always true. Pay attention to what you sign. I've heard of cases where people have sued despite the club saying they are not responsible for things and win too.

How Do I Find a Good Personal Trainer?

Finding a Good Trainer can be a very difficult task. It amazes me how some people will just randomly pick a personal trainer without careful consideration. You have to realize that you are investing into your health, and that you are trusting another individual for taking care of your health. It's not always about the personal trainer who looks the best or gives you the best deal. You have to realize that you are making a committment to have someone help and instruct you through your nutrition, strength training, cardiovascular program, aches and pains, and educate you in a way that you will feel secure doing it on your own in the future. Take a look at the article link and read up. They did a great job explaining what to look for.

If you want to know more about how I measure up, just visit the About Me section.

Tracy McGrady's Back Pain

I just read an article about Tracy McGrady's Back Pain and how he is sidelined now indefinitely. I know that around 80 - 90% of the population end up with back pain sometime in their life, but it amazes me that no one has been able to help Tracy McGrady out. I specialize primarily in reducing or eliminating back pain, and I rarely find it hard to figure out the cause of the problem. If doctors can't find anything from the X-Rays or MRIs, then often it's simply some posture deviations that are causing the nerves to be pinched. Once the posture deviations are eliminated, 99% of the time the pain is either eliminated or greatly reduced. You then just have to find the right things to do to get the posture lined back up. Some people go to chiropractors who will adjust the spine and get the alignment straight again. Physical therapist will work on the muscles and stretch and strengthen individual muscles until the pelvis and back are in alignment. Sometimes people need both types of treatment. Honestly, both treatments have advantages and disadvantages, and they aren't both guaranteed to work. Personal trainers have a very simple posture assesment analysis that they are able to do that works pretty well as well. It's based off physical therapy principles and posture alignment, and I have seen it really change some people's lives.

I wish I had a chance to evaluate Tracy McGrady and see if something as simple as a posture deviation is causing his aches and pains. I'm sure he's recieving top care though, and hopefully whatever the problem is, they will find it and get him back on the court soon.

Mirror Muscles

A recent article entitled Back to the Future: Get Cracking on Improving Your Vertebrae is so random it is hard to follow, but it made enough important points that I had to post it. They use one of my favorite phrases of all time, "Mirror Muscles". Mirror Muscles are those muscles that you can see when you look in the mirror. Everyone is obsessed with their chest, abs, sometimes shoulders, biceps, and quadriceps (front of the leg). They usually neglect their back, glutes (butt), triceps, and hamstrings (back of the leg). So you have someone that is very well developed in the front and the back of them is way behind. Why do people do this?

Well vanity is the number one reason I would say people do it. They want to look good, so they work on what they see. The danger in this is that it creates some serious problems long term. You eventually get to the point where you are slumping forward because of an improper balance of muscle strength throughout the body. The picture to the left isn't the best picture, but it shows what happens over time when you do have bad posture. Forward heard, rounded back, and anterior pelvic tilt. The more you sit and stand incorrectly, the more you begin looking like the picture. Once you start slumping you may experience lower back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, and/or headaches. Dealing with this condition has become a huge part of my personal training. It seems that almost everyone has a problem with this, and the more we sit in cars, or work in front of the computer with bad posture, the worse it gets. So it's not just the gym that causes it, it's also our lifestyle.

One great resource I found was an article done by the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association). They made a informational pdf resource on proper posture. Chiropractic Care can also be beneficial for posture correction. I don't have an information sheet like I had for the APTA, but Dr. Barnwell, in Katy, TX has some information on his website about posture.

To revisit the article I first mentioned, in the article they mentioned doing 'Supermans'. I'm going to improve on that a little bit and instead mention Floor Cobras. It's a much better exercise and is easier to do correctly. (It also mentions some plyometric movements, but I don't even want to start on that topic right now.) Let me include some information on the floor cobra to help you out.

Floor Cobra (Info from ptonthenet.com)

Difficulty Level : Beginner
Muscle Group(s) : Core Back and Neck
Modality : Stability
Benefits : Core, Glutes, Middle and lower traps.
Pre-Requisites :

1. Clients should have education in core and glute activation.



2. Clients should be able to activate glutes, erectors and hamstrings in correct sequence.

Preparation :

1. Laying face down on the floor-in prone position, have arms beside your hips.



2. Activate core by drawing in navel towards spine and squeezing glutes.
   
   

Movement :

1. With core and glutes activated, lift chest off the floor, lift arms up and back towards the hips rotating thumbs towards the ceiling.



2. Pause momentarily at the top of the lift then return to starting position; at all times keeping the chin tucked into the chest.



3. Upon completion of the movement, repeat.



4. Don't over emphasize arching of the back to lift the chest off the floor. Only lift to where the client is comfortable-no lower back pain should be felt. If so check sequencing of glute, erectors and hamstrings.

Fitness Industry Pushes for Better Trainers

A recent AP story is calling for the fitness industry to push for better qualified personal trainers. Years ago the best personal trainer was the one who was the most muscular and had the best six pack, but today we have to wonder, "Can they help me with my heart disease?" As the baby boomers get older, health is more important than vanity. It may shock a lot of people to know that many of the personal trainers you encounter may have been certified through a weekend online course that took just a few hours. There are so many certifications out there that are meant to be easy, and the ones who suffer from it are the clients. The story talks about Purdue creating a personal training degree program that helps educate professional on how to be a personal trainer. It's about time, and I hope other universities follow.

I know you may be desperate to achieve results, but please research before you just hire anyone to work with you. You are making a big investment into your health, and choosing the wrong trainer could lead to an injury instead of the results you were hoping to achieve. Do your research first. You will be glad you did.

My Qualifications

Fitness is a Lifestyle

Staying in shape is a lifestyle! This is a great short article on the importance of just taking it easy and not stressing over things. The personal trainers in this article say it very well, it is a lifestyle change that has to occur to get in shape. You simply want to be functional. Nothing more to it. And when that happens, you will feel better and move better, and actually be able to enjoy life.

Reversing Osteoporosis

The Bradenton Herald recently did a story entitled, "Weight-Bearing Exercise Replishes Bone Loss". It is an excellent story about how Laurie Cohen began fighting off osteoporosis at the age of 50 after having a bone scan. She began walking and taking Actonel to fight it off, with minimal success. But when she began working with a personal trainer and lifting weights, something amazing happened.

'Cohen's bone density had increased 4.4 percent in less than a year, an improvement that Dr. Kathy Diemer calls "impressive."'

She didn't lift heavy weights, in fact she wasn't using any weights over 12 pounds, but the exercise was enough to see a significant impact on her bone density.

There is never an age where it is "too late" to change your body. Never give up on yourself.

The Power of Words

It happened on Friday, oddly enough. I had a client tell me that she had just seen a friend of hers at the grocery store and her friend was terribly upset. Her friend had just got done working out with a personal trainer and the personal trainer must have had a bad day. She has been trying so hard to exercise, and she has been faithful every day. But for whatever reason, the personal trainer fussed at her for 20 minutes about not trying hard enough, and that she had to put more time into the gym, etc.... I know personal trainers are suppose to push clients, but there is a line that can be crossed very easily. Personal trainers have to be supportive and loving to their clients. Personal trainers have to motivate and build people up, not tear them down. That single act could totally turn this lady off of fitness.

Personal trainers, you have to care about the people you are training. If you are only in this for the money or to pass the time, do everyone a favor and find another job. You are only hurting people and I don't want you representing yourself as a "personal trainer" when the only person you really care about is you.

10 Questions

What certifications do you have?
I am certified through the Cooper's Institute for Aerobic Research in personal training and indoor cycling, and through the National Academy of Sports Medicine in personal training

Do you have a degree?
Yes, I have a bachelors in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Tyler, and I also was enrolled in the Masters program for Physical Therapy at Texas Womans' University in Houston for a short time.

Are you first aid certified?
Yes, and I update it every year.

Do you have liability insurance?
Yes, I have liability insurance.

What types of clients have you worked with before and what were their results?
I've been a personal trainer for 10 years now. I've helped people

• Lose Weight
• Tone Up
• Build Stronger Muscles
• Athletes Run Faster
• Rehabilitate Back Pain, Knee Pain, and Shoulder Pain.

Results have been good for some and non-existant for a few. I am only with someone 2 - 3 hours a week. Out of a whole week, that's not much. For those that listened and followed the advice I gave them throughout the week, results were great. For those who didn't listen, results did not happen. I will give you everything I have to help you get results, but it will be up to you to practice what I taught you to make sure it happens.

What do you specialize in?
Over the years I've done a little bit of everything, but my specialty is back pain. I've been visiting physical therapy clinics since I was in high school, and just have a passion for helping people get past the misery of dealing with a bad back. I'll be glad to share my story with you in regards to back pain if you ask. Back pain has affected my life in more ways than anyone else I have ever met, and I know the physical and emotional pain it causes.

How many times a week do I need to see you?
Everyone is different and after doing a consultation with you, I can make a suggestion on how many times a week you should meet with me.

How will my progress be monitored?
I am a computer dork. I love to monitor everything. I use the computer to track your progress, prepare your workouts (I type them all out before hand), and even predict your results weeks ahead of time. When you walk into a session I will know what you will be doing and how much you will be lifting. I can map out a workout progression plan for you for the next 365 days.

How much does it cost?
I map everything out in phases. Based on what you are wanting to achieve and where your current condition is, I can map out what types of things you need to be doing, how long it will take, and what your results will be at the end of it. Once I have determined all of this, I can tell you how much you need to invest into the program.

What is your cancellation policy?
I have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you let me know that you are not able to make it within a day of your session, it gives me time to put someone else in your time slot for that day.