I personally do not recommend ANY specific supplements to my clients.  If a
client asks if it is good to take a multivitamin, I tell them there should be no
harm in taking one that contains 100% or less of the RDA of the basic
vitamins/minerals.  I caution them to read labels and look for herbs or
excessive values over RDA.  I do not steer clients to protein supplements and
certainly not fat burners.  I always teach about whole foods and that there is
no need for additional supplementation if one is following a balanced diet.  Any
need for supplementation due to medical issues needs to be addressed by a doctor
or RD.

Kathi
>

Hey All,

I don't know how many times I've been contacted by companies like Advocare or MonAmi - the latest is Nikken http://bit.ly/wzs3L I think we all would welcome additional income - especially if it reinforces our message to our clients. My biggest problem is that although I take vitamins, I don't want to push them on my clients, and I don't want anyone thinking that taking vitamins is going to make up for having a crappy diet. I'd prefer that they concentrate on eating whole foods before they start thinking about supplements.

I'm wondering how many of you are associated with a supplementation company & sell them to your clientele?
TIA!

Elizabeth Sherman
Health Educator
http://www.elizabethsherman.com
My Blog: http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.aspx
Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/esherman

Hi everyone! I'm currently studying for the ACSM exam. I have a few questions:

First of all, does anyone have any tips on studying? I bought the books that
they suggested on their website. Is that enough? Should I get flashcards or
DVDs?

I'm studying the exercise physiology chapter and there are so many different
names and termonology. Do I need to memorize all this? For example, there's a
page with hundred of terms- of all the ligaments, tendons, joints, muscles,
bones.... Altogether there are thousands of names. Do I need to know all of
them??!!!

Thanks in advance!

Elizabeth Sherman
Health Educator
http://www.elizabethsherman.com
My Blog: http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.aspx
Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/esherman

Poll Results What grade do you give Obama's economic policies so far? F 49% 19,310 D 17% 6,612 B 12% 4,684 A 12% 4,680 C 10% 3,837 Note on Poll Results Total Votes: 39,123   ---------------------------------------------------------------------   Poll Results What grade do you give Obama's presidency overall so far? F 40% 16,361 D 21% 8,533 A 18% 7,187 C 11% 4,669 B 10% 4,278 Note on Poll Results Total Votes: 41,028   Just Me, Freddie Scoggan 2231 Mossberg Ave. West Covina, Calif., 91790   fredysfitness@yahoo.com http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Directory

Hi everyone,
I know this board is not very active (I am guilty of inactivity myself!) but I
hope someone out there can give me some advice regarding collecting payment.

I have a client who started training with me after her friend referred her to
me.  The training has gone well and she has been happy.  She would, however, be
guilty of frequently "forgetting" to bring her check when payment was due at the
end of the week.  Now with the recession, she has told me that she needs to drop
training--this was after she already trained with me for two sessions and had
one more before payment was due at the end of the week.  Well, needless to say,
I have not seen any "check in the mail" as she promised.  It is a tough
situation because her friend still trains with me and this client is a friend of
mine as is the default client.  Short of bombarding her with invoices which
never get attended to, what can I do?

Am I just going to have to write this one off???

Thanks for any help!

kathi

Definition
Making choices in your life known to benefit overall health such as
eating right, regular exercise and avoidance of tobacco, illicit
drugs, and excessive use of alcohol.
Information
While maintaining good health habits cannot guarantee a longer life,
it can certainly improve the quality of your life. The following are
a few simple factors, if practiced regularly, that help minimize the
risk of illness and enrich life:

daily exercise,
avoidance of smoking and drug abuse,
moderate alcohol use (no use if you have a history of alcoholism),
weight control,
balanced and healthy diet,
tooth care,
control of high blood pressure,
good safety practices,
EXERCISE:


Exercise is a key factor in staying healthy. The question is not
should you exercise, but what kind of exercise is appropriate for
you? Exercise strengthens bones, heart, and lungs; tones muscles; and
increases physical reserve and vitality. It also helps you sleep
better, helps relieve depression, and prevents constipation. See
exercise for more detail.

Guidelines for exercise include:
If you are just starting an exercise program and have any health
concerns (such as obesity), see your doctor for an exercise tolerance
test to help you establish limits for your exercise program.

Begin gradually (perhaps with brisk walking) and don't expect to "get
into shape" overnight. Your fitness should start to improve within 3
months with consistent effort.

You should work hard enough to sweat during each exercise period, but
not so hard that you cannot carry on a conversation, unless you are
training for certain sports.

In order to become fit, plan an exercise routine that will last 20 to
30 minutes and be done at least 3 days a week. Include stretching
before and after your exercise. This will help avoid injury. Remember
to start slowly and listen to your body's pain messages. If it hurts
badly, then you have probably overdone it.

While exercises such as weight lifting provide strength to the
muscles, they do little for the fitness of the heart. Aerobic
exercises strengthen the heart and lungs and should be part of the
fitness routine. Examples of good aerobic exercises include: walking,
running, jogging, swimming, cross-country skiing, rowing, rope
skipping, dancing, racket sports, and cycling.

The duration of your exercise routine should be at least 20 to 30
minutes, and for more dramatic fitness results 45 to 50 minutes. In
addition, remember that aerobic exercise can't be "start and stop"--
it must be sustained for at least a 10- to 12-minute period.

Adjustments in exercise programs need to be made for children,
pregnant women, obese adults, elderly people, disabled people, and
heart-attack survivors. Programs should also be modified for high
altitudes and extreme hot or cold conditions.

Use good equipment (especially good shoes) for your fitness program
and do some research into a new type of activity before launching a
program.

No exercise program ever goes smoothly. There may be setbacks (such
as illness or injury), but these should not change your overall
program. If necessary, substitute one exercise activity for another
(for example, switch from running to swimming). If you do have a
setback, don't start immediately at your previous level of activity.
You should take about as long to get back to your previous level of
activity as the time you were out of action.

Exercise can be fun-- even though it may not seem fun at first. Don't
be afraid to vary both the duration and type of exercise activity if
your present program becomes boring.

Six reasons to get off the couch

It's a beautiful sunny day. You wish you were in better shape. And
you still can't think of a good reason to start a walking program?

Marilyn Bach, Ph.D.,
author of ShapeWalking,
gives you six reasons to get off the couch and let your feet do the
walking.


1. It's an easy way to a healthier you. Brisk walking lowers the risk
of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in women, according to research
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. So in
addition to strengthening your calves, hamstrings, arms (your entire
body, really) walking can help prevent disease and illness. The
bottom line: It does a body good.

2. You'll stick to it. Experts call it adherence. Others call it
dedication. According to the American College of Sports Medicine,
people tend to stick to a walking program better on a long-term basis
than to other exercise activities. After all, you can do it anywhere -
- with no equipment required.

3. It's a no pain, all gain proposition. Your body will thank you for
choosing such a stress-free exercise method with low risk of injury.
The impact of running on your joints is about three times your body
weight, while walking is only about 1.3 times your body
weight. "Lower impact means there's less risk that you'll have sore
muscles, aching joints and repetitive stress injuries," explains Dr.
Bach.

4. Both social butterflies and soul searchers enjoy it. There's no
better way to catch up on gossip, brainstorm business plans or mull
over an idea with a friend. Instead of meeting for a sit-down lunch,
take a stroll. Or if you're in desperate need of some alone time,
walking is also a great way to relax, reflect and re-energize after a
long day or before the start of a busy one.

5. It's an excuse-proof workout. Walking is cheap and easy. No gym
membership or expensive equipment required. Bad weather? Head to a
mall--some cities are extending hours so walkers can stride (and
window shop) before stores open.

6. You can walk your way to the Fountain of Youth. A new study from
the American Academy of Neurology reports that walking can keep your
mind sharp as you age. Researchers tested the cognitive abilities of
5,925 women ages 65 and older, and then tested them again six to
eight years later. Their finding: women who walked an average of 18
miles a week had the least cognitive decline. Women who said they
walked the least--just half a mile a week--showed the greatest decline

Hi All,

I just wanted to give an update to my quest to find a tool that would provide scheduling, billing and inventory functionality to my business. I've discovered Mind Body Online http://www.mindbodyonline.com/

Also, they have a lower rate than what's posted on the web for trainers. If you're what they call a "mobile" trainer & you don't have a studio, the price is less than half.

Elizabeth Sherman
Licensed Wellness Coach
ACE Certified PT & LWMC
NESTA Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach
http://www.elizabethsherman.com
http://www.wellcoaches.com/elizabeth.sherman/
My Blog: http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.aspx

Hey Shawn,

Thanks for the note. I actually don�t have my issue resolved yet. I�m still using the same applications. Just recently I was looking through the PowerSystems catalog & came across a piece of software that sounded like it could work. Here�s the URL: http://www.power-systems.com/p-2753-personal-trainer-business-manager-software-cd.aspx & http://www.fitbuy.com/pd/pt2031.html

Oh My God! the horror! To all PT�s on this list: DO NOT waste your money or even time on this one. It looks like it was written by a high school student in 1995.

On the upside, my husband is a computer programmer. We�re thinking of building our own app so that it can do what I need it to. If we do, I�ll be sure to let everyone on the list know so that you can give your input.

I�ll take a look at Mint, Highrise & Backback.

Thanks again.

Elizabeth Sherman
Licensed Wellness Coach
ACE Certified PT & LWMC
NESTA Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach
http://www.elizabethsherman.com
http://www.wellcoaches.com/elizabeth.sherman/
My Blog: http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.aspx

---

From: notify@yahoogroups.com [mailto:notify@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of shawncheatham
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 1:44 PM
To: Elizabeth Sherman
Subject: Re: Business Software

Hi Elizabeth, 

I'm sure by now you've cleaned up your back office functions but I thought I would drop a note to share a few of the tools that I'm using. I tend to be 100% mobile, so I try to use web-based tools vs. pc installed applications. Specifically...I don't think there's a single tool that works around the PT business (unfortunatel) but read on...

• Plax.com/Google Calendars - for calendar sync
• Google Docs - for program planning and doc share with clients
• PayPal - invoicing and reoccuring billing
• Mint.com - Budget/Planning (I replaced Quicken w/ this app...and it's free)
• Highrise & Backpack (37signals.com) - something I've been playing with but it lacks 'PT specific functionality'

Although, I'm using these tools I'm still unhappy with the process that it creates, so I've been working on a personal project that will hopefully eliminate some of the pain around tracking clients. If you're interested, I'll keep you posted when I finish up the first version. 

Regards, 

Shawn Cheatham

--- In Certified-Personal-Trainer@yahoogroups.com, "Elizabeth Sherman" <eliz@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have recently employed someone to help me with marketing. As a result, I
> am currently in the process of restructuring my business; bundling services
> together in order to make packages that will (hopefully) increase sales.
>
> Right now I use Excel to track receivables & subtract out sessions that I
> have with clients. I also use Outlook to schedule my appointments. I don't
> use any software to track my expenses (CEUs, subscriptions, equipment
> expense). Although things are okay right now, I realize that I am on the
> verge of not being able to handle it all.
>
> I'd like a piece of software that would allow me to:
> * Create bundles of services & associate them with a client
> * Be a scheduling tool so that when I meet with a client, it subtracts
> the appointment from the client balance sheet
> * I want to manage my expenses; what companies do I have subscriptions
> with? How much have I spent on CEUs this year? Etc.
> * Have different bank/credit accounts where I can post credits &
> debits.
>
> For those of you who are independent (not employees at a facility), what
> software do you use & how do you like it? Do you think it can do what I want
> it to?
>
> TIA!
>
> Elizabeth Sherman
> Licensed Wellness Coach
> ACE Certified PT & LWMC
> NESTA Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach
> http://www.elizabethsherman.com
> http://www.wellcoaches.com/elizabeth.sherman/
> My Blog:
> http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.aspx
>

--- In Certified-Personal-Trainer@yahoogroups.com, "Elizabeth Sherman"
<eliz@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have recently employed someone to help me with marketing. As a
result, I
> am currently in the process of restructuring my business; bundling
services
> together in order to make packages that will (hopefully) increase
sales.
>
> Right now I use Excel to track receivables & subtract out sessions
that I
> have with clients. I also use Outlook to schedule my appointments. I
don't
> use any software to track my expenses (CEUs, subscriptions, equipment
> expense). Although things are okay right now, I realize that I am on
the
> verge of not being able to handle it all.
>
> I'd like a piece of software that would allow me to:
> * Create bundles of services & associate them with a client
> * Be a scheduling tool so that when I meet with a client, it subtracts
> the appointment from the client balance sheet
> * I want to manage my expenses; what companies do I have subscriptions
> with? How much have I spent on CEUs this year? Etc.
> * Have different bank/credit accounts where I can post credits &
> debits.
>
> For those of you who are independent (not employees at a facility),
what
> software do you use & how do you like it? Do you think it can do what
I want
> it to?
>
> TIA!
>
> Elizabeth Sherman
> Licensed Wellness Coach
> ACE Certified PT & LWMC
> NESTA Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach
> http://www.elizabethsherman.com
> http://www.wellcoaches.com/elizabeth.sherman/
> My Blog:
>
http://www.elizabethsherman.com/cs/blogs/ambassador_of_wellness/default.\
aspx
>

I would like to post a link to a new website that offers free listings
for personal trainers. If this is something that might interest you
please visit: http://www.personaltrainerscorner.com

Hi,

Hey came across this site its pretty good lots of
good info. (and free too! )
http://www.athleteinme.com

Just me,
Freddie

I am in a tiny little area and I charge $15 - 20 for a group like
that, also depends on how many times a week.  Once a week could I
could even go 25 or 30.  I have to be on the low end with group
training because of what the gyms in my area charge.

Hope it helps

Karen





--- In Certified-Personal-Trainer@yahoogroups.com, "colliepoohbear"
<samtog1@...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
> My name is Kathi and I joined the list a while back but have not
posted
> yet--just lurked : )   I am a personal trainer who does private in
home
> training only and have only worked with a maximum of two people at
one
> time.  I received a phone call from  someone looking for a trainer
to
> put 8 older adults (not sooo old--they are in their 50s-60s and
older
> adult fitness is my specialty) through a stretch and tone workout.
I
> am not sure if I will even be hired b/c I will not be able to work
them
> until middle of May or later due to some upcoming surgery that will
> leave me somewhat disabled for a good 6 weeks.  Long story short, I
do
> not know what to charge for a group of 8 or so women so if anyone
who
> does group training could give me some advice that would be great.
I
> do not want to over charge but do not want to undersell my services
> either.  I train in a suburban area, not a big city, so I know I
cannot
> command big city prices.
>
> thanks in advance!
>
> kathi
>

Hi everyone,
My name is Kathi and I joined the list a while back but have not posted
yet--just lurked : )   I am a personal trainer who does private in home
training only and have only worked with a maximum of two people at one
time.  I received a phone call from  someone looking for a trainer to
put 8 older adults (not sooo old--they are in their 50s-60s and older
adult fitness is my specialty) through a stretch and tone workout.  I
am not sure if I will even be hired b/c I will not be able to work them
until middle of May or later due to some upcoming surgery that will
leave me somewhat disabled for a good 6 weeks.  Long story short, I do
not know what to charge for a group of 8 or so women so if anyone who
does group training could give me some advice that would be great.  I
do not want to over charge but do not want to undersell my services
either.  I train in a suburban area, not a big city, so I know I cannot
command big city prices.

thanks in advance!

kathi