| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
PhillyJen
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Location: Bucks County, PA
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject: ACE LWMC Materials |
 |
|
Hi Guys,
Not sure if anyone else besides me and BrianB ordered these materials, but I spoke to ACE today about them. They had a problem with the books when they came in from the publisher and they had to be reprinted. They're HOPING to have them out by the end of the month, but it's definitely going to be a few more weeks.
Just wanted to let anyone know, in case you're waiting for the books.
Jen |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Bummer. I had talked to them back when I ordered the books and asked if they'd notify me when they came in. They said they'd email me when it ships, so at least I know not to be eagerly awaiting it anytime soon.
Thanks for the heads up! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PhillyJen
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Location: Bucks County, PA
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Just got the email that the materials were delivered today. If you haven't already, you should be seeing them soon. Mine will have to take a back seat right now, since I decided to get the GFI while I was waiting. (Of course, 3 days after I got my GFI stuff, I got an email saying the LWMC was shipping. It figures.) So, you'll probably be taking the test before me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hope to take this exam soon. I guess our friendly competition is off eh?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hey Jen. Check out my signature block. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I think the LWMC is a great cert for those who already have a lot of experience in the area of weight loss and and nutrition and plan on focusing their practice in this area.
The good news is I think I'm done with certifications for awhile. My brain needs the rest. I pretty much have all the pieces in place now to begin my practice and hope to be rolling full steam ahead in the near future. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PhillyJen
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Location: Bucks County, PA
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Congrats!!!! That was quick! Did you take a speed-reading course or something??? LOL!! I don't think my eyes move that quick in REM!!
So, what'd you think of the exam? I'm working on the ACE GFI right now, so I'm sure I'll probably have more questions when I actually dig into the material. I'm soooo looking forward to taking that one.
I wish I could say I'm done with the certs, but I have a ways to go. Besides the GFI & LWMC, I'll be getting the NSCA and levels 1-3 from YogaFit of their 200 hour RYT cert before the year's end. I can't afford to quit my job right now and go full time, but I'm working with a few people and I'm loving it.
Congrats again! So happy for you!! Once you get going, I'd be curious to find out what your clients think and how the cert affects your business.
Jen |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| PhillyJen wrote: | | Congrats!!!! That was quick! Did you take a speed-reading course or something??? LOL!! I don't think my eyes move that quick in REM!! |
Well, I'm a fast study, and I've spent the last two years of my life deeply immersed in most of the aspects of this topic, so a lot of it was barely-even-review.
| PhillyJen wrote: | | So, what'd you think of the exam? I'm working on the ACE GFI right now, so I'm sure I'll probably have more questions when I actually dig into the material. I'm soooo looking forward to taking that one. |
I'd say the exam was fairly comprehensive. Lots of scenario questions -- not so much of a "facts and figures" type exam. There were quite a few questions where I didn't really like any of the answers, and quite a few where I really felt two answers were equally correct (and had to make a judgment call). At the conclusion of the test I was kind of irritated with it, but I passed it by a wide margin, so maybe a lot of those irritating questions were the "experimental" ones that don't count.
There was more exercise science on there than I expected, but being that I'm ACSM CPT and their stuff is based on ACSM, and since I just passed my ACSM CPT pretty recently, that wasn't a big problem.
| PhillyJen wrote: | | I wish I could say I'm done with the certs, but I have a ways to go. Besides the GFI & LWMC, I'll be getting the NSCA and levels 1-3 from YogaFit of their 200 hour RYT cert before the year's end. I can't afford to quit my job right now and go full time, but I'm working with a few people and I'm loving it. |
That's a lot of certs Jen. Good luck with 'em all. I'm certified in everything I need for the type of practice I'm planning (for now). One thing is for sure, if I do any other certs it will be with ACSM or ACE to limit the number of organizations I have to do CEC's for.
| PhillyJen wrote: | | Congrats again! So happy for you!! Once you get going, I'd be curious to find out what your clients think and how the cert affects your business. |
Thanks again Jen. Will keep you posted. When you're ready to take the LWMC let me know -- I have a study aid I put together that I used which I will share with you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Christina
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 851
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Congrats Brian! Don't you have to be certified through ACE in order to sit for the LWMC? Maybe things have changed over the years but I thought this was the case. Maybe I'm wrong..
Christina |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Christina wrote: | Congrats Brian! Don't you have to be certified through ACE in order to sit for the LWMC? Maybe things have changed over the years but I thought this was the case. Maybe I'm wrong..
Christina |
I can't say whether or not that has even been the case, but here is the relevant section of the current LWMC candidate requirements:
| Quote: | | You must hold a current ACE® Personal Trainer, Advanced Health + Fitness Specialist Certification or Group Fitness Instructor; or a NCCA-accredited certification; or hold a four-year (bachelor's) degree in Exercise Science or related field. Registrants holding degrees in Nutrition or Nursing must submit documentation supporting completion of Exercise Science-related coursework at the time of registration. |
Obviously the ACSM CPT is NCCA accredited, so that satisfied the requirement. You do have to fax them your evidence of qualification before they will even let you register for the exam. Given the above, I'd guess if this ever becomes a major topic here, it should really go in "Advanced Certifications", not here, correct? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Christina
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 851
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah, this is probably an advanced certification topic. I will move it after it has died down a bit.
Thanks for the info. I must have misread.
I know you have been studying this stuff for the past couple of years but do you think it is a helpful certification? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Christina wrote: | Yeah, this is probably an advanced certification topic. I will move it after it has died down a bit.
Thanks for the info. I must have misread.
I know you have been studying this stuff for the past couple of years but do you think it is a helpful certification? |
While I think the majority of people seeking a personal trainer are probably wanting to "shed a few pounds", I think this particular cert is really most valuable if you're going to be specializing in weight management.
I think for most personal trainers the exercise the dominant part and any associated weight loss is a desired, but secondary effect. I expect 100% of my clients to be people specifically wanting to lose weight, who may or may not be willing (or able) to do formal exercise. Since ACE has the only accredited weight management cert out there, it seemed appropriate (from a credibility standpoint) to earn it. I also think that from a liability standpoint, having an accredited certification specifically in the weight management area could possibly have some small benefit as it shows that you have extra training/certification in that specialty.
I'm going to be attending the ACSM "Weight Management for the Fitness Professional" workshop in May for similar reasons -- to demonstrate on paper that I've gone the extra distance to gain/demonstrate specialized knowledge in this area. The ACSM workshop will primarily be intensely focused on exactly what the scope of practice is, and while I've definitely had that beaten into my brain as part of the LWMC, it can't hurt to get ACSM's detailed opinion on the matter.
Of course the best way to limit your liability to to ensure that you never exceed your scope of practice, advice which I will devoutly follow.
It just dawned on me (after all that rambling) that I may have misunderstood your question. When you asked "do you think it is a helpful certification" you may have meant "do you think the information presented in the text is useful". I would say it was. Normally when I note-take (during study) there is a symbol I put in my notes for "this is going to be on the test" (my intuition there seems pretty good). During my study of the LWMC materials I needed a new symbol that I've never felt a particular need for before, a "this is really good information to use in your daily practice" symbol. Not so much technical information, but more things like great analogies and symbolism. For example "Habits are like a cable. We weave a strand of it every day and soon it cannot be broken." (Horace Mann). This is a good quote to use when illustrating how bad and good habits are reinforced and formed. I probably found as many things to tag as "useful in daily practice" as I did "this will be on the test". I'd say that speaks well of the materials.
I hope I answered your questions. If not, fire away and I'll take another crack at it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianB
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 96
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
One general note about the exam for those not familiar with ACE exams -- apparently ACE doesn't allow calculators on their exams, so be sure you can work the (relatively simple) math without one before you go for the exam. On the ACSM exam they build a calculator into the test software so you can use that, but on ACE, it's longhand division. I didn't have any problem with that, but it does slow you down. Heck, you've got 3 hours -- I think I was done in 1.
Just a heads up for those who may not have done long division in awhile so they aren't surprised. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Christina
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 851
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks, Brian. Yes, you answered my questions.
I'm probably not going to do this certification anytime soon but it definitely sounds helpful. Something to consider in the future.
Christina |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
megfit
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 120
Location: Southern California
|
| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'll share a quick comment about the exams and the math comment.
I'm on the workgroup that updated the LWMC certification and we now meet to add new test questions every once in awhile. We just met last weekend to write new questions, in fact. (And just got the new book, which is a HUGE improvement on the old one!)
If WE cannot calculate them by hand (and I am AWFUL without my calculator!), then we don't write the question.
So, for anyone taking the exam, just know your numbers and you'll be fine. BUT, be able to multiply, grin... And know calories/gram CHO, Pro, fat and kg/pounds, etc. Stuff like that.
Margie |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Home
