ACE LWMC Materials - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[BrianB]

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.

[BrianB]

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.

[Christina]

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

[megfit]

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