Hi from Philly! - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[PhillyJen]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this site for a few months now and am quite impressed with the quality of people here. Thank you for such an intelligent forum!

A little about me, now. I am currently waiting for my ACE-CPT test results for the written test I took on 2/9/08. I taught yoga at an adult school in South Jersey for 3 years, and unfortunately, had to leave because I moved and it was too far for me to commute the 3 days a week to continue teaching. This is when I realized I 'caught the fitness bug' and knew what I wanted to do.

Sadly, I let life get in the way and haven't always kept up the fitness end of it. I'm working on getting myself back into shape, and bringing my husband along for the ride.

I will be studying next for the ACE-LWMC, then for NSCA-CPT, and then finish my AS in Health & Exercise Science. I'm 31, and figured it's about time I started doing what I want with my life.

In the future, I'd like to work with the special populations...asthmatics, diabetics, pre & post-natal, cardiac & physical therapy rehab clients. I want to really feel like I'm making a big difference in someone's life, that what I am teaching them helps make them get through the day easier and without pain or discomfort.

I look forward to conversing with all of you!

Best regards,
PhillyJen

[BrianB]

Hi Jen. The ACE LWMC cert looks like a good one if you're interested in focusing on weight management (a passion of mine). ACE's LWMC cert is the *only* one that is accredited by NCCA in that area of specialty (other than the Registered Dietitian, Dietetic Technician, etc. which are a whole different can of beans).

I'd be super interested in your impression of that exam when you take it. It appears that they just recently overhauled the materials for it and they are on backorder, but supposed to ship this month. I mention that in case you've previously ordered the materials -- you might want to make sure they are still good.

[PhillyJen]

Hi Brian,

Actually, I'm waiting for the new books to arrive! I ordered them the day after I took my CPT exam. I figured what's the point of getting the old stuff if the new info was right around the corner? Did you order the new materials? I'm hoping to take the test in June, provided my materials come soon.

I am interested in weight management, since it goes hand in hand with what most people are looking for when they come to a gym. I also like the motivation end of it.

Next year, after I finish my AS (I have 8 more classes), I will be looking to take the ACSM-HFI, which if I read right, I can sit for after I have an Associate's degree in a related field. I'd like to work on getting a secondary degree in Nutrition once I start working on a BS in Kinesiology.

I know I'm sounding like I want an alphabet after my name, but I'm of the mindset that you should never stop learning, so I'm kind of mapping out my next 5 years. Hopefully, in the next year, I'd like to get a job at a gym, or work with a physical therapist for a while to get some experience working with people I'd like to specialize in.

[BrianB]

Yep, I ordered the materials too. We'll see how long before they ship.

I think your plan sounds like a good one. I wish my degree were in a related field so I could sit for HFI. I was actually considering doing the NASM-sponsored Masters of Science degree, and that would let me sit for everything up through Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist if I were crazy enough to want to take it that far. At present I'm content with the CPT.

Regarding the "alphabet after your name" -- in some settings, you may need some of that alphabet in order to open the doors that need opening. If you're wanting to work with doctors and such in a more clinical aspect, they like to see pieces of paper from other people that say you know what you're doing. For less-clinical personal training, the client is less likely to know that much about the certifications and hence the alphabet behind your name is less of an important issue.

Good luck with your endeavors. Whichever of us takes the LWMC first will have to share tips with the other, deal? Not cheating and sharing questions and answers of course, just helpful pointers for gotchas, etc. You can check out my insanely long tips for the ACSM CPT exam here.

[PhillyJen]

Deal! When are you looking at taking the exam?

[BrianB]

Deal! When are you looking at taking the exam?

Depends on how fast the books get here and how comprehensive it appears to be. If I could do the ACSM CPT in two weeks, I'd expect I should be able to do this one pretty quick. I won't hammer it as hard as I did the CPT though -- so figure maybe within 3 or 4 weeks of getting the books (again, depending upon content). Of the dozens of certification exams I've taken in my life I've never failed one, so I'd rather over-study than under-study and risk failing (and ruining my perfect track record). :roll:

[PhillyJen]

Oh my LORD! Did you SLEEP in those 2 weeks?? Are you the firefighter whose posts I read in one of the forums?

It took me 6 months of everyday studying to prepare for ACE, although I'll admit (begrudgingly) that I'm a bit of an over-preparer, and a terribly detail-oriented perfectionist, almost to a fault. I probably could have done it in 3 months if I really pushed myself, but NEVER in 2 weeks. WOW. That being said, I also work full time, so I don't have the kind of time I'd like to dedicate to studying. Nor do I think I could anyway, because I'd risk burning myself out of studying.

I haven't been billed yet for the books, so I'm guessing once that happens, I'll be seeing the materials. I don't think this is going to be nearly as comprehensive as the CPT. I'm really looking forward to digging in while I'm still in 'student mode'.

I think we need to convince Christina to create a forum for the LWMC! :idea:

[BrianB]

Oh my LORD! Did you SLEEP in those 2 weeks?? Are you the firefighter whose posts I read in one of the forums?

Nope, not me. I'm a systems engineer. This is the only fitness type forum I post in presently.

It took me 6 months of everyday studying to prepare for ACE, although I'll admit (begrudgingly) that I'm a bit of an over-preparer, and a terribly detail-oriented perfectionist, almost to a fault. I probably could have done it in 3 months if I really pushed myself, but NEVER in 2 weeks.

I also over prepare for these things (too much sometimes). I'd rather pass by a wide margin than risk failing. When I do these things I usually make the mistake of trying to learn every last little thing. While of course I can't remember everything, by trying to I end up learning way more than is needed for the test.

WOW. That being said, I also work full time, so I don't have the kind of time I'd like to dedicate to studying. Nor do I think I could anyway, because I'd risk burning myself out of studying.

I also work full time and go to school part time. The day before I sat for the CPT exam I even had an exam in one of my college courses. I hated having to take my mind off my ACSM prep to study a different topic, but it wasn't as distracting as I thought it would be.

I haven't been billed yet for the books, so I'm guessing once that happens, I'll be seeing the materials. I don't think this is going to be nearly as comprehensive as the CPT. I'm really looking forward to digging in while I'm still in 'student mode'.

Given that having an accredited PT cert is one way to qualify to take the LWMC exam, I'd expect that it won't rehash much of that material too heavily (and even if it did, that would just make it easier at this point). One thing that may make the exam a little tough is it may have a lot of abstract motivational type theories in it. Those can lead to very dry, useless exam questions like "which of the following is not a principle of the So-and-Such behavioral change model". If they stick to what I'd consider real concepts and true knowledge (instead just wanting you to memorize a bunch of lists) then I think it will be fine.

I think we need to convince Christina to create a forum for the LWMC! :idea:

I don't know that there will be enough people wanting to do this exam to justify a whole forum for it. I don't know if she'd agree, but I think that posting about it in either "ACE CPT" or "Advanced Credentials" would make sense. Here are the requirements to be allowed to sit for LWMC (I don't know if this qualifies as an 'advanced credential' or not but it seems similar to the requirements to sit for HFI or CSCS except that a current accredited CPT cert will get you through the door as well):

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.

Any guidance on where we should post about this exam Christina -- is Advanced Credentials the place for it?

Link to ACE Lifestyle + Weight Management Consultant Certification Program