a nutritionist is a wanna be doctor, who is likely to have a weight problem himself from sitting behind a desk all day dishing out advice. a good personal trainer will be in shape. a nutritionist will tell you your diet is terrible and give you handy pointers at how to do it better, possibly fob you off with some ’supplements’. the personal trainer should make you run till you cry. as far as i know, aslong as the nutritionist isnt giving you ephedrine etc, then running is the way forward to lose weight.

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Getting the word out about your service is key. Use all available media–make flyers and business cards, post on craigslist and fitness blogs, put ads in the newspaper, and definitely get in contact with gyms and the Y’s in your town. Go in person.

As for credentials, there are a number of organizations that offer programs to earn personal training certificates.
is just one. There are some online training courses as well that are worth checking out.

Good luck!

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Well, if you’re really lucky, you might get a “two in one deal.” A trainer is generally someone with a background in physical education, sports management, etc. They are usually trained and certified by the state and deal with the workout part. A nutritionist is generally someone that deals with the food end of the problem. Their expertise is in dietary concerns. A lot of them now have crossover training. If your trainer tries to get you to take odd supplements or focuses on anything other than the basic “eat healthy from all the food groups in proper portions speech”, I’d not rely on them for nutrition advice.

The website below has lots of good info. that might help. The page called “Eat Healthy” should be especially beneficial. You might want to check out the “Healthy Recipes” section too. Good luck!!

Dear Bradley

You are absolutely right. There are hundreds of certification out there. The factor that sets certification companies apart is to have a third body accreditation. One of the highest in the industry is NCCA/NOCA. I do not know the exact number but its somewhere around 5 certification companies that have that particular accrediation. To be honest, to narrow it down further becomes more difficult. Some are good certifications companies. Years back when I first got into the industry I shopped around just like you are. I narrowed it down to three. ACSM , but they required a masters degree in exercise physiology and they focused on cardiac rehabilitation. The second NSCA but they required a degree and they were more for professional sports conditioning coaches. And finally IFPA, I found that they really focused on what a personal trainer really goes through on a daily basis. There study materials and test are extremely practical for what a trainer really needs to know. I also looked at another well known cert NASM, but it really changed after Dr. Goldman sold it to a group of phyical therapists, they turned it into a pt cert. and after 24hr fitness bought them, they got even worse.

The IFPA also has some great people working for them. The customer service is the best in the industry and there faculty instuctors are the best in the world. No matter how many times I have called asking questions, I have always gotten great help. The advice I have gotten from them in the past is worth many times what I paid for in my cert.

The bottom line however, is that you will be wasting your money if you get any cert that is not NCCA/NOCA accreddited because gyms wont accept it. The knowledge you get from the IFPA will also help you build a successful career. Your cert should be more than just a peice of paper. It should prepare you for a profession.

I hope this info helps you. Good Luck,

Marc

Duh, a nutritionist deals with food while a trainer deals with exercise. Was that a serious question?

Call local gyms

or advertise on craigslist.org

W

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