Choosing a Personal Trainer by Jeanine Barone

If you’ve decided to get fit (bravo), working with a personal trainer can help you get started. But how do you find someone who can make sure your workouts are both effective and safe? After all, not all personal trainers are qualified or skillful enough to design an appropriate fitness program that matches your needs. (Note that personal trainers shouldn’t be confused with athletic trainers; see end of article).

A good way to find a personal trainer is to ask someone you trust—a friend, relative, coworker, or your health care provider. And if you are considering a particular trainer, don’t be shy about getting references. Here’s what to ask a potential personal trainer before picking up the dumbbells:

  • What is your educational background, and are you certified? Whether employed at fitness and health club facilities or in private practice, personal trainers in the U.S. often have a fitness-related college (or higher) degree and some sort of certification. But more than 100 different organizations certify personal trainers—and there are no national standards. The level of knowledge needed to get certified varies widely among the organizations—from having a degree in exercise physiology and passing a comprehensive exam to simply laying out the cash and taking an online open-book test. According to a survey of trainers, done by researchers at Brown University and published in Orthopedic Reviews in 2016, “personal trainer fitness related knowledge improves with a bachelor’s degree and a more rigorous certification.”
  • Where is the certification from? Among the most respected certifying organizations are the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), which require personal trainers to pass an extensive exam, maintain continuing education credits once certified, and be certified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillation). While many certifications, like NSCA, require a bachelor’s degree, others like ACSM and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) require only a high school diploma or equivalency diploma; some have no education prerequisites at all. A good resource for differentiating between the certifications (and all these confusing initials) is this article from Campus Rec Magazine.Whatever certification the trainer has, it should be accredited by a third-party agency, such as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA, which is most reputable) or the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
  • Do you have a specialty area? Does the trainer mostly work with hard-core athletes (such as marathoners and bodybuilders), seniors, pregnant women, or people with biomechanical issues (such as knee and back problems)? If you have a medical condition that can affect your ability to exercise safely, such as osteoporosis, scoliosis, asthma, or a prior heart attack, make sure to tell the trainer and find out if he or she has experience in that area. Some certifying organizations give trainers the opportunity to attain a specialty certification or more education in a specialty area. For example, an ACSM trainer may become a “Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer,” while under ACE, a trainer may be further trained in such areas as fitness nutrition, senior fitness, and orthopedic exercise.
  • How long have you been a trainer? Look for a trainer who has at least a couple of years of hands-on experience (or at least someone not brand-new to the job). But other important factors to consider are if the trainer communicates well, is supportive and motivating, is suited to your personality, and can help you meet your fitness goals.
  • Do you provide dietary advice or recommend supplements? With few exceptions, personal trainers are not qualified to provide nutrition advice. Be especially wary if they promote or try to sell you any dietary supplements. And no trainer should advise about medical treatments, ever.

Final note. Personal trainers are sometimes confused with athletic trainers, who specialize in the evaluation, prevention, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic injuries and illnesses, and often provide emergency care at sports events. Working in health care settings or with sports teams (and not as commonly at gyms), athletic trainers have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (though master’s degrees are common) and are certified through the national Board of Certification. They are also licensed in most states.

Published July 24, 2017

http://www.berkeleywellness.com/fitness/exercise/article/choosing-personal-trainer

47 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH PESTICIDE RESIDUE DATA

In recent years, consumers have become increasingly aware of the impact of pesticides on health and the environment. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has been at the forefront of educating the public about food safety, particularly regarding pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. Their annual “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce” provides a comprehensive list that helps shoppers make informed choices.

What is the EWG’s Shopper’s Guide?

The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide ranks produce based on pesticide residue data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each year, the organization analyzes these residues and compiles a list of the “Dirty Dozen”—the fruits and vegetables most likely to contain pesticide residues—and the “Clean Fifteen,” which are those least likely to carry pesticide contamination. This guide is crucial for consumers who wish to minimize their exposure to harmful chemicals.

The Dirty Dozen: Fruits and Vegetables to Avoid

The most contaminated by pesticides:

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Please check them out here because they change: EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Full List

The Middle of the List

These fruits and veggies fall into either the dirty dozen or the clean fifteen:

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Please check them out at their website because they change: EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Full List

The Clean Fifteen: Safer Choices

While the Dirty Dozen list highlights the produce you might consider buying organic, the Clean Fifteen offers alternatives that typically carry fewer pesticides:

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Please check them out here because they change: EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Full List

Conclusion

The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce serves as a valuable resource for consumers aiming to make healthier food choices. By being aware of which fruits and vegetables have higher pesticide residues, shoppers can opt for organic options when necessary, ensuring their families enjoy fresh produce while minimizing pesticide exposure. Whether you’re building a weekly grocery list or planning your meals, refer to this guide to make informed choices about your fruits and vegetables. Remember, knowing what’s on your plate is a crucial step towards a healthier lifestyle!

Is it really Organic?

What You Need to Know About Organic Fraud in the U.S. — And Why It’s So Important to Take Action to Protect Organic Standards, click the link.

What You Need to Know About Organic Fraud in the U.S. — And Why It’s So Important to Take Action to Protect Organic Standards

Battling inflammation, disease through food

Though it’s an emerging field, proponents of anti-inflammatory diets point to growing evidence that foods like vegetables and fish can ease an overactive immune system. Check it out the article here:

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/17/health/he-anti-inflammation17

What does it take to be number one?

Inspiration always comes from the bold and the daring. Why? Because they dream of things that others find impossible, wrong or downright silly.

They are fearless of being depicted as failures, of being ridiculed, of being rejected, of being embarrassed, or being played for a fool.

 

(Fame to Claim: http://ow.ly/KHMj30bUU78)