| Today I want to share my Top 4 Fitness | | | | certification like the National Academy of Sports |
| Industry Predictions for 2010, but let's start with | | | | Medicine. |
| an interesting study: | | | | My next 2 predictions are direct results of |
| A recent study was done assessing whether | | | | Prediction #1. |
| clients got better results with or without | | | | Prediction #2: More people will get injured while |
| professional supervision. | | | | attempting to get fit. |
| Reference: Supervised exercise versus | | | | Because of the increase in copycat boot camps |
| non-supervised exercise for reducing weight in | | | | run by unqualified "trainers" fitness related injuries |
| obese adults. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2009 | | | | will go through the roof. We'll see out-of-shape |
| Mar;49(1):85-90. | | | | and overweight people performing exercises that |
| This research study looked at the effects of | | | | are way out of their league. The ever-increasing |
| training with supervision/instruction (i.e. a qualified | | | | popularity of The Biggest Loser will also be a |
| personal trainer) versus "advice" (i.e. "Can you just | | | | major contributor to fitness related injuries. |
| give me a program to follow?"). There were two | | | | Viewers don't realize that Biggest Loser |
| groups: | | | | participants are very closely supervised and go |
| 1. Group one met a trainer twice a week for 4 | | | | through professional athlete level testing and |
| months (as a group). | | | | rehabilitation on a regular basis. In addition, the |
| 2. Group two received basic advice to increase | | | | workouts you see on TV are not what they do |
| physical activity and access to a fully equipped | | | | most of the week. |
| gym (any exercise they did was unsupervised). | | | | Please be smart and safe when choosing your |
| Results: The group with supervision lost almost 10 | | | | weight loss & fitness program. |
| pounds more over a 4-month period with a total | | | | Prediction #3: People will lose more weight than |
| fat loss of 13.4lbs in the coached group, and only | | | | ever before. |
| 3.7lbs in the advice only group. | | | | Here's the positive effect of prediction #1. There |
| The bottom line here is pretty clear... if you are | | | | will be great weight loss and fitness boot camps |
| SERIOUS about getting rapid and lasting results | | | | like Look Great at the Lake Boot Camp that open |
| then you NEED to hire a true fitness professional. | | | | up in your town. You will be able to find qualified |
| Of course, that comes with a BIG BUT doesn't it? | | | | trainers running highly effective boot camp |
| For many, hiring a personal trainer is just too | | | | programs. I'm personally part of an association |
| expensive. And with that, let me share my 2010 | | | | with over 150 boot camp owners around the |
| Fitness Industry Predictions... | | | | world. We strive to provide the highest quality |
| Prediction #1: Weight loss and fitness boot camps | | | | programs to our communities. We have regular |
| will be popping up all over the place. | | | | conferences and constantly communicate in an |
| A quality boot camp is far more cost effective | | | | online forum sharing ideas and success stories. |
| than hiring a one-on-one personal trainer. In fact, | | | | These boot camp owners will deliver incredible |
| that's one of the major reasons I switched to | | | | results to their members and change the way |
| running a boot camp business when I left my | | | | their communities view fitness. |
| career as a health club personal training manager. | | | | Prediction #4: Online personal training will become |
| In addition, more studies are showing that people | | | | more popular. |
| get better results when working out in a group | | | | Let's face it; the economy has taken its toll on a |
| environment. | | | | lot of people. I personally think it's a mindset, but |
| There is, however, a BIG concern that goes along | | | | that's for another post. Online programs can offer |
| with this prediction. My fear is there will be a flood | | | | a very inexpensive alternative to gym |
| of copycat boot camp programs run by | | | | memberships and even boot camp memberships. |
| unqualified "trainers" who are simply jumping on | | | | The key is, of course, finding the right one. |
| the bandwagon to make money. It's simply the | | | | I've experimented with a few, and have been less |
| nature of the beast. When an opportunity comes | | | | than impressed. The biggest issue I've found is |
| up to make money, people will jump on it. There | | | | most of them are computer generated. You |
| are multiple fitness business "gurus" on the | | | | answer a few questions and supposedly it spits |
| Internet who sell their done-for-you boot camp | | | | out a custom program. The truth is, programs |
| systems. As unseasoned trainers fail in health | | | | don't need to be as customized for most people |
| clubs they will be relying on these "boot camp in a | | | | as many "professionals" would try to lead you to |
| box" programs. | | | | believe. However, these computer generated and |
| So, how do you know how to choose a good | | | | some so called personal trainer generated |
| boot camp from a poorly run one or one run by | | | | programs often provide exercise and routines |
| an unqualified instructor? Make sure you check the | | | | that are very inappropriate; oftentimes leading to |
| credentials of the person running the program. | | | | under-training, over-training and/or injuries. |
| Look for a fitness related degree and national | | | | |