Purchased NASM and I'm Scared Out of My Mind!

[E.Nigma]

Hi all,

So, I purchased the NASM exam and study material on Monday. I figure that this must be the right career move forme because I usually get terrible cases of buyer's remorse when I make purchased in the hundreds of dollars. But, since I purchased everything I have had absolutlely no bad feelings about it whatsoever. Everything just feels so right about the decision. Remorse is not there at all and all I feel is excitement to study and stuff. And I must say that I am overly impressed with the Ipod Videos and MP3s because I can study anywhere and at anytime comfortably.

But, at the same time I'm extremely nervous about passing the test and becoming a trainer. I love the gym, and being in there during the day where there is energy and and the ability to move and be free is better than sitting down in a cube in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day. But, I seem to hear/read nothing but horror stories about sales, and finding clients, low pay rates, working for gyms for free, all of the arguing about whats a good cert and this sucks and that sucks and just all negativity.

Is that really what I have to look forward to? Now, I'm wondering if I'll even be good at being a trainer (I didn't study fitness in school or anything, so aside from what I've learned on my own all these years, I'm green as a pasture in the late spring). I'm petrified about whether or not I can do the career and be successful or if I"ll just be dealing with more stress than I deal with now because I'll be forced to walk the floor trying to sell all day and not get paid for it or I'll have to deal with ******* clients that hate trainers and all of these other bad things that everyone says.

Are there any upsides to this or have I just made a complete mistake or am I just paying too much attention to what I read on this site? The bottom line is, despite all of this, I am going to continue studying and get my certification and try to be a great trainer because I love it and I love training friends which is how I got the idea in the first place, but I'm just confused about what goes on in the field now.

Any insight (positive or negative) anyone that is an ACTUAL CERTIFIED AND EXPERIENCED trainer can give me would be helpful or even from people that enlist the help of a personal trainer would help me as well. Male, Female, whoever. I don't care. If you have something to share, I'm interested. Aside from general insight I would also like to know how trainers have gotten/recruited clients and what they do or don't like about clients/the business or how trainees ended up signing with trainers and what they do or don't like about their trainers.

Any help I can get would be great appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

[Dallas_15]

Cliffs?

[FortKnox36]

Hey man I did the same thing. I bought the NASM studies. I passed the test (study! it is doable, you just have to make over a 75% I believe). I trained at Lifestyles for awhile. I am a full-time student at a University and could not dedicate enough time to personal training to make it profitable for me, but if that is your full-time job it is easy.

Look....clients are idiots...they get a trainer for a reason. They know basically nothing....this forum board and other forum boards and your experience in the gym will give you the knowledge necessary to train clients. If you bring positivity and energy into the gym, clients see this and that is really all they care about. Each client is different so get to know them and get to know what makes them happy.

The certification is just a preliminary thing to earn before you can get a job. I would go online and find workouts that I thought would suit the client and print it out and do it. It is that easy.

Start off by earning your cert, then find a gym you like, then just set a goal to obtain 1 or 2 clients. A lot of the gyms will send you clients to sell to or some gyms will even do all the selling for you and all you have to do is train them (but pay is worse).

Use those 1 or 2 clients to show all the other gym members that you mean business. Just be positive and energetic. Clients will come. Once you build client-ale you will have a steady income. If you find the right gym...you can earn 6 figures with 40-50hrs/week of work. (I know a guy who is earning this right now)

Summary:
-Pass the test (doable-I passed 1st attempt-all you need is 75%)
-Clients are idiots
-Training them is easy
-Certification is just a preliminary thing to earn (you wont need to remember a lot of the stuff you memorize)
-Pay is good, but you have to work for it (as with any job)
-Be positive and energetic when in the gym

[Environ]

Hi all,

So, I purchased the NASM exam and study material on Monday. I figure that this must be the right career move forme because I usually get terrible cases of buyer's remorse when I make purchased in the hundreds of dollars. But, since I purchased everything I have had absolutlely no bad feelings about it whatsoever. Everything just feels so right about the decision. Remorse is not there at all and all I feel is excitement to study and stuff. And I must say that I am overly impressed with the Ipod Videos and MP3s because I can study anywhere and at anytime comfortably.

But, at the same time I'm extremely nervous about passing the test and becoming a trainer. I love the gym, and being in there during the day where there is energy and and the ability to move and be free is better than sitting down in a cube in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day. But, I seem to hear/read nothing but horror stories about sales, and finding clients, low pay rates, working for gyms for free, all of the arguing about whats a good cert and this sucks and that sucks and just all negativity.

Is that really what I have to look forward to? Now, I'm wondering if I'll even be good at being a trainer (I didn't study fitness in school or anything, so aside from what I've learned on my own all these years, I'm green as a pasture in the late spring). I'm petrified about whether or not I can do the career and be successful or if I"ll just be dealing with more stress than I deal with now because I'll be forced to walk the floor trying to sell all day and not get paid for it or I'll have to deal with ******* clients that hate trainers and all of these other bad things that everyone says.

Are there any upsides to this or have I just made a complete mistake or am I just paying too much attention to what I read on this site? The bottom line is, despite all of this, I am going to continue studying and get my certification and try to be a great trainer because I love it and I love training friends which is how I got the idea in the first place, but I'm just confused about what goes on in the field now.

Any insight (positive or negative) anyone that is an ACTUAL CERTIFIED AND EXPERIENCED trainer can give me would be helpful or even from people that enlist the help of a personal trainer would help me as well. Male, Female, whoever. I don't care. If you have something to share, I'm interested. Aside from general insight I would also like to know how trainers have gotten/recruited clients and what they do or don't like about clients/the business or how trainees ended up signing with trainers and what they do or don't like about their trainers.

Any help I can get would be great appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

DOn't worry about it. Study the material and pass the exam. That's step one. Personal training is a business like any other - how you sell yourself will determine whether you're successful or now. The best way to sell yourself is to prove that you get results for people are sensible enough to place their trust in you and follow your programme.

Every business has its problem areas too. As a personal training, you should aspire to having your own independent business, but you have to start somewhere and that is typically in a commercial facility or, at least, working for somebody else. Yes, you will have to start out with the crappy shifts and doing work that you don't want to do, but that is part and parcel of the job. But, working in such a facility will give you access to the very people you want to end up training privately. Establish a good base in the gym and then move out to our own studio or whatever.

Contrary to what the above poster said, clients are not idiots. Granted, they don't have much knowledge about how to properly train and/or diet, but they are not idiots. I am currently training a movie director, an accountant, a nurse, an interior designer, a couple of people who run their own businesses and a vice president of a company. These people did not get where they are today by being idiots. Treat your clients with respect but expect that same level of respect back and demand that they do what you want them to do. In an ideal world, all clients would follow your programmes and advice to the letter, but, of course, this is not an ideal world, so you will have your work cut out for you.

Personal training can, and should be a very rewarding occupation.

[Keltron]

am I just paying too much attention to what I read on this site?

Yes.

Most of us love our damn job. Every job has it's minor annoyances. This is just a way for us to express it a bit so that it doesn't effect us. Take the best job in the world, make a forum for it and you'll still have some "don'tcha hate it when.." kind of threads.

[JulianBee]

Personal training has its upsides and downsides just like every other profession, but the majority of the horror stories come from trainers working in a commercial gym. Now, thats not to say working for a commercial gym is a bad idea its just that some gyms try to take advantage of their employees. Starting out in a commercial gym is not a bad idea and it will help you build a client base and your sales skills before setting out on your own(if thats what you decide to do).




Summary:
-Pass the test (doable-I passed 1st attempt-all you need is 75%)
-Clients are idiots
-Training them is easy
-Certification is just a preliminary thing to earn (you wont need to remember a lot of the stuff you memorize)
-Pay is good, but you have to work for it (as with any job)
-Be positive and energetic when in the gym

Your clients may not know how to work out, but that doesn't make them idiots.


Yes.

Most of us love our damn job. Every job has it's minor annoyances. This is just a way for us to express it a bit so that it doesn't effect us. Take the best job in the world, make a forum for it and you'll still have some "don'tcha hate it when.." kind of threads.

^^This. I love personal training.

[kziwarrior]

BRO posted this yesterday, might help you:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=452242411#post452242411

[trulyhuge1]

All you can do is at LEAST try it out.

[tubby2hunny]

Is that really what I have to look forward to? Now, I'm wondering if I'll even be good at being a trainer (I didn't study fitness in school or anything, so aside from what I've learned on my own all these years, I'm green as a pasture in the late spring). .

I think I got this from here, but "When your green you grow, when your ripe you rot" I like it, everybody starts green, and I'll try to stay that way, always learning

[RagingBeast]

I hear you brother, and i know its kind of scary. I just purchased my NASM as well, and I am nervous too. The thing is I am going to a University at the same time and carrying a full load. I find it hard to study, but i love being in the gym with all the energy like you said. I am even considering changing my major to Kinesiology so i can obtain my cscs. Have confidence in yourself. if you have any questions hit me up bro i will help you out.

[bauckm]

I just passed the exam last Tuesday. I was FREAKED out because I spent too much time reading all the crap on the internet. Here's my advices. Do a google search for NASM Test Questions...a site will come up that you can pay around $30 to get a good study guide and a lot of practice test questions. Use that guide in conjunction with your NASM materials. Do exactly what NASM suggests as far as reading, videos, workbook, etc., but also incorporate the additional study guide. When you take the study guide tests, make notes about things you didn't get right, go back to your NASM text and read over it again.

I'm a horrible test taker and I can tell you that it wasn't bad at all. You can do it! Good luck!!

Also, for me, the first 5 chapters were a struggle but after you get through those, the rest sort of just seems to fall into place and then lightbulbs start going on all over the place!

[extremenergy3]

I just passed the exam last Tuesday. I was FREAKED out because I spent too much time reading all the crap on the internet. Here's my advices. Do a google search for NASM Test Questions...a site will come up that you can pay around $30 to get a good study guide and a lot of practice test questions. Use that guide in conjunction with your NASM materials. Do exactly what NASM suggests as far as reading, videos, workbook, etc., but also incorporate the additional study guide. When you take the study guide tests, make notes about things you didn't get right, go back to your NASM text and read over it again.

I'm a horrible test taker and I can tell you that it wasn't bad at all. You can do it! Good luck!!

Also, for me, the first 5 chapters were a struggle but after you get through those, the rest sort of just seems to fall into place and then lightbulbs start going on all over the place!

I just passed my NASM exam on Thursday! WOOHOO TO NEW TRAINERS :D

Anyway, NASM tips... know page 169 like the back of your hand! (overactive/underactive/corrective stretched/corrective exercises). It is not only important for the test, but also for when you're an actual trainer!

As for the rest, just go to the NASM site or your NASM handbook rules thing and look at the things they want you to emphasize. It looks a bit intimidating at first, but it's a good reference. There's a little bit of everything on the test.

I didn't need any extra material besides the basics. Watched the videos on my iphone while doing cardio at the gym. Read the book thru-and-thru. After I was confident in those, I lost my confidence taking the practice test (75% first try lol). This is good though. Take notes on the stuff you didn't know and study that again and the things around it since the real test will most likely not give you the same question, but lets you know where you should study around.

That's all I've got for you. Good luck! :D

EDIT: also, don't be scared of becoming a trainer. Studying to be a personal trainer should bring up your confidence a bit since you will know a lot more. Apply what you learn to your own workouts... train your friends according to the OPT model and you'll be on your way!

[CR215]

Great post and lots of great feedback. I am actually purchasing my NASM stuff today and up until I checked out this thread I was completely nervous about it. I'm hoping to pass NASM in July then hopefully not far after get NSCA certified.

[JBEfron]

Great post and lots of great feedback. I am actually purchasing my NASM stuff today and up until I checked out this thread I was completely nervous about it. I'm hoping to pass NASM in July then hopefully not far after get NSCA certified.

I don't know if anyone is interested but I am actually selling a 65 page NASM CPT 4 study guide for really cheap and it helped me pass the exam the first time. Just shoot me an email to joshuaefron@yahoo if you are interested!