My neighbor just recently asked me to train her 3 times a week for an hour each time and I havent helped out anyone over 50 and know that things are different as the body ages. She is pretty active as she water-skis on our lake every now and then and has been hitting the gym on her own recently. I just wanted to know from others' knowledge/experiences with what kinda of exercises/ cardio sessions i should put my neighbor on because I dont want to overtrain her body. Any help would be great feel free to post your opinions as well.
ps- she is already pretty slim and she wants to gain muscle strength and/or tone and of course fat loss.
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07-16-2011, 12:52 PM #1
- Join Date: Jul 2007
- Location: California, United States
- Age: 33
- Posts: 60
- Rep Power: 204
What to do with this 55 year old lady??
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07-16-2011, 01:21 PM #2
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07-16-2011, 01:42 PM #3
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07-16-2011, 01:58 PM #4
Just start her out light maybe have some medicine ball training and dumbbell training first session see how she feels if its to easy just work up a little bit and see where her bodies at than take it from there, if shes just trying to build muscle simple bodybuilding training will do and a good eating plan
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07-16-2011, 02:14 PM #5
- Join Date: May 2011
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 53
- Posts: 280
- Rep Power: 318
Saw that you posted this in the OV35 forum, here's my reply :One word Bro: can you say LIABILITY?!!!!!!!, I am a PT from Toronto Canada and whether you are a private PT or work for a mainstream gym as one this is always a main concern, worse if you are not certified by an accredited association.A Red flag, as soon as I here 55 yr old women right away I know that women at 55 are at the risk of certain cardiac factors and I would not proceed with them until I had received written or verbal consent by her medical physician that she can begin a moderate to low intensity program.-Ty
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the ... day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
Tybalt aka The Phantom Menace
BodDbyTybalt Fitness
Can-Fit Pro PTS,NWS
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07-16-2011, 02:51 PM #6
- Join Date: Jun 2009
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Posts: 9,486
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That he posteed it in other forums suggests he is not a trainer at all, so liability won't be relevant to him.
In Australia, we used to have men and women over a certain age automatically have to get a doctor's note, a gym was sued for age discrimination, so now we don't.
If a guy of 40 who an obese smoker with high blood pressure and no previous physical training history comes to me, I'll ask for a doctor's note. A 55yo woman who is a slim nonsmoker with healthy blood pressure, no issues in her medical history and physically active, well no note needed.
This is why we do health consultations, to find out the person's medical and physical training history. Age is only part of that.
Of course this won't be relevant to a person who is training people and holding no qualifications or experience and doing no health screen. To that person I can only say, "good luck! you'll need it."
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07-16-2011, 06:26 PM #7
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07-16-2011, 06:44 PM #8
- Join Date: May 2011
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 53
- Posts: 280
- Rep Power: 318
On initial interviews with potential clients I do health screening, fitness assessments,Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) health history etc, not sure what the requirements are for across the pond but here in Canada this is our process to determine whether one is "apparently healthy" and can begin a moderate to high intensity program from ages 15-69 are required, no age discrimination. For the OP , i was assuming that he was not in fact certified/registered or accredited and i wanted to jump in and warn him of the accountability for this individual who is seeking training.Not even so much that it is a 55 yr old women, I would offer the same opinion to anyone who is not certified or established as a PT.-Ty
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the ... day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
Tybalt aka The Phantom Menace
BodDbyTybalt Fitness
Can-Fit Pro PTS,NWS
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07-16-2011, 08:11 PM #9
- Join Date: Jul 2007
- Location: California, United States
- Age: 33
- Posts: 60
- Rep Power: 204
thank you Ty for your concern, but she is a family friend for over a decade and quite active already. she has been trained through 24 for over 30 years and also I recently was trained under NESTA and received a 69 out of 70 and they wouldn't let me pass certified (go figure). My dad is a Physical Education middle school teacher, I am currently studying kinesiology as my major, and have been in the gym for 2-3years consistently so I have a strong background of fitness in my life. What am I made this post was for other trainers with the experience of training 40+ year old clients and what worked and what didn't work for them so I can learn very quickly what to apply to my future clients and what to avoid to excel as quick as possible. With this being said, please post exercise routines and aerobic exercises that you've personally saw results with or strongly think they would work for this woman as I am doing this out of love for the experience and not the money. Please don't lecture me on the health risks as I have already asked her and she said she has a pinch in her upper spine i am not sure what the disk number is but she said she can do shoulder press just not exercises like standing shoulder fly as it pinches a nerve in her upper vertebrae so if you could avoid included such exercises that would save us both time. Any suggestions I will take into consideration thank youall for your time/ knowledge
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07-16-2011, 08:14 PM #10
- Join Date: May 2011
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 53
- Posts: 280
- Rep Power: 318
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the ... day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
Tybalt aka The Phantom Menace
BodDbyTybalt Fitness
Can-Fit Pro PTS,NWS
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07-16-2011, 08:34 PM #11
That's nice. If you hurt her you think she will care one bit about that when she files a lawsuit? These guys are giving you fair warning for your own good, I would strongly recommend you take their suggestions into consideration.
I'm going to echo KyleAarons last bit "good luck! you'll need it."Only a life lived for others, is a life worthwhile.
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07-16-2011, 10:27 PM #12
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07-17-2011, 04:49 AM #13
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07-17-2011, 04:53 AM #14
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07-17-2011, 04:59 AM #15
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07-17-2011, 05:01 AM #16
"Aging is associated with a reduction is muscle mass, which in turn contributes to decreased muscle strength and a decline in functional capacity."--Page 433
However, because of the natural decline in function associated with aging, the Personal Trainer should interpret maintenance of function as a successful outcome."--Page 432
ACSM'S Resources For The Personal Trainer
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07-17-2011, 05:14 AM #17
- Join Date: Nov 2010
- Location: United States
- Age: 56
- Posts: 5,725
- Rep Power: 16886
Yeah, great so you don't lift for ten years, you are going to reduce muscle strength and functional capacity. Gee thanks for the revelation. No go back on this thread and understand what Kyle said and I agreed with. Furthermore, if you think your training study materials are the be-all end-all, I feel sorry for your clients, especially the 50 year-old training for a BB competition. You think he will be a satisfied client with "maintenance of function"????
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07-17-2011, 05:37 AM #18
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07-17-2011, 05:38 AM #19
- Join Date: May 2011
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 53
- Posts: 280
- Rep Power: 318
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the ... day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
Tybalt aka The Phantom Menace
BodDbyTybalt Fitness
Can-Fit Pro PTS,NWS
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07-17-2011, 06:06 AM #20
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07-17-2011, 06:32 AM #21
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07-17-2011, 06:35 AM #22
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07-17-2011, 06:39 AM #23
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07-17-2011, 07:01 AM #24
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07-17-2011, 07:03 AM #25
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07-17-2011, 09:34 AM #26
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07-17-2011, 09:47 AM #27
Determine through pre-screening if she needs a doctor's recommendation to train. That is your first thing you need to do. Then encourage her to do some basic fitness testing like to-failure pushups or curlups to determine muscular strength/endurance or a rockport walking test to determine her aerobic health. Chances are she'll be in the beginner range if she hasn't trained seriously before.
Design a program that starts off light if she is a beginner and from there progress to her goals. There's no difference between a healthy 55 year old really and a 30 year old. Chances are the 55 year old will start off weaker than your average 30 year old but at the same time for their age group, both will likely be considered beginners.
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07-17-2011, 10:00 AM #28
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07-17-2011, 10:14 AM #29
- Join Date: Nov 2010
- Location: United States
- Age: 56
- Posts: 5,725
- Rep Power: 16886
You're 25, he is nearly 50. I am pretty sure he isn't a PT, but an athlete. I am 43 and in the best shape of my life. I can put down most guys half my age without breaking a sweat, do you think either of us are experiencing a "natural decline in function associated with aging", or would ever seek the services of a Personal Trainer who seeks "maintenance of function" as a successful outcome?
I suggest until you understand that as a personal trainer, your successful outcomes are dependent on helping your client reach THEIR goals, no matter the age, you take your own advice and "thankfully recommend [all your clients] to someone else, pretty simple actually"
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07-17-2011, 11:28 AM #30
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