inerTRAIN Blog
August 24, 2010
I AM inerTRAIN: Becoming a better trainer
Being in the fitness business for the last 28 years, I have come to realize my practice is more than just a job; it’s my passion. My clients are my top priority and their successes are my life’s work.
On the surface, my job is to train clients, but I like to view my training as a physical metaphor for habits and attitudes that will foster success in all areas of life. The lessons learned through physical training are universally applicable to all endeavors. Perseverance, sacrifice, self-control, discipline, integrity, honesty, and commitment are all learned in the gym. Mastering these things will improve not only training but also all aspects of life.
Motivating clients to reach their goals requires that I become involved in their lives, sharing good conversation, ideas, and knowledge. I like to think that I am a personal friend of nearly every one of my clients. But ultimately, I, like many personal trainers, have always wanted to reach more clients to be able to share this knowledge as broadly as possible. With inerTRAIN, we can do just that.
When I was first approached with the idea of virtual training I thought, how can this work? Personal training is about being personally there, so how can you do that online?
I thought about the idea a lot, and then one evening while drifting off to sleep, it hit me! Not only is it possible to do it, but I now think it is possible to do it far better than traditional personal training. Think about it this way: if a person loses his or her sight, the other senses will become far more acute. Blind people can hear things most people cannot, they can pick up scents that others are not even aware of, and they can even read with their fingers!
So now imagine that a trainer is training a client online. The trainer is forced to find other ways to communicate his or her thoughts, ideas, and instructions. The trainer will actually become more in-tune to the client’s wants and needs because—without the ability to be in the same room with the client—the trainer must now really listen.
Trainers and clients can connect on a much deeper level because of the inerTRAIN system. Trainers will have the opportunity to answer clients’ questions with great confidence because now they have the time to prepare a complete and thorough response and utilize the resources that the inerTRAIN system provides, rather than being caught off guard during a face-to-face training session.
The more you think about this, the more you will understand what I am talking about. All of the important details will be remembered and considered in the online training environment; each and every client will get the same great personalized training experience. Most importantly, all clients will feel like they are their trainer’s only client, while accomplishing their fitness goals at a fraction of the cost of traditional face-to-face training.
In Health,
August 18, 2010
Embrace your weight… use it TO lose it!
When I first started training, I used mostly free weights and machines with the goal of lifting more and more weight while hoping to put on muscle, increase my strength, and become more fit. And while I did improve, the overall results were always somewhat disappointing. In addition, I always had these nagging little aches and pains that I did not think someone who was working out should be experiencing.
For the last 24 years, I’ve experimented with all different training styles and exercises—varying the intensity of effort, techniques, and the volume of exercise from one extreme to the other. In that time period, I personally did every kind of training you could imagine.
Then, starting about 6 years ago, I took my training in a different direction. I stopped using almost all machines and free weights and focused on bodyweight-only exercises. The results, it turned out, were very surprising. Not only do I physically feel much better but my confidence and conditioning have shot through the roof!
The best thing about this style of training is that you do not need any special equipment, mostly just your own bodyweight. It is very empowering to be able to move your body through different movements and positions.
At 49 years old, I am now in better shape than I was 15 years ago! I am more flexible, stronger, and have more endurance. My knees and shoulders no longer ache and my on-and-off-again lower back pain has disappeared. In the end, what does it matter how much weight you can lift if you cannot even handle your own bodyweight? It is one thing to push and pull weights around—it is quite another to master your own bodyweight from every conceivable angle and direction.
Think of getting fit as gaining control of your body and broadening the range of what it can do. When you start training in this fashion, you will feel the difference after your very first session. These basic bread-and-butter exercises will not only build your strength, flexibility, and endurance but will also fill in the other missing pieces of the puzzle such as keeping your lower back, shoulders, and knees healthy and, if necessary, stripping way unwanted body fat.
When performing body weight exercises, a valuable secret is to move through the exercise movements in a slow, controlled fashion. By keeping constant tension on the muscles, an exercise becomes both more effective and more efficient. Most of all, the exercise also becomes much safer.
So try a few workouts using just your own body and you might be surprised by the results!
In Health,
July 18, 2010
Pillars of a Healthy Lifestyle
 The four main pillars of a healthy lifestyle are nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and recreation. By actively incorporating each of these pillars into your daily routine, you will have a solid foundation for being healthy and fit for life. When all four pillars come together, you will see great results for body and mind.
Nutrition
Eating healthy is something often discussed, but do you know what it really means for you? How does it really help you? Without proper healthy fuel from food, your body will age quicker and wear down much faster than normal.
Learning healthy eating skills and making better food choices takes practice. You probably know that you should eat a balanced diet with lean protein and the proper assortment of fruits and vegetables. Yet, many people find themselves eating conveniently and poorly. Fast foods high in empty carbohydrates and bad fats will cause your body and mind to slow down, leaving you tired and depressed. Do not let bad foods add to your stress and make you feel worse. Keep your body and mind in peak performance by making informed and healthy nutritional decisions.
Think about what you eat and when you eat. Eat more vegetables and low sugar fruits – vegetables fill you up with fewer calories and have many health benefits – and consume smaller meals more often to keep your blood sugar stable and prevent your body from storing fat.
Physical Activity
With properly informed nutritional practices in place, you will experience increased energy levels. When you feed your body and muscles well, you must also make sure you are keeping them in top shape. Structuring proper physical activity into your life provides many health benefits. Aside from looking better and feeling sexier, muscular strength and tone help many important body systems as well.
The five major killers in the USA are due to lifestyle problems, mostly a lack of activity and the wrong diet. Aging is mostly due to inactivity: as muscles shrink, body fat increases. By making your muscles stronger, you can prevent many diseases and slow the aging process.
An important aspect of life is your ability to move. Getting out of bed, going about your daily routine, working, and playing are all examples of activities that most people take for granted. In the fitness industry, these activities are called Functional Ability. In order to improve your Functional Ability, you need to focus on improving your muscular strength. Believe it or not, it is by far the most important thing you can do for your health.
The number of calories you burn everyday is directly related to how much muscle you have. This is otherwise known as your metabolism, which you can think of as the speed in which your body burns calories. As your muscles get stronger and larger, they will need more calories. A pound of muscle at rest will burn about 25 calories per day. A pound of fat only requires about 2 calories. If fat loss is your goal, making your muscles stronger will cause your body to burn more calories, even when you are asleep!
With proper nutrition and exercise you will have more energy, a stronger healtiher heart, lower blood pressre and stronger bones, with the added benefits of reduced tension, anxiety, stress and depression, and a better sex life.
Sleep
After taking time to have a great workout and an even better meal, make time for a good night’s sleep. Getting the necessary 7-8 hours a night is not a myth as sleep has benefits that many people do not realize. At night your body rebuilds the wear and tear it took on any cells during the day. It heals itself of diseases and boosts your immune system and both your body and brain undergo growth and repair processes. Sleep is vital for you to completely restore and rejuvenate.
Recreation
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it is important to remember to stop and take some time to relax by finding a recreation activity that you enjoy. Make sure to take some time out of every day, whatever you can, whether it is 10 minute or an hour, to do an activity that puts you at ease, something that allows you to clear your head of some of your stress and worry. Find activities you enjoy and want to do.
You do not need a trainer to stand and watch you walk, bike, run, jog, skate, or play with your kids. If you like the activity, you will be more inclined to continue it, and it will become part of your lifestyle. An overall active and healthy lifestyle is important in keeping fit, and it makes life more enjoyable.
In Health,
 & 
June 12, 2010
I AM inerTRAIN: 2 Trainers’ Perspectives
In February, we took several trainers through our certification process in early preparation for our website launch. After the session, I sat down with two of the trainers to get their thoughts on being a personal trainer and what it means to them to now be able to train clients virtually, anytime, anywhere. It is the first of the upcoming “I AM inerTRAIN” posts which will highlight various perspectives on what inerTRAIN is all about.
We are now recruiting trainers to be a part of this exciting new fitness community. If you are a trainer, or know a great personal trainer, find out more here and start your application today!
In Health,
Jeff
How long have you been a personal trainer?
Kevin Purvis: I have been a trainer for 6 years and in the fitness industry for 12. But I started doing push-ups in the crib.
Aaron Guy: I have been a trainer for 6 years, but I’ve been actively involved with my own fitness for 14 years.
Why did you decide to become a personal trainer and what motivates you now?
AG: Working out is such a passion of mine. I like making a career out of something I’m passionate about and working with a diverse group of people. If I could live at the gym, I would. I’ve often thought about sleeping in the massage room so I never have to leave.
KP: Exercise is my passion. I wake up in the morning thinking I need to get to the gym. Clients that are committed to making a change in their lives motivate me. I recently had a client tell me, “I need you. I’m ready.” And, that’s when change happens.
What are the reasons for your success as a personal trainer?
KP: I think my success is my personality. You have to have a personality as a trainer.
AG: I agree with personality and would add a level of commitment. I’m also very business-oriented, but fun, too.
How would your clients describe you as a trainer?
KP: Fun, patient, and non-judgmental. They feel like they can confide in me and that I know where they are coming from.
AG: Being patient, that’s a key. I am committed, enthusiastic, and fun, too – I have a lot of clients say that to me. Clients have said over the years that although they usually dread going to the gym, they look forward to spending this hour at the gym.
How do you inspire your clients?
AG: Have you seen this body or the shirts I work out in?? Seriously, I live by what I preach and clients can see that.
KP: My body. It is about visualization – they can see where they can take their fitness level.
What kind of clients do you like to work with?
AG: Motivated clients ready to make changes in their lives and people who don’t come in with all sorts of preconceived notions about how they are supposed to exercise. I don’t like hearing things like, “My friend’s trainer does this” or “Oprah said that”.
KP: I agree… people with an open mind.
What is your biggest success story as a trainer?
AG: A client of mine lost 110 pounds in about 10 months. When she came to me she could barely walk up a flight of stairs and couldn’t stand on one foot. Now she has done a 50-floor stair climb in less than 20 minutes and ran a 5K in under an hour.
KP: I had an older gentleman who couldn’t lie flat in his bed because he was so hunched forward. Through biomechanical and postural improvements that we worked on, he was able to lay flat in bed. Both he and his wife came to thank me.
What are your biggest challenges?
KP: Staying innovative and fresh with my program design.
AG: Finding enough time in the day to train people and keeping on top of fitness trends.
If you weren’t a trainer, what would you do instead?
KP: I’d like to be a personal shopper or personal stylist (to clarify, not a hair stylist… I wouldn’t touch someone’s hair).
AG: I’d be a dietician.
What do you like about the idea of training people online?
KP: I like that we can help people that might not otherwise come for help, people who don’t come to the gym or are too afraid to work with a trainer.
AG: We can hit a wider demographic of clientele and I can fill holes in my schedule so I can be more productive.
What do you think the biggest challenges of training online are going to be?
KP: Finding clients who can be accountable on their own. Plus, they don’t get to see how cute I am in my workout uniform.
AG: Communication, specifically the relay of information to the clients. But, with good tools, this can be alleviated. It will also be important to reach a level of personalization online that we have in the face-to-face training we do today.
Who do you think will benefit most from online training?
KP: Anyone who has a computer and wants to train. Anyone can benefit.
AG: Especially people who travel, people on a budget, stay-at-home moms, college kids, and businessmen and women in general.
March 15, 2010
When Eating Out Is Not Just a Special Occasion
What are you doing for dinner tonight? If you are not making your favorite dish at home, maybe you are heading to your favorite local restaurant for a special occasion…
Or, maybe you are nowhere near home and will spending the next ten days moving at lightning speed with no time to cook or even think about eating healthy. You just have to get food and keep going.
If you often find yourself in this position, take note of these 7 simple tips for eating out. Try to incorporate them into any dining experience, whether you are on the road or in your neighborhood eatery.
1. Skip the bread or chip starters. Instead, ask if you can have some cut-up raw vegetables. This can cut hundreds of calories from your meal.
2. Always choose your protein entree from the menu first. It should be about the same size and thickness as the palm of your hand. Fish is always a good choice.
3. Always ask the waiter to replace the rice, potatoes, or pasta with vegetables.
4. Order a salad with olive oil and vinegar while you are waiting for dinner.
5. If you like, have a glass of red wine or ice water while everyone else is munching on the rolls or chips. If you need to tame your hunger more, do so with a hot drink like tea or coffee.
6. Split an entrée with your companion or order from the appetizer menu to get a smaller portion size.
7. If you really came to the restaurant to eat dessert, then do not eat any carbs during your meal. Eat just a lean protein, and then split dessert with your dinner companion.
These tips are not meant to discourage dining out whether you are on the road or going out with your family or friends. The purpose is to arm you with the right plan of action. Be proactive. Have a talk with the waiter because these days most restaurants will prepare foods according to your specifications.
Also, remember that you do not have to eat everything that is put in front of you. Enjoy the non-culinary pleasures of eating out, like the atmosphere, relaxation, being catered to, and socializing with your friends… it’s not just about the food.
In Health,
Doug
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