Today's Officer - Winter 2007 - (Page 12) MESSAGE CENTER HEALTH Tips for Hiring a Personal Trainer HIRING A PERSONAL TRAINER isn’t a luxury reserved for the rich or famous these days — it’s a smart investment that will pay off in helping you meet your health and fitness goals. A trainer will design a program that meets your specific needs, whether it’s working around a knee injury, helping you get ready to hit the slopes, or trimming down those last few pounds — or all of those things at the same time. When is the right time to hire a trainer? ■ When you walk into a gym and are bewildered by all the equipment in front of you, it makes sense to hire someone who can show you how to make the most of it to meet your specific goals. Most fitness centers offer introductory one-size-fits-all orientations for new members. However, a personal trainer can take you through several sessions of workouts — all designed with your specific needs in mind — and give you a good idea how to work out on your own. Later, you always can schedule “tuneup” workouts with the trainer if your needs change or you notice your results are stalling. ■ Whether you are new to fitness or an old pro, it’s important to hire a qualified fitness professional when you’re coming back from an injury or illness or working around chronic pain to avoid further problems. A qualified trainer — working in tandem with your health care professionals — can put you on the road to recovery by safely guiding you through a program to make you stronger and improve your energy. ■ If you need help getting motivated to lose weight or improve your health, a trainer can be a coach, drill sergeant, cheerleader, or confidante. He or she can make it easier for you to stick to a consistent workout schedule and help you come up with real-life strategies for diet success. ■ If you decide to take on a different challenge, such as taking up a new sport or getting in “in-season” shape for your winter or summer activities, a trainer will develop an individualized program that takes your unique needs into account and gets you ready to hit the slopes, the court, or the asphalt. When you hire a trainer, make sure he or she is experienced, has worked with clients whose needs are similar to yours, and is certified by a reputable agency. Top certifying agencies include the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. To find a personal trainer near you, visit www.acefitness.org. Wendy Watkins is a personal trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. COMMUNITY Spouse Support TO BETTER understand the needs and concerns of today’s active duty servicemembers and their families, MOAA has established the President’s Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council, a group of 14 military spouses representing the active duty service branches and the active components of the Guard and Reserve. Council members, who met for the first time in September, will meet quarterly and serve one-year terms. Each member will work on one of four committees: Outreach, Government Relations, Products/Services, and Communications. They also will have the opportunity to attend MOAA events such as the annual meeting and the military spouse symposium. The council members were chosen by MOAA headquarters staff and will report to MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USNRet., with discussions and recommendations. “While MOAA already does a lot for spouses of currently serving military members, we want to increase our knowledge of their issues and concerns so we can provide better support to them,” says Ryan. PHOTO: ROB MELNYCHUK/GETTY IMAGES 12 TODAY’S OFFICER Winter 2007/08 http://www.acefitness.org
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