Greetings readers! I took a couple of days off from the blog to rest and recover after taking the ACE personal trainer exam. . .and I passed! WOO!
Quick back story: I got the materials for taking the exam 4 years ago. I have started studying for the exam about 3 or 4 times and quit every time, putting it on the back burner to other life endeavors. Plus the first 3 chapters are SUPER boring. It was only last August that I developed a 1 year plan for myself to get out of the restaurant industry and into an actual career in health and fitness. I cracked open the old text book, and over the next 8 months I read the whole thing cover to cover, did the vocabulary words, the two study guides, the book on CD, the flash cards, an on-line study course, AND a math fitness course.
I wanted to pass this thing.
Me passing the exam was validation that I was on the right path in my life. I have only my own experience in losing weight and staying in shape to prove that exercise and eating well does indeed work. I can't wait to ignite that fire and passion in others!
Planning on taking the exam? Here are some tips:
- Give yourself lots of time, and be consistent. Try to do little bit every day. I found it was helpful to sign up for weekly reminders on what I should be studying available at http://www.acefitness.org/.
- Use every resource available to you. The text book is king, but there is literally a different study tool for every study type. There is a book on CD, there are flash cards, there are study guides. Try every method to see which one works the best for you.
- Read the study blogs on the ACE website. They help to focus you because the amount of information is daunting.
- Anatomy is your friend. Know your muscles!
- Know all the different health screening techniques and protocol.
- Know how to read a food label.
- Know how to calculate body fat percentage.
- Use someone to help you with flash cards. It helps to say the information out loud.
- Reach out and ask someone who has taken the exam before!
The next step? To get out there and apply for gym jobs. Then take over the world.
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