Strength and Conditioning. Personal Training.
Think about what those two mean to you for a second.
Because I would like to differentiate between the two, I write this brief description. As a health professional I like to be called/known as a strength and conditioning specialist. It fits. It's one of my certifications in a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), and it possesses a wide variety of uses. I'm not big on being referred to as a personal trainer even though in a gym I work as a personal trainer. In the news, you hear 'personal trainer' mentioned. It fits. It, too, is included as one of my certifications.
But, the CSCS takes precedence.
The two are different. CSCS's work in gyms, with sports teams, with schools, do research, and much more. Personal trainers can do the same thing with less emphasis on working with athletic teams and in schools. Both titles can have an extensive amount of knowledge on health, fitness, and wellness, and are just two of many health-related professional titles (i.e., physical therapist, coach, doctor). However, the CSCS, as required, may have a larger knowledge basis on athletic material and on delivering certain functional training exercises for all individuals.
Both of the titles are also verbs. Both of them attract creativity in the set-up of health, fitness, and wellness programs.
As a different format in writing this piece I write it, for a few things that need clarification have come up in the news. So, as I write to you, as I organize workout programs, as I deliver news to you, and more it is as a strength and conditioning specialist. Personal training, especially in a one-on-one sense, is my interchangeable verb.
Be fit,
Derek Arledge, CSCS (I'm only adding this on now. But, I like the closeness of just signing off as 'Derek')
P.S. Enjoy your day off if you have one.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Opposite of Customer Service
Around the holiday season, I shared an excerpt on customer service. Good customer service goes a long way. As a patron, I like to receive great customer service. As a merchant, I like to have the attitude that makes the customer want more service and makes he/she feel very welcomed.
Take care of your customers.
Of course, this action goes beyond any store or office. It travels into the home, church, car, etc. So, what is the opposite of customer service?...Merchant service.
It does not exist. Yes, it does.
My opinion on poor merchant service occurs when a customer tells a merchant that everything is OK with a service, and then he/she notifies a superior and says that there is a problem. Now, the merchant cannot improve if 'constructive criticism' lacks (Hey, I think in 6th grade our peers and teachers gave us grades for the ability to accept 'constructive criticism').
Tying this scenario into the health and human performance arsenal, if you have a health, fitness, and wellness goal that you have trouble achieving...OK, let's say you have trouble quitting to drink coffee first thing in the morning. You and your co-worker have a short conversation:
Co-worker: "What's up/Good morning, man/girl?...How is your health thing going?...Are you cracking down on your morning habits?"
You: "Yea, everything is fine."
Mind you that this co-worker is someone who cares and with whom you share issues.
Co-worker: "Well, good because I have a reward for you."
Meanwhile, as the goal-setter you go into your office and collapse your hands into your face just shaking your head as if to say, "I can't quit. Why me?" You know everything is not kosher.
The co-worker has delivered good customer service. What about your merchant service? You can't accept any advice or guidance from your co-worker even though you trust him/her.
Do not hide. The trials and tribulations of muscle gain, weight loss, behavior change, nutrition, mental health, organization, and more do not hide.
Be fit,
Derek
Take care of your customers.
Of course, this action goes beyond any store or office. It travels into the home, church, car, etc. So, what is the opposite of customer service?...Merchant service.
It does not exist. Yes, it does.
My opinion on poor merchant service occurs when a customer tells a merchant that everything is OK with a service, and then he/she notifies a superior and says that there is a problem. Now, the merchant cannot improve if 'constructive criticism' lacks (Hey, I think in 6th grade our peers and teachers gave us grades for the ability to accept 'constructive criticism').
Tying this scenario into the health and human performance arsenal, if you have a health, fitness, and wellness goal that you have trouble achieving...OK, let's say you have trouble quitting to drink coffee first thing in the morning. You and your co-worker have a short conversation:
Co-worker: "What's up/Good morning, man/girl?...How is your health thing going?...Are you cracking down on your morning habits?"
You: "Yea, everything is fine."
Mind you that this co-worker is someone who cares and with whom you share issues.
Co-worker: "Well, good because I have a reward for you."
Meanwhile, as the goal-setter you go into your office and collapse your hands into your face just shaking your head as if to say, "I can't quit. Why me?" You know everything is not kosher.
The co-worker has delivered good customer service. What about your merchant service? You can't accept any advice or guidance from your co-worker even though you trust him/her.
Do not hide. The trials and tribulations of muscle gain, weight loss, behavior change, nutrition, mental health, organization, and more do not hide.
Be fit,
Derek
Monday, February 7, 2011
Super Off-Season
The Super Bowl has ended. The Green Bay Packers are the 45th Super Bowl Champions of the NFL. The commercials aired and have caught the attention of the public. Your chili you made or tasted was good and is gone. The nachos were good. Ribs and chicken.
Now what?
Well, for the players, it is their off-season. This time marks the need for a stint away from the rigors of football. Players will go on vacations, celebrate weddings, go back to their true home addresses, and spend more quality time with family. It is much needed and much deserved until team workouts begin in the spring.
Now what for the fans?
Those who are entrenched in football every Sunday and truly look forward to Sundays solely for football will have to fight its bitter absence. During the season, Sundays at 1pm, 4pm, and 8pm are a time to watch America's sport. After the season, fans are left with the specialities of other sports such as ice hockey and basketball and smaller sports like MMA and boxing and the other big sport in baseball in the spring. Even though there are many sports to look at after football ends among the many other chores, activities, and duties that need to get accomplished, many people enter Post-traumatic Football Disorder (PTFD).
It's not an official name but PTFD is normal. Physiology tells someone in my field of health and fitness and with the same title, as a strength and conditioning specialist, that athletes (and therefore non-athletes) need off-seasons. The off-season is a time to reflect on the previous season, to make changes in routine, to relax, to stay active but with less physical, mental, and emotional stress. Recharge your battery (energy). Get a new battery. Replace your battery. Physiologically, the off-season is a natural part of periodization.
Anyone can use an off-season, but it needs some planning. Even spontaneity is a planned part of an off-season. For someone who is not involved in the stressors of athletics, perhaps you need a vacation. You do not have to go far. Just slightly change your routine. It may involve traveling to a museum to see an exhibit. It may involve biking to work instead of driving, especially if driving causes too much commuter stress. Your off-season may involve going to church if you do not already go to one (the routing may catch on!) If you do go to one or belong to one, then your off-season may involve visiting churches every now and then.
For the off-season:
The options are plentiful.
Your choices are optimal.
Your actions are significant, purposeful, reflective, and manageable.
So, get it on!
Be fit,
Derek
Now what?
Well, for the players, it is their off-season. This time marks the need for a stint away from the rigors of football. Players will go on vacations, celebrate weddings, go back to their true home addresses, and spend more quality time with family. It is much needed and much deserved until team workouts begin in the spring.
Now what for the fans?
Those who are entrenched in football every Sunday and truly look forward to Sundays solely for football will have to fight its bitter absence. During the season, Sundays at 1pm, 4pm, and 8pm are a time to watch America's sport. After the season, fans are left with the specialities of other sports such as ice hockey and basketball and smaller sports like MMA and boxing and the other big sport in baseball in the spring. Even though there are many sports to look at after football ends among the many other chores, activities, and duties that need to get accomplished, many people enter Post-traumatic Football Disorder (PTFD).
It's not an official name but PTFD is normal. Physiology tells someone in my field of health and fitness and with the same title, as a strength and conditioning specialist, that athletes (and therefore non-athletes) need off-seasons. The off-season is a time to reflect on the previous season, to make changes in routine, to relax, to stay active but with less physical, mental, and emotional stress. Recharge your battery (energy). Get a new battery. Replace your battery. Physiologically, the off-season is a natural part of periodization.
Anyone can use an off-season, but it needs some planning. Even spontaneity is a planned part of an off-season. For someone who is not involved in the stressors of athletics, perhaps you need a vacation. You do not have to go far. Just slightly change your routine. It may involve traveling to a museum to see an exhibit. It may involve biking to work instead of driving, especially if driving causes too much commuter stress. Your off-season may involve going to church if you do not already go to one (the routing may catch on!) If you do go to one or belong to one, then your off-season may involve visiting churches every now and then.
For the off-season:
The options are plentiful.
Your choices are optimal.
Your actions are significant, purposeful, reflective, and manageable.
So, get it on!
Be fit,
Derek
TEEM Performance Training - HAHPN - February #2 2011: It's Always Super Sunday!
Health and Human Performance e-Newsletter
- Point Blank: It's the Super Bowl
There are only about 90 minutes or less until kick-off for the 45th Super Bowl. Most of you (maybe) are on a way to a party, a man cave at a party, hosting a gathering, relaxing at home, not watching the game, are at church, or listening to the game on the radio. Maybe. I'll say this: Enjoy your menu and enjoy your fun! I'll also say this: It's day #11 since the initial prompt about today. If you're not going anywhere, you can still get in a quick walk, jog, run, or bike. Hey, I'm just trying to protect your heart and help with digestion of your food.
Before signing off, the Super Bowl marks the first Preparation Event of the year. Next, and fast coming is Valentine's Day. Yes, another time that is related to health, fitness, and wellness.
The Score: The Winning Team - 27, The Losing Team - 19. MVP? Let's say he'll have 7 to 10 letters in his last name.
Be fit,
Derek
www.teempt.com
TEEM Performance Training - HAHPN - February #1 2011: Point de Wellness Attitude
Health and Human Performance e-Newsletter
- A Re-visit
- Snow What!
- A Top Ten List
A Re-visit
Yes, today marks Day #7 of what is a proposal but not the only way to prepare for Super Bowl Sunday (however you may spend it). Days 1 to 5 were geared toward physical activity, Now, without forgetting about physical activity that you may have tried for the first time in a while or in a short period, Day #7 = reflecting on your day via writing, meditating, prayer, etc. Just something that makes you comfortable. You may already do this on a daily basis.
Hey...just promoting another form of wellness.
Snow What!
Does anyone need any snow that he/she has not seen in a while or at all this winter?... Just checking.
This vast accumulation of snow has prompted me to delay some topics that I wanted to cover up to this point. That's OK because those topics will still arrive. But, I believe I am witnessing the biggest winter snow total of my entire life...and my feelings are well (hey, just because we're talking overall well-being it does not mean that every topic is glorified.)
I'm not going to mention that you need to workout. Or, post an exercise or stretch. Or, give a challenge. These, without a doubt and more, will come in later posts. In keeping up with the health, fitness, and wellness connection this large "snow-military" that has dropped out of the sky can remind all of us about how we face adversity.
Snow. Adversity? Riiiight.
Well, over the past month we have seen snow do its thing: In Hawaii it snowed. In DC it snowed and left thousands without power. In Florida...oops, it didn't snow. In Boston, it snowed so much in January that the month's total alone almost surpassed an entire winter season's average for the area. In Georgia, it snowed and a plow fell through a parking deck roof.
Big deal? Who cares?
We can embrace it. It's an awesome phenomenon of life. I bet if we controlled the snow we would really despise it. Since we do not control it, we might as well live for it (nope, I was not going to say deal with it, live with it, or suck it up). A lot of shoveling, plowing, and slipping has occurred this winter season; so living for the snow because it is a part of winter weather is almost a privilege.
Oh, listen. Everyone in Florida is clapping. Oh, be quiet, Sunshine-Staters. Ha!
A Top Ten List
In its entirety on the blogsite is a blog on the Forbes.com list of the Top Ten Most Disliked People in Sports. Yes, it is related to wellness. Yes, he did make the list.
Be fit,
Derek
Strength and Conditioning Specialist
www.teempt.com
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Controversy and Winning on Who is Disliked the Most in Sports (in America)
A different twist on The Ten Most Disliked People in Sports, according to Forbes.com is written below.
The Top Five consists of: Al Davis, Mike Vick, Jerry Jones, Tiger Woods, and Manny Ramirez.
I'm glad they did not use the word "hate" to replace "dislike" because...
Hate is such a strong word. Hate is distasteful. It's hard to stomach. Hating someone or something is definitely hurtful. To hate is basically an awful feeling.
(I looked the word up for its true meaning after writing the above paragraph). Hate is defined by the Encarta World English Dictionary (online) as "to dislike somebody or something intensely, often in a way that evokes feelings of anger, hostility, or animosity."
I'm not saying you cannot utter the word "hate". After all, it is a word. I stopped saying hate to describe my feelings towards teams, players, or most things because I realized that I did not hate whatever I hated. I disliked it.
Let's take, for instance, broccoli, a very innocent vegetable that fights for your good health (Don't get me wrong. I like broccoli, but some people have issues with veggies. Let's keep those individuals in our thoughts.) People who hate broccoli say, "I hate broccoli!" OK...but, slow your role. Are you really angry over broccoli? What did broccoli ever do to you? Wait, wait don't tell me. It walked up from your plate one evening and bully-slapped you in your face? No, no, it hoodwinked you one evening and disguised itself as a cinnabon when, in fact, Eureka!...It was broccoli! (Ha, it doubled crossed you.)
Are you catching the hate swagger here? This list comprises of the top ten sports figures that people dislike (believe me many people will use "hate" to describe it). But, an extremely small percentage of the population has only met one or none of them. Yes, I know the phrase "Don't hate the player (playa). Hate the game." That's used in good fun, but some individuals take this hate game too seriously and get really emotional over certain sports figures. Equally, that is the definition of hate right there in the last sentence. But, man, this list/topic should not affect a person's feelings.
Now, we're almost done. It looks like the people have spoken on their dislike list. Yes, the people have issues with sports figures that have controversy and are not winning on an individual basis. What happened to the underdog? I'm not sure. Who says all of these guys are underdogs...or not? If you look at the top ten, winning was not really in their corner in the past year.
Come to think of it - there are public dislikes with individuals or teams that do win on a consist basis. Hey, at least the individual or team has the right formula.
Enjoy your day!
Be fit,
Derek
www.teempt.com
The Top Five consists of: Al Davis, Mike Vick, Jerry Jones, Tiger Woods, and Manny Ramirez.
I'm glad they did not use the word "hate" to replace "dislike" because...
Hate is such a strong word. Hate is distasteful. It's hard to stomach. Hating someone or something is definitely hurtful. To hate is basically an awful feeling.
(I looked the word up for its true meaning after writing the above paragraph). Hate is defined by the Encarta World English Dictionary (online) as "to dislike somebody or something intensely, often in a way that evokes feelings of anger, hostility, or animosity."
I'm not saying you cannot utter the word "hate". After all, it is a word. I stopped saying hate to describe my feelings towards teams, players, or most things because I realized that I did not hate whatever I hated. I disliked it.
Let's take, for instance, broccoli, a very innocent vegetable that fights for your good health (Don't get me wrong. I like broccoli, but some people have issues with veggies. Let's keep those individuals in our thoughts.) People who hate broccoli say, "I hate broccoli!" OK...but, slow your role. Are you really angry over broccoli? What did broccoli ever do to you? Wait, wait don't tell me. It walked up from your plate one evening and bully-slapped you in your face? No, no, it hoodwinked you one evening and disguised itself as a cinnabon when, in fact, Eureka!...It was broccoli! (Ha, it doubled crossed you.)
Are you catching the hate swagger here? This list comprises of the top ten sports figures that people dislike (believe me many people will use "hate" to describe it). But, an extremely small percentage of the population has only met one or none of them. Yes, I know the phrase "Don't hate the player (playa). Hate the game." That's used in good fun, but some individuals take this hate game too seriously and get really emotional over certain sports figures. Equally, that is the definition of hate right there in the last sentence. But, man, this list/topic should not affect a person's feelings.
Now, we're almost done. It looks like the people have spoken on their dislike list. Yes, the people have issues with sports figures that have controversy and are not winning on an individual basis. What happened to the underdog? I'm not sure. Who says all of these guys are underdogs...or not? If you look at the top ten, winning was not really in their corner in the past year.
Come to think of it - there are public dislikes with individuals or teams that do win on a consist basis. Hey, at least the individual or team has the right formula.
Enjoy your day!
Be fit,
Derek
www.teempt.com
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