Valley Ranch Fitness Boot Camp Scams - Is Your Boot Camp Coach A Certified Trainer?

Are you ready to sign up for a boot camp fitness program to lose weight, get a flat tummy, lean legs, and toned arms? If you live in Valley Ranch, Coppell or anywhere in Dallas, chances are that there's a boot camp program within 3-5 minutes of your home or job. But before you sign up, be sure to ask this very important question...

Question #2: What certification does the trainer(s) have?
Asking this question first assumes that the boot camp coach is a certified professional fitness trainer. Having a certification should be the BASE LEVEL qualification required to exchange fitness services for dollars. However, there is no law against starting a boot camp without one. As a matter of fact, I have recently become aware of a few boot camp programs in the Dallas, Coppell, and Valley Ranch being led by trainers who openly admitted to “just liking to work out and help people” WITHOUT a certification. In this country where a vast majority of our population is overweight or obese, I applaud anyone who is willing to help people lead more fit and active lifestyles. I also love to work out and I love to help people but when I began to accept people’s hard earned money in exchange for help, I got a certification out of my respect for my clients who were willing to entrust me with their health and their bodies. Don't you want your trainer to have the same respect for you?

Assuming that the trainer has a certification, you still want to know that they are certified through an organization with a standard of excellence. Some organizations require little more than a check and a passing score on an exam that you (or anyone you ask) can take from the comfort of your own home. I don’t mean to scare you here but I do intend to raise your level of awareness so that you can ask the right questions to get the information you need to make the best informed decision about which boot camp program you should join.

So how do you know if your trainer’s certification is from an organization with a high standard for quality? It’s easiest to defer to the list I have below. These organizations are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), an accredidation agency that helps ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through accredidation of a variety of certication programs and organizations that assess professional competency. NCCA accredited fitness certification organizations include: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

I am certified through NSCA, NASM, and NESTA. The trainers that work with Great Shape Fit Club – The Boutique Boot Camp for Women also have certifications from NCCA accredited agencies. Remember before you join a fitness boot camp program, ask this important question!