Domain 5

Question 1

Client Expectations

Answer 1

Personal trainers have 20 seconds to make a good first impression. The first impression includes: making eye contact, introducing yourself by name and getting the client’s name, smiling shaking hands with the client, remember the client’s name and using it, using good body language.

Question 2

Client Expectations (Part 2)

Answer 2

Besides attitude, behavior, and good communication, other important qualities of a personal trainer include: need to look professional - neat, clean, and well dressed, need to take time to build a relationship with new clients. Clients need to feel that the personal trainer is listening to them.

Question 3

Importance of Effective Communication Skills

Answer 3

Explain important policies, procedures, and expectations so clients understand what is expected of them. Be sensitive to clients’ feelings and connect emotionally to them (express empathy). Communicate consistently according to your personality and training style. Use positive communication approach that includes encouragement, support, and positive reinforcement. Greet your clients with a hello and a smile.

Question 4

Nonverbal Communication

Answer 4

What someone is thinking or feeling is reflected in his or her body language. Most nonverbal communication shows up in the face, such as a small movement in the lips or a change in the eyes.

Question 5

Active Listening

Answer 5

Is more than having good communication skills. Active listening is about having an attitude and genuine interest in seeking a client’s perspective and getting to know him or her.

Question 6

Stages of Change - Stage 1

Answer 6

Precontemplation - People in this stage have no intention of changing. They do not exercise and do not intend to start in the next 6 months. The best strategy with precontemplators is education.

Question 7

Stages of Change - Stage 2

Answer 7

Contemplation - People in this stage do no exercise but are thinking about becoming more active in the next 6 months. Because contemplators are thinking about becoming more active, personal trainers can have a great deal of influence on what contemplators choose to do, whether or not they choose to exercise.

Question 8

Stages of Change - Stage 3

Answer 8

Preparation - People in this stage do exercise (occasionally) but are planning to begin exercising regularly in the next month. There are believers in the health benefits of exercise. People in the preparation stage may have unrealistic expectations for the change they hope to achieve, which often leads to a high risk of disappointment and early dropout.

Question 9

Stages of Change - Stage 4

Answer 9

Action - People in the action phase are active. They have started to exercise, but have not yet maintained the behavior for 6 months. Some of the best strategies for keeping people in the action stage are to continue to provide them with educations because it will strengthen their belief in the pros of exercise.

Question 10

Stages of Change - Stage 5

Answer 10

Maintenance - People in the maintenance stage have maintained change for 6 months or more. Even though they have formed a change in their behavior in their exercise routine, they are still tempted to return to old habits of less exercise.

Question 11

Social Influences on Exercise

Answer 11

There are various kinds of support that help clients reach their health and fitness goals. Each of these support mechanisms has a significant impact on a client’s successes or failures, including: Instrumental, Emotional, Informational, Companionship.

Question 12

Group Influences on Exercise

Answer 12

There are various persons whose influence may either help or hinder clients’ abilities to reach their fitness and wellness goals - Family, Parental, Exercise Leader, Exercise Group.

Question 13

Common Barriers

Answer 13

Sticking to a regular exercise schedule is not easy, especially for somebody new to exercise. There are plenty of potential barriers an obstacles for an individual to overcome - Time, Unrealistic goals, lack of social support, anxiety, convenience.

Question 14

SMART Goals

Answer 14

Effective goal setting stems from the acronym SMART. SMART refers to specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

Question 15

SMART Goals - Specific

Answer 15

A specific goal is one the is clearly defined in such a way that anyone could understand what the intended outcome is. “I want to lose 10 pounds if fat in 5 weeks.” - Not “lose some weight” or “get thinner”.

Question 16

SMART Goals - Measurable

Answer 16

Goals need to be quantifiable. Establish a way to assess the progress toward each goal. If a goal cannot be measured, a client cannot manage it. “I want to lose 10 pounds of fat in 5 weeks.” Use body composition assessments and scale weight to quantify this goal.

Question 17

SMART Goals - Attainable

Answer 17

Attainable goals are the right mix of goals that are challenging, but not extreme. Goals that are too easily accomplished do not stretch a client or make him or her grow as a person because they are not challenging enough. “I want to lose 10 pounds of fat in 5 weeks.” Something like “Want 2% body fat” is extreme and achieved by few: conversely, just wanted to lose a few pounds of the scale weight can be done with no physical effort. Losing 10 pounds while maintaining non-fat mass presents a reasonable challenge to work toward.

Question 18

SMART Goals - Realistic

Answer 18

To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which an individual is both willing and able to work. A goal is probably realistic if the individual truly believes that it can be accomplished. “I want to lose 10 pounds of fat in 5 weeks.” Losing 2 pounds per week can definitely be achieved with dedicated effort. Something like “I was to lose 30 pounds of fat to have six-pack abs for my vacation next week” is impossible.

Question 19

SMART Goals - Timely

Answer 19

A goal should always have a specific date of completion. The date should be realistic, but not too distant in the future. For example, set goals that can be achieved tomorrow and in 3 months. “I want to lose 10 pounds of fat in 5 weeks.” The client will be reassessed exactly 5 weeks from the day the goal was set.