Knowledge is King
I can not stress enough how important it is to be in the know. Unfortunately, like most industries, the fitness industry is full of people who are not educated or qualified. I’ve seen people go to the gym who don’t know anything about movement science, just to take selfies . If you see someone taking videos of themselves at the gym, don’t assume they are equipped in any way to offer fitness advice. So please, do your research. That’s what I did. If you recall, I make it very clear that I am not a trainer, but I have studied the materials they learn from, and I try my best to stay up to date. There are two accounts I follow on social media that give reliable information. I highly suggest that you follow them on Instagram. They always have useful posts and share excellent resources. Of course, there are more places you can look, but I check here first when I need answers. Precision Nutrition and NASM.
Precision Nutrition: They teach nutritionists. I took their level one certification, and it was very helpful in understanding how food works. I have not taken the level two certification, but maybe I will one day. Their Instagram page has useful information about navigating your nutrition. They also focus on habit change.
NASM: That is the personal training course I took. They also have so much useful information on all things fitness. If you want to take it up a notch, purchase the NASM textbook. I highly recommend it, even if you have no aspirations of being a trainer. It’s a great resource to have on the shelf.
I also recommend a few other books. These are great starter books to get you thinking outside of the box and get practical suggestions of good habits that you can incorporate into your daily, weekly, or monthly routine. Here they are, along with the links to get them:
Atomic Habits by Jame Clear: This book is terrific. As you can guess, it's about habit change. I reference it in my blog entitled “Infinite Potential.” I recommend the audiobook. The chapters are short and usually end with an exercise for you to put what you've learned into practice. I recommend listening to it with a pen and paper so that you can take notes. If you prefer a paper book, grab a highlighter to make the points you want to remember to stand out. This book is a “keeper” book. You'll want to keep it around to refer back to it from time to time. Click here to listen.
Own The Day, Own Your Life by Aubrey Marcus: This book has a special place in my heart; it’s where I learned about “The Binaural Power nap.” If you've never heard of it, get this book just to read that chapter! It will change the way you “power nap” forever! Overall there are some handy tips for making the best out of every single day of your life. Click here to purchase.
Trail Guide to Movement by Andrew Biel: Like the NASM textbook, this is a must-have on the shelf. It gives you a better than a basic understanding of how your body works, specifically with movement in mind. It is the most useful “fitness book” I own. It was the reason I took a “functional patterns” course. You will be so much more aware of your posture, gait, form, and motions after reading this book. Click here to purchase.