Recommended Health Resources
This page contains many resources of various types. As we’re always reading, listening to, or watching various products, we’ll add more to this page as we find stuff that meets the excellent standards we require.
FREE RESOURCES
There are obviously many free reources on the internet, but here are some of the places where we actually like to spend our time.
Nutritiondata.com - The BEST free website with information on every imaginable food source.
Pubmed.com - Huge resource research articles on many fitness related subjects.
ExRx.net - Exercise videos listed by muscle group worked.
Nutrex Solutions Exercise Videos - As time goes on we’ll be posting more and more videos here.
BOOKS, MANUALS, AND DVDs
As good as the internet is, you’ll find that the very best information is ALWAYS available in the form of these type of resources. Each one below should be considered a valuable addition an is highly recommended.
This is actually one of the very few books that we think EVERYBODY should read. Whether your goal is to lose weight or just be healthy you should definitely pick up a copy. The text is so packed with information you’ll probably have to read it several times to truly retain it all, but the fun and witty writing style make it very entertaining and easy to read.
How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy
This book delivers nutrition information that is second to none. If for nothing else, it is worth purchasing for that alone. In fact, it’s so good that it is one of the very few books the we truly believe everyone should read. The 4 step program is packed with information and we really can’t say enough good things about it. You really have to read it to experience the passion with which Paul Chek writes.
Truthfully, the old way of warming up for workouts by performing static stretching is completely antiquated. Not only is it outdated, but it is downright dangerous and likely to lead to injury. Fitness professionals around the world are now using something called “mobility work” and this is simply the best resource for lower body mobility available today. In this DVD you’ll learn beginner, intermediate, and advanced mobility drills that will allow you to safely and effectively warm up for your workouts.
This DVD and manual, much like Magnificent Mobility (above), is geared towards a mobility based warm up except that this resource is for the upper body. The drills in this video not only prevent injury, but help to ensure proper motion of the shoulders to ensure the very best workout possible.
If your knees hurt then you absolutely need to own this manual. We’ve had incredible results with this program on ourselves and our clients. In fact, we might even go so far as to say that this is our single best business related resource purchase for 2008. That is saying a lot! Even if your knees aren’t sore, there is loads of information in this manual to ensure that they stay healthy and allow you to train at your best.
As trainers we realize that you can’t train your legs or perform cardiovascular activity because your knees are in pain that you are not going to be able to reach your full fitness potential until you get that taken care of. To do that we highly recommend Bulletproof Knees.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The truth is that this book is not directly related to training, but it is a book that everyone should read AT LEAST once. As it turns out, people that are effective at achieving many things in life share similar traits and they’re all detailed in this book for you to follow. Since it was first published in 1990 this book has been a best seller and it has helped hundreds of thousands of people transform their lives. If you wish to improve your fitness, your relationships, or your income, this book is a must own. Of course, many of us spend a lot of time in the car so the Audio Version
TRAINER RESOURCES
While the resources here are specifically geared towards trainers, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you also get your hands on all of the resources listed above. A good trainer should spend at least 1 hour per day reading fitness related resources to remain at the top of thier field.
Introduction to the Human Body: The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
The basis for good training is a strong understanding of anatomy and physiology. These form the foundation on which to build your own programs and, more importantly, to critically assess all of the other fitness related information you will later read. Without this ability you will be unable to separate the GREAT from the Garbage.
Low back pain is incredibly prevalent in the population and Dr. Stuart McGill (one of the world’s leading back specialists) has written this book to help you understand the common causes. Not only does he identify why it happens, but he provides steps to eliminate it or prevent it from happening. If you’re planning to be in the training industry for a long time you’re going to run into clients with lower back troubles. This book is definitely worth owning. If nothing else, this book will leave you with a whole new view on abdominal training that doesn’t involve crunches at all.
Muscles: Testing and Function, with Posture and Pain
This text is great even if you never intend to include muscle testing in your personal training practice. The chapter on posture assessment is worth the price of purchase alone. Combined with muscle testing you can assess your clients to see which muscles are strong or week and which muscles long or short. This will provide guidance for your programs by letting you know what needs to be strenghtened and what needs to be stretched. As the saying goes, “if you aren’t assessing you’re guessing”.
Note: A reasonably strong understanding of anatomy is required to read this book.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes
If you’ve got clients who suffer from back pain, hip pain, or shoulder pain, this book should be in your fitness library. Granted, this book has a strong rehab focus, but it is also excellent for learning to be aware of various movement patterns that can lean to injury before it happens. More importantly, you’ll learn the exercises to correct them before they do.
Note: A strong understanding of anatomy and some understanding of muscle testing is assumed in this book.
If you already own or are thinking about starting a personal training business you NEED to read this book first. For that matter, you need to read this book if you’re thinking about opening any business. Every entrepreneur must read this book. Don’t even think about this one. Just buy it!
The bottom line is this: it doesn’t matter how much you know about training if you’ve got nobody to train and you can’t pay the bills. Rookie trainers often focus so much on learning training information that they don’t pay enough attention to the business side of the industry. This book is a great starting point!
Dan Kennedy’s information is concise, easy to read, and totally free of fancy marketing jargon. In this book there are no quick fixes or sleazy sales tactics. Instead you’ll just recieve straightforward tools to get your message to the people you’re trying to reach and get them to call YOU. There’s even a “poor boy marketing” chapter to help you get started with little financial investment.
For the $12 it will cost you to purchase this book you could easily expect to make hundreds or thousands of dollars if you implement the strategies Dan puts forth.
Posted: January 29th, 2007 at 03:46pm By: mark
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