Studying, studying, studying...

    

I never studied in high school. Many of the classes I took did not interest me. In fact, the only classes in which I really enjoyed the content of were band, chorus, and English. There were other classes I enjoyed because the teachers were really cool, even though I did like the subject area- like MATH! I was horrible at math, but class was fun because the teacher was fun.

I did "okay" grade wise in high school, but I could have done so much better had I actually cared about my grades. My undergrad years at IUP were a different story. I studied all the time! Even if it was a non music class, I was still motivated because I knew my grades would affect whether I got a job or not. I managed to graduate from IUP with not only a B.S. in Music Education, but a 3.6 GPA.

I put off graduate school for as long as possible, but my enrollment was inevitable. In PA, teachers need 24 continuing education credits before the end of their 6th year of teaching. Many master's programs in education are only 30 credits, so like most educators, I figured it would be silly to stop at 24 credits and just go for the master's. Not only would I have a degree, but I'd get a bump up on the pay scale! I took my time, and over the course of a little over 2 years, I earned a Master's in Educational Development and Strategies from Wilkes University- this time with a 4.0 GPA!

The content in my master's degree classes were not hard (with the exception of the school law class), but it was extremely time consuming. There were a lot of projects, lesson plans, unit plans, test designing, and of course PAPERS. Luckily I was able to take a lot of my classes in the summer, when I had more time to focus.

Now I'm studying again for my personal training certification. It's hard. There is SO MUCH INFORMATION. I am only on my fourth week of studying and there are already topics I have read about over and over again and I still don't understand them. I'm probably only 15% through the materials and I still cannot fathom how I am going to be able to retain all of this information well enough to pass a test. (The good news is it's a multiple choice test, so it's not like I will have to write out definitions or compose essays.)

Also, since school has started, it's hard to focus on studying. After work and piano lessons, I have no brain cells left to read and retain information. I have been trying to get a lot of reading done on the weekends, so that during the week I can write and flip through my flash cards when I have free time. One study strategy that is really saving me time is reading my notes into pod casts and listening to them while I workout. That way, I automatically get to "study" for about an hour each day. If I hadn't thought of the podcast idea, I'd be drowning by now!

A lot of the content I'm working on right now is anatomy related. I need to know how all the systems of the body work, the joints and their movements, and many, many, many muscles and their functions. Some of the terms could be in another language to me, that's how foreign they are.

It's funny, I took anatomy in high school pretty much because I thought it would be easier than chemistry. The teacher treated it like a self taught college course. He rarely ever lectured, it was just up to us to read and understand the content. We also had a ton of really difficult quizzes where we would need to memorize the origin, insertion, and action for every  muscle in the body. It was terrible. I was so overwhelmed and so uninterested and unmotivated that I didn't even try. I'm pretty sure I squeaked by with a low C or high D in that course.

Fifteen years later, here I am studying anatomy again! This time, I am much more motivated because the content actually means something to me. But it's still hard.


I know all of this time spent studying will be worth it, so I don't know what the point of this blog post is. To whine and complain? Probably!


Thank for listening to me vent! I know I just need to suck it up!

Why I Chose ACE

My study materials have finally arrived!

 

I have A LOT of work to do. Just flipping through the books casually confirmed that I know NOTHING. I have a lot to learn. I hope I can do it in just six months. (I have to register for my test within 6 months or my test voucher expires and I will have to pay another couple hundred dollars to take the test.)

I thought I'd talk a little bit about how I went about choosing ACE to get certified through.

There are many different organizations that offer personal training certifications. I did a lot of research, and ended up having to choose between 3-4 organizations that are very respected and accepted at most gyms. But how was I going to choose which one was right for me? Well, I read. I read A LOT. And I finally chose to get certified through ACE- American Council on Exercise.

Why I Chose Ace  

1. ACE is not only affordable, but it is an accredited by the NCCA, and recognized as a reputable training certification by most gyms.

2. There are many study options available. With the study "bundle" I purchased, I receive both books I will need to learn, an exam voucher (like a ticket to take the test!), a 12 week guided email series, a practice test, and access to the ACE resource center. This is the most basic bundle available (and cheapest!), but if I was looking for more help and resources, there were two more study bundles that offered more in that department. So I had OPTIONS.

3. ACE offers exam preparation support in the form of a very active Facebook page and an exam prep blog. Not only that, but they have a hotline you can call and ask an ACE expert anything you don't understand. I feel like there are several resources available to me if I'm studying and I don't "get" something.

4. ACE provides continuing education and opportunities to earn more certificates. As a fitness professional it is important to stay current. I feel ACE will help support that!

5. I do not have to attend any classes, workshops, or training sessions. (Other than to get my CPR/AED certification.) This is very important to me. I love online learning and pacing myself. My entire master's program was online, so I know it works well for me.


There are many other organizations to get certified through, and they are all wonderful. I really don't think it matters which one I pick, as long as I think it will work for me. I think (and hope!) that it will!


We shall see!

Weekend Wrap Up!

Good Monday Morning! I hope everyone had a fabulous, relaxing weekend! Here's what I was up to...

Friday

Pet Bath and Beyond

Christmas had an appointment at Pet, Bath, and Beyond bright and early Friday morning. We were a little late for his 8am time slot because he was determined NOT to be put into the cat carrier.

It turned out that all of our efforts were  for nothing because Chrissy was not cooperating with the groomer and was getting very stressed out, so they did not proceed with the grooming. The groomer tried for an hour, but Christmas was just not having it. However, the groomer did not charge me AND she would not take a tip, even though I insisted. It wasn't her fault. Christmas is just... Christmas. If he doesn't want to do something, he's not going to do it. I guess Chrissy will never get clean and shiny and will always have a little bit of poop stuck to his butt...

That afternoon, I was getting really bored, so I decided to kick it old school and walk around Shiremanstown town to do my errands. I went to the post office and then way over to the bank. On this 2.5 mile walk, my knee started to ache REALLY bad. I am so frustrated with it at this point. How is it that I ran 5 miles yesterday and had no problems, yet today, a walk angers it? (P.S. Plantar Fasciitis is TOTALLY GONE.) To top it all off, I left my awesome blue water bottle on the counter at the post office. I was pretty bummed thinking I wouldn't get it back, but something CRAZY happened! Late that night, when my husband was coming home from his friend's house, he saw my blue water bottle out on the front stoop! Someone from the post office must have noticed I left it, checked the return address on the 12 letters I mailed, and dropped it off at my house! Either that or I have a stalker!

This hasn't left my side all summer!

Later that night, I got to hang out with one of my friends- Randy. We were in desperate need of catching up, and that's what I did. There are not too many people I can talk to for two and a half hours straight (unless we're running), but Randy is one of them!

Me and Randy, circa 1998!

Saturday

On Saturday morning, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered my study and testing materials to become an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. I spent 1/2 a pay check on this order, so I hope this all works out for me! If not, there's always Craigslist.

For my workout I did a SUPER old Tae Bo video I remember doing in high school. Sadly, I donated all of my Tae Bo VHS tapes to Good Will several years ago. Lucky for me, it has now cropped up on Youtube and it's just as hard as it was when I was in high school! Although I do use 3lb weights in my hands to add to the intensity.

I love a man in a red spandex belly top!

Then I headed out to Dollar General to get some supplies to help me study for my certification!

Next, it was a wild and crazy evening at Hershey Adventure Sports with my hubby, brother, sister-in-law, and niece.

If there had been Deal or No Deal in Atlantic City, I would have gambled.

This game gets me HYPE!

Some friendly brother-in-law basketball competition.

 I actually golfed a pretty good game that day but

still only managed 3rd place. My brother is a freak of nature!

Debby Dominates!

Ellie is just the sweetest little girl in the whole wide world.

QUACK.

I was totally out of grilled chicken, so dinner was sushi!!!!

Then I started reading a nutrition book that is really going to help me with my certification. It is VERY interesting. I'm only on page 28 and I already feel like I learned more about the human body than I ever did in high school!

Joe Cannon

Sunday

Sunday was a powerhouse grocery shopping day. I hit up Aldi and Giant. Sadly, Sharp Shopper in Middletown was closed, otherwise it would have been the grocery trifecta! (I don't even know what a trifecta is, except it has to do with 3 of something.)

Then I ran 5 miles. I know, I know, my knee hurts, right? Not today. Not during my run, and only a tiny bit after, so I iced it and it went away.

Walking = Pain

Running = Fine

Megan = Confused

I don't know how I got so lucky, but I actually got to hang our with ANOTHER best friend of mine this weekend. Maren came over and we had some back porch girl time. I don't have many close friends, and it seems like they all live far away. Lucky for me I got to see two of them in one weekend!

Me and Mar, also circa 1998!

The evening was capped off with an episode of Big Brother 15. In case you are watching, I would just like to share with you how much I can't STAND Amanda, Aaryn, GinaMarie, and Helen. The only people at this point I wouldn't mind winning are Candice and McCrae. Worst. Season. Ever.

Augggggh!!! I can't wait until she is evicted and Julie Chen

gets to tell her she LOST HER JOB!

At this point, I thought I was going to go to bed, but I didn't. You probably think I went to the JT/JZ concert in Hershey, right? I mean, EVERYONE was there.

Nope. I haven't been to a concert in like ten years. That's a bit depressing, isn't it? Instead I learned about vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements.

 That put me to sleep!

I hope you all did something fun this weekend!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (No, I am NOT pregnant!!!!)

I have been thinking about this decision for awhile and I have gone back and forth on it. However, in the past few days (today in particular) I have decided why not now? What am I waiting for? This is my life, I only get one!

I decided to become a certified personal trainer!

This probably does not come as a shock to you. You're thinking, "She loves working out, of course she would want to be a trainer." But it's more than that. I want to help people. I want to teach people. I am a teacher, after all, and when I am passionate about something, I want to teach it.

Growing up, I loved music. I sang, I danced, I performed in musicals and band and choir... I did it all. I wanted to share that love with others, so I became a music teacher.

It makes sense that now that I am passionate about health and fitness, I would want to motivate, teach, and help others. It drives me nuts when I see people who are misinformed. Girls think they will get "bulky" if they lift weights. There are people that literally starve their bodies by eating only 600 calories a day, hoping to lose weight. Others just don't know how to get started or what to do.

I want to help! I want to teach! It's the teacher in me that wants to do these things. There is a part of me that wants to serve and help others.

Of course I will still teach music. That part of my life is not going anywhere. I love my job. I am lucky to have it. Personal training would be a part time endeavor.

I am still researching what organization is right for me to get certified. I am leaning towards ACE, but if any of you trainers out there have any other suggestions, let me know!

I've also been scouring websites about qualifications and characteristics of a good personal trainer. Because honestly, anyone can get study, pass the test, and get certified. I wanted to make sure I had the skills to actually DO it. I found this list, which I thought to be interesting:

• Speaking skills
• Teaching skills
• Patience
• Confidence
• Dedication to learning

               (Source)

Hmmm... looks like some of the characteristics I have to display every day in my classroom! Am I right my teacher friends?! It's more than just "I like to work out, I want to be a trainer." I truly want to help and motivate others.

I'm very excited about my decision and am ready to study, study, study. But first, I have to pick the organization, buy the materials, and all of that stuff. This will be at least a six month process, because I want to be very prepared for the test when I take it. Like all tests, it's pretty expensive, and I want to ace the test on the first shot!

I don't know how this will all turn out. How much time will I even have to train others once I get certified? The school year is so busy for me, between work and piano lessons. But I guess I will see what happens! After all, if I never venture into the unknown, how can I expect exciting things to happen?

Well, that is my big announcement. Maybe you were hoping I was pregnant, or accepting a teaching position in Donegal, or was picked as Elisabeth Hasselbeck's replacement on The View.

Nope, sorry! They would never pick me to replace Liz. Now Joy, on the other hand...


Who would you want to replace on The View?