Identify an individual currently on an intermittent fasting diet, another who is on a gluten-free diet, and someone else on the Paleo diet.

1. Identify an individual currently on an intermittent fasting diet, another who is on a gluten-free diet, and someone else on the Paleo diet. Critically analyze their dieting experience(s) and compare/contrast them with your own. Evaluate each in light of the most recently known science and practical experience. Would you recommend any of these diets or any other structured diet to a future client? If so, list the diet and describe how would you determine its appropriateness for a client. If you would not recommend any of these or other structured diets, detail why.

2. Critically evaluate any three popular fat loss programs or diet programs (e.g. Jenny Craig, etc) that are currently in the marketplace today. How do they stack up against each other relative to their nutritional profile, ability to support intense training, and ability to provide lasting results? How does evaluation of diet programs help you in your future training endeavors? What will you be looking for and why?

3. Identify two popular multivitamin formulas and list the ingredients of each. Compare the ingredients with one another. If they are different, why do you think there is a variance between the two? Are they marketed towards different audiences? And if so, how? Why do you think the manufacturer combined certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs?

4. Meet with an athlete that has experienced dehydration amidst an athletic competition (e.g. marathon running, all-day soccer tournament, etc.) Describe the experience. Was it a sudden onset? Was it over a period of time? What symptoms occurred? What could have been done in advance to avoid dehydration? Why is consistent hydration important for both function and performance? How will you incorporate proper hydration into future training endeavors?

5. Pick five supplements currently on the market. Find research based on the supplements and the ingredients. What were the results? Were the studies funded by the supplement company? Is this a supplement backed by credible science? If not, why do you think that so many people are currently using it?

6. Identify two serious bodybuilders and two serious anaerobic athletes. (You can find the athletes through an online search, in your gym, from a magazine, etc.) Describe each athlete's training program. Based on what you have learned in the course, identify reasons for the program's success or failure at maximizing muscle mass and minimizing fat stores.

7. Meet with at least three individuals that are new to training and nutrition. For each client, identify and describe three limiting factors (refer to Unit 20). Identify and describe a specific action plan to eliminate these factors from each client's current nutrition plan.

8. Describe the following for each major macronutrient category (protein, carbohydrates, fats):

   role in energy production

   role in performance

   recommended types (for the generally healthy public)

   types that are not recommended

   foods that you would recommend within the macronutrient category and why

How does knowledge of macronutrients help you in your future training endeavors?

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Learning Experiences, Section 6: (Units 21 - 31)

Choose one of the learning experiences below and write a 250-word essay response.

1. Search online for "free medline." You will probably find several websites that offer this feature. Search for research abstracts on "cancer and exercise." Review at least six abstracts (articles no more than five years old). Based on the conclusions of these studies, how beneficial is regular exercise for cancer patients? How would you market your services to clients that have cancer? Be sure to cite your work.

2. Research the benefits and risks of exercise and youth. List at least five resources (resources no more than five years old) and summarize the research findings in your own words. Is resistance training safe, effective, and beneficial for young people? Why or why not?

3. Watch a diabetes educator and/or nurse perform a blood glucose test on a diabetes patient. If you have the resources, knowledge, and are comfortable, take your own blood glucose after intense exercise. What is the number? What does it mean for you? What would it mean for a diabetic? How could you incorporate blood glucose results into your exercise practice?

4. Write down three or more special population groups for whom you would use a water exercise therapy program. What types of movement routines would you perform? What types of strength training would you incorporate? What precautions would you take?

5. Identify at least two women who have regularly exercised before and after pregnancy with very little "down time." What precautions did they follow? What alterations did they make to their normal training routine? If they were to do it again, what changes might they make? Do these follow the guidelines presented in your course text? How will the information you have gained from this learning experience guide your training recommendations for clients who are pregnant?

6. Seek out a competent sports medicine expert--medical doctor, chiropractic physician, nurse, or physical therapist--and review some of the sports-medicine conditions outlined in the course text. Are these outlines specific enough? Are any sports-medical conditions left out that should be included? What else can you do to better prepare yourself in assisting your clients to seek competent sports-medical assistance?

7. Visit a chiropractor and discuss as many of the therapeutic modalities as s/he uses. Where do you, the personal trainer, fit into the chiropractor's rehabilitation practice? Where do you fit in the process of ensuring the continuation of care as well as the prevention of future injury/ailments?

8. Attend a basic first-aid course and explain how the information gathered in the course will be specifically helpful to you as a certified personal trainer. (NOTE: First aid and basic adult CPR/AED are separate topics. Some courses combine both. First aid is the topic of this learning experience. CPR/AED is a co-requisite to earning your certification.)

9. Research the steps involved in launching a new personal training business and develop a business plan. Find out where to obtain your DBA, business checking account, and liability insurance. Create all of the necessary forms for your business including your resume, rate sheets, policies, consent forms, health history questionnaires, and anything else that you deem professionally appropriate. You might design a logo or flyer for the business as well. Lastly, include a description of any difficulties you encountered as you navigated the business set-up process. Copy and paste this information into the text box provided as part your response.