Well the dust has settled...

Well it has been a couple of days since the test and I apologize for not posting anything. But it was such an intense day and I just wanted to spend the rest of the weekend with Agi and the girls relaxing. I'm sure you understand. But let me tell you about Saturday!

Well myself and a few of my classmates (we called ourselves the A team) had been getting together to study for this monster of a test. The instructor had told us that the test was to consist of "hundreds" of questions including fill in the blanks and essays. It ends up that the test was not as long but was very in depth.

I feel very confident that I did well on the multiple choice, matching, true/false questions and the musclo-skeletal identification. As far as the essay and listing section, it is hard to tell. I think I answered everything correctly, but because it was essay it is hard to predict how they will grade it. The tests are graded by hand as opposed to a computer. So it really depends. I feel like I did pretty well. The entire written portion represented 75% of the total grade.

The practical portion (25% or grade) was very intense. We each took the practical in the order that we completed the test. Oh by the way...During the written part of the test, I was actually one of the first ones finished. So I was like "cool!" But when I went back to check over my answers I realized that I had totally skipped an entire page of questions! I nearly crapped right there! I would have been so pissed. So I decided to just chill and take my time going over the questions again. I was the 5th person to hand in my test. Total time 3 hours. So back to the practical..

Like I mentioned above, we each took the practical in the order that we finished the written portion. So we were all out in the hallway outside of the gym waiting for our turn. That was tough cause we all were talking about the test, double thinking everything and some of us were trying to cram in last minute information. After about 2 hours of waiting, we all started to get kinda loopy and silly. Which was good cause it kinda broke the tension. That was until of of our classmates Ahmad, who is normally really peppy and happy came out of the gym looking like the dude from the movie "The Green Mile." You know..."Dead Man Walking!" We all kinda freaked a little and settled down. It was at that point that I told the group that when I finish I am going to do the "Moonwalk" outside of the door!

The practical consisted of lots of rapid fire questions covering everything that we learned in class. We had to demonstrate taking fat caliper measurements, identify the anatomical reference sites for the measurements, demonstrate certain types of exercises for certain types of muscle groups, identify the primary (agonist) and secondary (antagonist) muscle groups involved in each movement, and on and on.... It was very intense. I got one wrong in the beginning of the practical. Keep in mind that we could only get 2 questions wrong on the entire practical. When I got the answer wrong , the instructor says, "Bro, you can only get one more wrong then you fail." HELLLOOOO! So I said, "Okay, Lets keep going!"

So once I regained my composure and lowered my heart rate, I completed the rest of the practical with no problem. It was intense but I felt pretty confident throughout. At the completion of the practical, I peeked at the instructors clipboard and it said "pass". WHEWW!!

You should have seen my jacked up Moonwalk when I stepped outside the door of the gym. We weren't allowed to talk to anyone after we finished, but when the doors closed, all I could hear were my classmates laughing like a bunch of crazy people just before medication time!

So now all I have to do is wait for the results which may take up to 4 to 6 weeks. I really hope that it doesn't take that long. I keep you all posted.

Thanks for all of you support and comments. Stay tuned...more to come!


C.

Only 3 days left...

Holy Moley! D-day is rapidly approaching. I participated in a study group with some classmates at a gym in Hialeah and that was very helpful. As a matter of fact, I am just posting this really quick as I get my stuff ready for another study group this evening.

I still have a lot to memorize (i.e. names and location of bones, & muscles, formulas) but I am feeling pretty confident but anxious at the same time. I have been running some of my business ideas with people both in and out of the industry and I am getting positive feedback. More on that later.

Well gotta run!

C.

Still here...still studying

Just a quick update:

1. I have been super busy at work.
   
2. I have been studying when I have the energy.
3. I have collected some guides and resources on writing a business plan.
4. I am still super psyched.

Good night.

Crunch Time

No pun intended...

Well just got home from my last lecture class before the final CPT test. I got an 86 on my quiz. Awesome. Apparently, nobody every gets a hundred on these quizzes and my scores have been above average for the class. Pat on back here. So I'm feeling confident so far. Just one more class where we will review the "practical application" portion of the exam. The entire next class will be spent in the gym. 6 hours of actual work in the gym; i.e. PNF stretching, H.I.T. workout, body fat measurement, blood pressure measurement, etc.

But for now, it's chill and relax with the family for Kim's Birthday!

C.

Sorry, it's been awhile...

Isn't that the beginning of a cheesy 70's song?

Anyway. It has been about a week since my last post. Sorry about that. But I am happy to report that I have been reading my text and I am almost caught up to the lecture notes. Whew! It is a lot of material to take in but it really isn't that bad. I feel for the rest of the class cause they will be getting the books tomorrow. I have no excuse now.

I have two weeks until the exam. I feel confident that I will be ready. Just got back from a brisk walk with the girls and now I'm going to hit the shower then hit the books. Another big quiz tomorrow and then a review for the test.

C.

Ask and you shall receive...eventually

Well my book finally came in. I'm not sure if my classmates were notified that the book had arrived 'cause she originally wanted me to pick it up on Saturday. Needless to say, I just went and got it. She put a copy aside for me with my name on it, how nice.

It's a pretty big book so I really have my work cut out for me. Page one.....

C.

Good News and Bads news

Which one do you want to hear first? First the bad news...

So I show up to the class today and "guess what?" NO BOOKS! Can you believe it?! We have two weeks of lecture remaining until the certification test, and still no book. CRAP! Needless to say the class was pretty upset about it. Despite the obvious effort on our instructors part to practically give us the test in the lecture materials and handouts, most of the class feels at a great disadvantage. Most of the students in the class have experience in a gym either personally or professionally, but other students are completely new at the "iron game" and are totally lost or at least struggling. So during the break I sent a pretty rough email to the educational coordinator stating how I felt about the situation. I added that if I did not feel adequately prepared for the exam (for which I have to pay and additional $150 fee) I would demand a refund. Come to think of it, the school should pay for the retest if anyone fails the test. If it comes to that I will be sure to suggest that next week. So lets see if the coordinator contacts me.

But now the good news...

I got an 85% on my quiz! Myself and another dude were the highest in the class. Plus I got extra credit or at least props from the instructor because I knew the rationale behind one of the trick questions (even though I got it wrong on the test). Here is the question:

"When utilizing the Phosphagen Energy System, you mostly deplete or breakdown your stored ATP, ADP and CP. TRUE or FALSE"

I should have read the question more carefully, that is the reason I got it wrong. Because the answer is clear...

Do you know the answer?


C.

Answer: False. Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) is not broken down during phosphagentic energy synthesis. It is created through the giving up of a phosphate from Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and binds with Creatine Phosphate (CP) to resynthesize back to ATP. WHEEWW!

Update...up early!

Good morning! I have been up for the past hour and a half or so reviewing for my weekly quiz. As you have probably noticed, I haven't posted anything for the past couple of days. Well I have been pretty busy with life and all ( which is good), but most of all I have been studying more. I still feel a bit unprepared because I don't have the book yet but I have made some flash cards and have been reviewing the handouts and my notes like crazy. So I am up early today reviewing the material.

Aside from the coffee pot overflowing because I didn't put it on the holder thing right, it has been a good morning. Agi still sleeping, although she offered to help me study with the flash cards. ahhhhhh!!! But she has been busy this week to and needs her rest. Ultimately for me, when it comes to crunch review time I kinda need to do it by myself, you know what I mean.

So I have to go back and hit the pages. Class is at 9:00 am. Check back later and I'll tell you how I did!

C.

Should of wrote it down...

Did a bit more studying (sans books) this afternoon after work. Forgot to pick up some flash cards though. I should have wrote it down. Anyway, too lazy to got out and get some now. Oh well. Reviewed my last quiz and kickin' myself over the questions that I got wrong. My fault for not reviewing. I'll be prepared for next one.

C.

Thanks everyone!

Just a quick post to say thanks to those have commented on my posts so far. It is really encouraging to read your feedback.

I didn't get much sleep last night so I gonna keep post short. Good night!

C.

ARRRRGHHHH!

Okay kinda frustrated.

I am frustrated partly because I am at home working on stuff for my day job, but mostly because I have been told that the book for the course will not be available until Saturday. This sucks! I sent an email to the Adult Education Coordinator at Miami-Dade College earlier today re: not having the books and expressed my concerns. Needless to say, there was nothing she could say or do except assure me that the books were coming and that the instructor was giving us ample handouts and lecture to cover the material. Then I get, what I believe to be a well intentioned email from my instructor informing me that the coordinator spoke to him about her conversation with me. He then continued by suggesting that I study hard because the next quiz was "going to be hard".

HELLLOOOOO!!!!!!! BOOOOKKSSSS!!!!!!!

Is it just me? Last time I was in school, books played an important role in the preparation of quizzes and test. Call me "old school" but geez. I guess I'll just have to work off my notes.

Okay I feel much better now. Back to work researching underage drinking statistics for Miami Beach...don't even get me started....

C.

I like mine rare please...

"Our bodies are essentially made up of steaks." -Ricky Gonzalez

This was the theme of my last class. Yesterday's class covered neuro-muscular and skeletal functions, basic nutritional principals and nutritional planning. It was actually very interesting but because of the pace of the class it was kinda intense, almost intimidating. But I remained focused and I think I got it. I just have to study so I don't forget. All the calculations and stuff are tricky!

We still have not received the book for the class which sucks but the instructor's lecture is very thorough and he assures us that if we study the notes and handouts, we won't miss much. Supposedly, we are to be getting the book on Monday. I hope so. Time is ticking away.

One interesting development is that because the curriculum for the class was changed at the last minute (hence not having the book) I am actually taking a certification that is more rigorous than the original course curriculum. But because I already bought the materials for the other certification, I am eligible to take that certification as well. So my plan is to take this certification test on May 4th, then sign up for the other certification test shortly after that. The material is more or less the same and my instructor feels that I would have no problem (assuming of course I do well on the first test) passing the other test. So basically I could potentially be certified by two associations in one shot! Wish me luck!

Not intending to jump the gun or anything but I have been thinking of names for my future business. It's actually harder than you would think. All the cool names are taken! I was thinking about names like "Hybrid Fitness" or "Continuum Fitness" or even "Koi Fitness" but alas they are all taken. I really don't want to use the word "fitness" in the name, but I'm still working on an alternative. I am looking for a name that is modern and not too "fitness-y" if that makes any sense. I want the name to embody/incorporate the things that I am into like the integration of ideas, lifestyles, concepts, metaphor, you know all that crazy stuff that I am into. I intend to bring this (basically all my being) all into my way of training and stuff. Sounds kinda hokey huh?

Got any ideas?

C.

Last post for today

Well it's the end of the day and the work week and I am getting ready to snuggle up on the couch with Agi and watch another episode of "Six Feet Under."

But before I could reward myself with that, I did some research on the net about how to write a business plan and starting a new business. I have to say there is a lot of stuff out there to soak in! So I did what any new entrepreneur would do...I went to Barnes and Noble and got "Becoming a Personal Trainer for Dummies". It's actually really good! Granted it presents the steps on starting a personal training business in very broad strokes, but for a newbie like me it's perfect. I have also made some initial contacts with my local SCORE chapter. If you don't know about this great non-profit, it is basically an organization made up of volunteers that mentor people like me who want to start a small businesses. My rationale is that I want to get as much support and learnin' as possible on the business end because after an entire career of working in health care and non-profits, business stuff is very foreign to me.

Tomorrow is my second day of class at Miami-Dade. Call me a freak but I have been thinking about class all week! I guess that's a sign huh?!

C.

Some quick bullets...

Ahhhh...amazing what a nice, hot shower can do.

I don't have much time right now, cause I have get ready for work (yuck). So here are a few bullets:

• The certification that I am going for is from the National Strength Professionals Association (NSPA).
• I am taking the eight week course (every Saturday from 9am - 3pm) at Miami-Dade College, North campus. I have already started one class.
• My instructor is Ricky Gonzalez. His personal training business is "True Body Training".
• The final test for certification is May 3, 2008.

C.

The first post

This is the first post documenting my journey towards being my own boss as a personal trainer. It suddenly hit me that my certification test is really just around the corner. See for yourself...look at the countdown on the right! YIKES!

It's actually really early in the morning (6:42 am) and I just got back from a short run. When I got back I just decided to redo this blog. Don't ask my why. I just felt compelled to do so. The original "my work space" blog was interesting and fun to do and I thank everyone that sent in their pics. But "life is change" as they say. Maybe I will start up that blog again in some other form. But for now, I am curious to see how this will go.

I am immediately self conscious as I write but this is usually what happens to me when I start a journal but I'll get over it. It's funny...that happens every time. I give propps to the serious bloggers our there who just put themselves out there every day. I guess I am assuming that they are being honest and real but I like to think that most are. Anyway I digress...

Ok...here it goes...

First...I need a shower...

C.