I recently completed a course to become a certified personal trainer through NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). As part of the course I ordered, I also received a certified nutrition coaching course. After passing my CPT exam, I decided to complete the CNC course as well. I figure it’s better to be well rounded with both certifications. The subject of proper nutrition is also interesting to me.
I took my time when studying for the CPT exam. It’s been quite a while since I’ve taken any classes, and NASM gives you 180 days from the date you order the course to pass the exam. It took me 4 and a half months to finish the course and pass the exam. However, with the certified nutrition coach course I blew through it in under a month. Once I was over halfway finished with the CPT course, I really got that fire in my belly and wanted to complete both courses.
Some of the basic info covered in the nutrition course is covered in the personal training course. It is only a small part of it, but there is still some very valuable info. This made some the basic material of the nutrition course easier to get through. Of course it does go much more in depth and you learn a lot more. However, completing one made the other easier and quicker to get through.
No matter how much you think you know about nutrition, this course will teach you plenty. It’s one thing to know how to eat right, but here you’ll learn the why as well. While some of this in depth info may not need to be put into technical terms to confuse clients, you can simplify it to get your point across. I’ve already used some of what I’ve learned in my own nutrition plan.
The NASM nutrition coaching course also goes into the psychology of dieting. For most of us, it’s not easy to make changes to a diet we are used to following. A lot of it comes down to changing your mindset. This means that you have to get your clients and potential clients to see how changes in their diets will benefit them. With what you learn here you will have the ability to educate your clients and build rapport to be seen as a trustworthy source of nutrition information.
It took some work, but I feel the knowledge I’ve acquired from the NASM certified nutrition coaching course will help me go far in educating others about strategies they can follow to get healthier and into better shape. If you have a passion for fitness and helping others you can take the course and do the same.