I turned 71 today and will start my new career specializing in older adults.

by George B. Boedecker Sr. 02/16/2009

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have not taken a test that hard in a long time.

This is good news. I turned 71 today and will start my new career specializing in older adults.

I'm also taking the Specialist in fitness for Older adults now. I'm hoping to take the test by end of March. I've been strength and fitness training for 54 years and was very big and now back to my natural weight of 180# at six feet tall. I'm wearing the same size pants that I did in the Army in 1957. Thanks for your advice, support and kind words. I will represent ISSA well.

I made the decision to take the ISSA CFT for more personal reasons, to lead a permanent healthy and fit lifestyle.

by Maria Allshouse 02/13/2009

I just began my studies for CFT with the ISSA and I must say, I'm learning so much. It's addicting I can't put the book down! I made the decision to take the ISSA CFT for more personal reasons, to lead a permanent healthy and fit lifestyle. I feel terrific since starting my journey. I've totally made a complete life change and I hope I can help someone else do the same in the near future.

I do have to say that ISSA helped me get this job.

by Stephane Guy 02/13/2009

I would just like to update you on my interview I had earlier. It went extremely well. It was probably the toughest job interview I had to go through, but everything paid off, the master trainer wants to give me a chance. Since I'm new to working in a gym, he will start me off with a few clients. I do have to say that ISSA helped me get this job. Once again, thank you.

I feel that I learn 10 new things everyday

by Christopher Samet 02/13/2009

I have a business running sports camps for elementary school kids in the Bay Area and I decided to branch out and work towards my CPT with ISSA. I am new to the board and I started studying 2 weeks ago. I just wanted to say that I am so so impressed with the board here. I feel that I learn 10 new things everyday. Keep up the great work gentlemen!

Your organization has been professional, prompt, courteous and knowledgeable from my very first interaction.

by Cathy Schwarz 02/13/2009

I am so pleased that I chose to get certified through ISSA. There are many certification programs out there and I was so confused. I settled on ISSA because of the scientific approach to training etc. Now that I am a member I am feeling so supported. Your organization has been professional, prompt, courteous and knowledgeable from my very first interaction. Last weekend I attended a workshop in Westlake Village in CA hosted by Dr. Jack. That was also wonderful. Thank you so much. I am so looking forward to working with everyone once I get my certification.

I own a fitness business, I am a wife and mom... i am sooooo happy and sooo excited!!!!!!!!! I actually have tears in my eyes!

by Tinamarie Walsh 02/13/2009

I am sooooo happy and sooo excited!!!!!!!!! I actually have tears in my eyes! Thank you so much! It took me longer than I had hoped simply because I own a fitness business, I am a wife and mom...So, with that being said I am honored to be a part of ISSA.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with your staff to achieve my goal and many more to come.

by Jonnel A Rivet 02/12/2009

I thank you for your support and patience while I took time to complete my exam. I have been an athlete my whole life and hope to inspire and help people become the best they can be for themselves. I learned alot from the books, I know it is a continuing challenge and learning experience every time you try something new. I can now use my knowledge to help people achieve their goals as I have mine. Instead of them being the trainer, I can start to be the trainer. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your staff to achieve my goal and many more to come.

It is assistance like yours that has me heartily referring ISSA to peers hoping to become Fitness Professsionals.

by Thomas Walters 02/12/2009

Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty!! Thanks for the thorough explanation. My client is understandably frustrated and I am working with her to reduce her stress levels. Hopefully that will assist her in getting her stress levels down. As for the sleep I think the alleviation of stress may help with that. I was aware that cortisol played a part in the answer but I just wasn't sure how. Thanks again for your response. It is assistance like yours that has me heartily referring ISSA to peers hoping to become Fitness Professionals.

Thank you very much for all the help, knowingly and unknowingly, in helping me become a personal trainer.

by Benjamin Steinman 02/12/2009

Thank you very much for all the help, knowingly and unknowingly, in helping me become a personal trainer. Very excited to begin my personal training career as a certified professional(has a nice ring to it). I'd also like to note that the test was an excellent way to assess my own understanding. I wish that i had been able to do some of the more interesting learning experiences but I'm kind of in a backwoods environment in the middle east and have limited contact with anyone, let alone with anyone involved with fitness. I will do my utmost to be a good ambassador of the ISSA and hope to give to others what you have given to me.

Its been a huge help and I've learned a lot just by reading your responses to various people.

by Sara Fleming 02/12/2009

I just wanted to personally thank you for all the time and effort you've put in to assist me and others in our studies. Its been a huge help and I've learned a lot just by reading your responses to various people. I have printed off quite a few of your responses and used them to help me better understand the text. Your depth and breadth of knowledge is stunning.

I am really looking forward to this new opportunity. Training with people is something I truly love doing and gives me a lot of fulfillment. I'm so glad to be able to do it with knowledge and confidence.

I can not explain to you how impressed I am with your concern, dedication, and loyalty to your students.

by Michael Norman 02/12/2009

Dear Staff of ISSA. I was not sure who to send this email to or where to post it online on your website, so I decided to just reply to the email regarding my exam results. I can not explain to you how impressed I am with your concern, dedication, and loyalty to your students. I was not expecting to get my test results back for a couple days like the website stated. However, I checked my email the same evening I submitted my exam, and not only was my exam graded, but the feedback I was given on my results was remarkable. I couldn't believe how much care you all put into taking the time to explain to me where my strengths were in the exam and what all I needed to work on. I feel even more confident about being a student of ISSA now because of your focus and great service you have given me. I just wanted to say thanks for everything.

Although I have been an avid fitness enthusiast and bodybuilder for almost thirty years, I learned so much from your course!

by Richard Giacovas 02/12/2009

Although I have been an avid fitness enthusiast and bodybuilder for almost thirty years, I learned so much from your course! I have already incorporated some of what I learned into my own workout and diet routine with great results! I am 6' 2in and weigh 240 lbs. with a body fat percentage of 14. Already I feel that I have reduced my body fat and become more muscular in a few short weeks! I can't wait to start training clients and incorporating all I have learned from your course into their routines. I feel blessed and fortunate to have led a healthy life style which has given me confidence and self-esteem in my every day life.

Again, my thanks go out to you and all the other fine and helpful administration staff at ISSA. Your course was a truly remarkable and wonderful learning experience. I look forward to using some of your other services which will help me further my fitness education.

The question board continues to be such an important part of my fitness business's success.

by Leslie Manning 02/12/2009

As always I look forward to your knowledge and suggestions. Thank you so much for being there to help! The ISSA is such an awesome organization. The question board continues to be such an important part of my fitness business's success.

The SPN course has been a great eye opener and i have learned a great deal

by Arvinder Parmar 02/11/2009

Thank you very much for your encouragement and support. The SPN course has been a great eye opener and i have learned a great deal. Although my interaction with you during the course was poor because of my own hesitation the calls that i made i found you extremely easy to approach and will most definitely refer to you in the near future when i have doubts and need help regarding the subject.

I must say that I have never had the benefits of a program that is ongoing, sincere, and expedient in response that has been offered to me via the ISSA program, and their professional staff.

by Stephen I. Zimmerman, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D. 02/11/2009

I have been a physical therapist for 37 years and obtained my doctorate in physical therapy one year ago. I also have a degree in health and physical education, and I am certified in biofeedback training. Over the previous 35 to 40 years, I have continuously taken continuing education courses, relative to my background and profession.

I must say that I have never had the benefits of a program that is ongoing, sincere, and expedient in response that has been offered to me via the ISSA program, and their professional staff. A major benefit of this program is the equivalent of having your own personal mentor, who is always there in time of need and question.

I've been within the ISSA program for approximately six months, and I have been given the opportunity to take as long as two years to complete my educational responsibilities and test fulfillments, relative to becoming a certified fitness instructor. At no time do I feel pressured. I have ongoing communication that is courteous and educational, and offered in a non-stressed manner. This is quite important to me, as I have a private physical therapy practice and ongoing family matters that take up much of my time. ISSA's program and professional staff have made me feel quite comfortable concerning my attempts to achieve certification as a "fitness trainer", thus permitting a better learning environment.

As a physical therapist, ISSA's program and staff, particularly Mr. Patrick Gamboa, have "relit my fire", and energized me as a professional. They have augmented my expertise, both clinically and psychologically, and have enhanced my skill as a communicator concerning my present patients.

The ISSA program is going to allow me to train and educate relatively "healthy" people, as opposed to the patients I presently treat, who are ill and/or injured. Not to belittle my present patient population, but allowing me to also train the person who is not actually ill or traumatized, will be somewhat refreshing.

In addition, ISSA's program and educational process will permit me to create a "bridge" of treatment, care and well-being that will allow me to continue training my patients as clients, once they are discharged from physical therapy. This opportunity will give the patient/client the benefits of enhancing their overall health status in an ongoing manner, which will be very rewarding to the person within my care, as well as myself, the professional caregiver. They will no longer be discharged to fend for themselves, but will have the continued care of a professional that is already familiar with their personality and medical history.

Again, I want to thank ISSA and their professional staff for allowing me to partake in this educational process, and for all their professional guidance and input. It is the people I will care for who will subsequently benefit in respect to their overall health and well-being.

If you hadn't have made me feel that comfortable, I do believe there was a chance I would've backed out that morning!

by Catherine Thompson 02/11/2009

Just had to thank you for getting me through the stress (& cortisol) of going to the seminar this week end...I'm so glad you knocked some sense into me, thank you thank you thank you!!! You are a pathway of great knowledge to yearning students!

If you hadn't have made me feel that comfortable, I do believe there was a chance I would've backed out that morning!

Thanks for answering my question on a Saturday. I didn't expect a response until Monday.

by Cathy Snell 02/11/2009

Thank you so much for clearing that up..Makes so much more since, and thanks for answering my question on a Saturday..I didn't expect a response until Monday. I am pleased to have you in my corner as i go through this course. I'm grateful for the quick response.

The test taking process was great as I was able to accommodate daily work requirements

by Tate Shaw 02/11/2009

The test taking process was great as I was able to accommodate daily work requirements and when time allowed spend ten minutes here and there as well as longer durations to accomplish the test. I really liked the way it was set up allowing for people to work within their time frame, eliminating any rush or hurried answering. With some questions taking longer than others to accomplish and the way it is designed, I wouldn't change anything.

I just want to state that being certified with ISSA has opened so many doors for me.

by Dana Shaheen 02/11/2009

I just want to state that being certified with ISSA has opened so many doors for me. In my gym, if you are ISSA certified, no one questions your qualifications. Keep the faith for those of you who are job searching, you will find your way through this organization. They are always there to help. If you are truly dedicated to be the best trainer you can be, it will happen. Just got my second certification and am so proud to be a card carrying member.

Just wanted to tell all the people who are enrolled in a CFT course, it is well worth the time and money

by Michael Kratzberg 02/11/2009

Just wanted to tell all the people who are enrolled it is well worth the time and money. To me it isn't about the money so much but the fact that I started my own business, and train at a gym and the clients keep coming, is enough for me. And when that client comes to you and tells you thanks, they have lost so many pounds and the feel so much better since they started training, that is gratification enough.. so keep at the books, learn as much as possible and the outcome will be well worth the personal and financial investment.!!