I get asked constantly what I feel seperates a good personal trainer from a bad personal trainer. It’s a simple answer really: continuing education (AKA….read!!!!!). Having letters next to your name doesn’t really impress me. I’ve been in the industry long enough to know that keeping up-to-date with information is a MUST in order to succeed.

Make it a point to read at least one hour per day in your field of choice. Trust me, the television shows can wait (unless it’s 24 or Lost). Below are some fantastic resources I recommend to anyone who wants to become an “expert” in the fitness industry. As Alwyn Cosgrove has stated on numerous occasions, “read one hour per day and you will be in the top 5% in the field within 2-3 years.”

Free Resources:

Books, e-books, manuals, dvd’s, cd’s, etc are great and there are certainly a plethora of each that I would consider must haves. However, they do get outdated. I first started in this industry just reading articles on various websites and participating in forums…..for free. Some of the better ones include:

www.t-nation.com -In my opinion, the best site for information on anything fitness related from some of the most well known authorities in the industry.

www.thefitcast.com - One of the top weekly training/nutrition podcasts, featuring many of the top names in the industry. A certain someone who’s website you’re currently browsing has often been a guest host (wink wink, nudge nudge).

www.ericcressey.com - Eric Cressey’s website. Lots and lots of useful info; including links to his products, blog, recommended resources, articles, newsletter sign up, and how to be an uber nerd. I hang out with him every day, so I’m allowed to say that.

www.wannabebig.com
www.mindandmuscle.net
www.michaelboyle.biz
www.alywncosgrove.com
www.elitefts.com
www.higher-faster-sports.com (Kelly Baggett)
www.maxoutradio.com (Mike Roussell)
www.jimmysmithtraining.com
www.robertsontrainingsystems.com
www.cassandraforsythe.com
www.extreme-physiques.com/forums (Another great forum filled with some very knowledgeable people)
www.sbcoachescollege.com
www.keithscotttraining.com

BLOGS: I have smart friends, you should listen to them

www.ericcressey.blogspot.com
www.robertsontrainingsystems.blogspot.com
www.jimmysmithtraining.blogspot.com
www.cassandraforsythe.blogspot.com
www.kescott45.wordpress.com
www.alwyncosgrove.blogspot.com
http://blog.nakednutritionguide.com

Honestly, there is a ton of free information out there. I would go so far to say that I probably learned more spending time reading various websites than I did through all four years of college. So even if you are strapped for cash and can’t afford books and the like, you have no excuse not to better yourself….for free.

A Small Rant Before I Go On:

You want to learn? I can’t stress enough how important it is to surround yourself with like minded individuals. I have had the luxury of working along side some very knowledgable people within the past few years and I can honestly say that not only am I a COMPLETELY different trainer because of it, but I am also a different person.

As my good friend Eric Cressey has mentioned on several occasions, it doesn’t take money to network and make professional contacts with people in the industry. It doesn’t take money to write someone an e-mail to ask him or her a question. It doesn’t take money to go and observe the top trainers or strength and conditioning coaches in your area

However, you WILL have to spend some money. Attending seminars and conferences will only help you. Don’t gripe about the fact that it will cost $250 to attend. I guarantee that you will learn ONE tip from that seminar that will gross you ten times that amount in clients. In the end, most seminars or conferences pay for themselves. And if not, atleast you got the free t-shirt.

Resources: Books, E-books, Manuals, DVD’s, CD’s, etc.

I’ll give a brief synopsis and rationale as to why I am recommending each resource. I’ll sub-divide all of this into a few categories: training, nutrition, anatomy/corrective training, coaching, and miscellaneous.

Training

Science and Practice of Strength Training - Other than Supertraining, probably the most referenced strength book ever. A MUST have for anyone in the industry.

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning - Published through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a fantastic resource.

The Ultimate Off-Season Training Manual - Is your training taking you to the next level with your athletic performance or general performance in the gym? Are your lifts going up? If not, than this manual is for you. If only I had this manual when I was an athlete in college.

Professional Fitness Coach Program Design Manual - A straightforward approach to program design by Alwyn Cosgrove. Every personal trainer should have this.

Real World Fat Loss: Destroying the Dogma - A practical guide to basic fat loss programming by Alwyn Cosgrove. Learn to debunk every myth ever perpetuated by un-educated fitness professionals concerning fat loss.

Vertical Jump Development Bible - Undoubtedly, one of the best books I have read in the past 3-5 years. So much more than just how to improve one’s vertical jump.

Bulletproof Knees - A comprehensive manual dealing with knees. Learn why your knees hurt and how to fix them. Written by Mike Robertson, a great resource for trainers and strength coaches, as well as weekend warriors.

Starting Strength - Great book to learn how to teach someone to squat, bench, and deadlift. Great book for coaches and personal trainers, as well as “newbies.” One of the best books written in the past few years.

Practical Programming for Strength Training - Ever wonder what are the differences in program design between a novice, intermediate, and advanced lifter? Here is your answer.

Essentials of Weight Lifting and Strength Training - Very, very comprehensive text on the subject of Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding. Great visual aides.

The No-Bull Muscle Building Plan - Another great book by Kelly Baggett. Wish I would have had this when I was a teenager.

Athletic Body in Balance - Learn how to spot and fix asymmetries in the body. Jam packed with programming ideas dealing with corrective exercise.

Core Performance - Mark Verstegen’s definitive book. Great book dealing with movement preparation, as well as a plethora of other fitness programming information.

Functional Training for Sports - Mike Boyle’s first book. It should be your mission to read anything by Mike Boyle.

Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities - A great look inside the mind of Mike Boyle. Not only how to design sound programs, but also how to design a kick-ass facility.

Facts and Fallacies of Fitness - Mel Siff is smarter than you, and here is why. This book will serve as your “ammo” for any nimrod who thinks they know what they’re talking about.

Scrawny to Brawny - Simple, yet affective plan for adding on mass. A definate must for all you skinny guys out there. By authors Mike Meija and John Berardi.

The New Rules of Lifting- Perfect book for anyone new to lifting weights. No foo-foo nonsense. Just factual, sound information to get lean and strong.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women - Not that men and women need to train differently, but this books debunks just about every myth that women have towards strength training and lifting appreciable weights. Hint: pink dumbbells aren’t going to cut it.

Afterburn I and II - Proof why Alwyn Cosgrove is a mean bastard. One of the best fat loss plans ever written.

Strength Training for Young Athletes - A great text dealing with the psychology of training young athletes and the variables one needs to make with their programming.

Nutrition

I like to consider myself somewhat of a “nutrition guy.” No matter how often you’re in the gym, you CAN NOT out train a poor diet. If your goal is fat loss, I would go as far to say that 80% of results will come from your nutrition. If your goal is to put on some lean muscle mass, again…your nutrition is going to play an intregal role. Below are many of the books and manuals I HIGHLY recommend.

Precision Nutrition - Bar none…THE best nutritional resource out there. Everything you need to know to help you get started setting up your own nutritional plan. You have no excuse not to succeed with this resource.

Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism - If you’re a geek, you need this book. Great reference point for anything related to nutrition.

Your Naked Nutrition Guide - Mike Roussell goes into detail on how you can design your own nutrition plan. A very unique and VERY effective system.

Gourmet Nutrition - The only cookbook I own. Well worth the cost for the protein bar recipes alone.

The TNT Diet - As far as “commercialized” diet books go, this is one of the best. Written by Jeff Volek and Adam Campbell, it dispells many of the common myths that still plague the industry (ie: there is no direct link between saturated fat and risk for heart disease).

Bodyopus - Before Lyle McDonald, there was Dan Duchaine. This is a classic book, and one that everyone interested in body composition should read.

The Perfect Body Diet- A diet book (and much more) written for women by a woman. Cassandra Forsythe goes out of her way to dispell many common myths concerning women and dieting. Like you actually need to eat something and lift weights!

The Metabolism Advantage - Do you think because you’re over 30 your metabolism is doomed to slow down? Think again. Another great book by Dr. John Berardi.

Nutrient Timing - I wish more registered dieticians would read this book.

Ultrametabolism - Another practical book pertaining to the topic of boosting your metabolism through tweaking your diet to work for you.

The Whole Soy Story- Think soy is a “healthy” food? Think again. A fantastic and very interesting read.

The Abs Diet - I hate diet books, but this one I actually like because it focuses on habits and not quick fixes.

The Cheat to Lose Diet - Authored by Joel Marion. A VERY effective “diet” which allows you to eat pizza no less. With over 300 scientific references, a must have if all other diets have failed you.

Girth Control - Probably one of the wittiest titles for a book ever! Alan Aragon is a fantastic “go to” guy in the nutrition world and his book is one of the best resources I have read in a looooong time. TONS of research based information, as well as Alan’s common sense and practical knowledge. If you’re a nutrition geek, this book is for you.

Natural Hormonal Enhancement - One of the very first nutrition related books I ever bought and it still ranks right up there with the best.

DVDs/Audio

Building the Efficient Athlete - If I had this dvd set when I was a collegiate athlete, there is no doubt in my mind that I would have had better odds of turning pro. A absolutely great resource for athletes and for those who train them.

Advance Functional Movement Screen- Gray Cook is smart. So smart that I totally have a man-crush on him. If you’re a trainer, do yourself a favor and buy this dvd set. I guarantee you’ll make your money back and then some. One of the best investments you can make in yourself.

Inside-Out - The perfect upper body warm-up. For all of you with bum shoulders, this is a must.

Magnificent Mobility - The perfect lower body warm-up. For all of you with bum hips, knees, and lower backs, this is a must.

Monster Mobility Pack - Two is always better than one. Inside Out + Magnificent Mobility = a more efficient you.

Advanced Program Design - How does Mike Boyle design his training programs? Find out with this superb dvd set.

No Nonsense Nutrition -

Functional Strength Coach - So good, I watched the entire set…TWICE.

Bodyweight Training - Alwyn shows you how to make your own body the ultimate training tool.

Pumping Iron - A classic for the bodybuilder in all of us. Watch Arnold while in his prime.

Miscellaneous (AKA: Books that make you sound really smart)

Exercise Metabolism - A great source of reference material dealing with anything and everything related to human metabolism

Hole’s Human Anatomy & Physiology - THE book when it comes to human anatomy.

Kinetic Anatomy - A great “introductory” book to functional anatomy. Highly recommended for those who need a quick reference book.

Muscle Mechanics - A great “introductory” book to biomechanics and muscle movement.

Low Back Disorders - Dr. Stuart McGill’s fantastic first book. A bit more clinical, but a must read for anyone who deals with patients or clients with a history of chronic lower back pain.

Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance- Learn how to assess and correct low back dysfunction. Written by Dr. McGill and already in it’s 3rd edition. Another great resource for fitness professionals where the knowledge contained in this book will instantly improve your income.

Business Side of Things

Anyone Can Sell - Fantastic book by Thomas Plummer (AKA, the Godfather of the fitness industry) on the “ins and outs” of how to be an effective seller in this industry. If I had this book three years ago, I would be much better off.

The Tipping Point - Not necessarily a business book per se, but a great book nonetheless on the why and how certain ideas take off and others don’t.

Six Figure Trainer - An audio set which teaches you the specifics on how you can start earning six figures as a personal trainer using other revenue streams. I can honestly say that this product alone has saved me thousands of dollars.