FOREWORD LIKE THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE ITSELF, THE ACE® PERSONAL TRAINER
Manual has long stood as the standard of excellence in the health and fitness industry and as a trusted resource for those who value a healthy and active lifestyle. And like previous editions of this manual, this fifth edition of the ACE Personal Trainer Manual was written based on feedback from individuals who are well renowned in the health and fitness arena—practicing personal trainers, university professors, researchers, and industry experts—who worked together to create the Exam Content Outline (see Appendix B). This document presents the skills and knowledge that a personal trainer needs to have a successful career and should serve as a guide as you prepare for the ACE exam.
Today’s health and fitness consumers need and demand comprehensive programs that are truly individualized based on their physical-activity levels, current health status, and unique needs and desires. Emerging evidence suggests that the most effective exercise programs must also take into account each individual’s psychological readiness for change. This knowledge and understanding addresses the core challenge for any health and fitness professional to somehow translate all of the feedback he or she receives from health-history forms, physical assessments, and conversations with the client into a safe and effective program. The ACE Integrated Fitness Training®
(ACE IFT® ) Model meets
this challenge head on by equipping you with a process that yields individualized training programs and progressions based on your client’s goals, abilities, and needs.
Another major theme in today’s health and fitness industry is a transition away from a prescriptive approach to exercise programming to a coaching-based approach that emphasizes behavioral change and long-term adherence. What the industry has collectively learned over the years is that, while knowledge of exercise science is vitally important, an ability to inspire prospective and current clients to undergo true lifestyle change is absolutely essential. This edition of the ACE Personal Trainer Manual was written from that perspective and offers real-world, application-based techniques that personal trainers can implement to become better communicators and coaches.
Like all ACE manuals, the mission of this manual is twofold: (1) to serve as your core study material while preparing for the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Exam, and (2) to serve as a trusted resource throughout your career. Make good use of this textbook and all else that ACE has to offer and you will be well on your way to a promising and rewarding career in the health and fitness industry. I wish you the best as you pursue your passion and congratulations on taking this important first step.
