Top Notch Trainers

by Gabriel Cata 08/29/2010

Hi Leslie,

I'm doing great! And the personal training is going wonderfully!!! After completion of my exam, I was hired at the University of New Mexico as a Personal Trainer and have been doing it all summer. Now that the fall semester has started, I am continuing to work with clients at UNM as well as I am teaching two fitness classes that we have in our recreational services dept at our campus gym. I am teaching a circuit training class as well as an outdoor bootcamp fitness class. They are both great fun! I also just got reviewed by a few of the faculty members that attend different fitness classes here at UNM and they specifically pointed out me and 4 other trainers/instructors as being very well educated in fitness and our classes that we teach as well as being friendly and enjoyable to have as instructors and they said we were "top notched trainers" and "at the top of our game" when it came to fitness. So that was a great surprise to get.

Thank you guys for all that you have helped me with and I enjoy doing what I now get to do with my certification and will do this for many years!!!

ISSA has some of the best customer service I have ever encountered.

by Joseph Gloor 05/26/2010

Patrick, Wow! Thank you!! I wasn't expecting an email back until this morning. ISSA has some of the best customer service I have ever encountered. Every time I call for help I speak immediately to a real person and Daniel Garcia remembered me by name and immediately went hard to work to help me and answer all my questions. I couldn't be any more pleased with the operations of your company. When I told Daniel he was great and his customer service was outstanding, he simply replied "that's how it is at ISSA" -based on your quick response to my email, he was right.

Joseph Gloor, CFT

Thank you very much for the prompt critque and grading of my ISSA CPT exam.

by Mary Deering 05/17/2010

I found the course to be challenging, enriching, and detailed oriented. Your textbooks are written so well, that even a non-'science-minded' person such as I, could study the material presented, and garner a meaningful understanding of anatomy and physiology and nutrition---subjects I thought I could never learn, much less apply to the real-life situations. But your text, its accompanying workbook, on-line quizzes, and your helpful tutoring/teaching staff were outstanding guidance tools for me.

Your encouragement means a great deal to me, and again, I want to thank you, as well as the ISSA staff of educators and educational coordinators, for making my learning experience so enjoyable. Every moment of my effort was more than well worth it.

Many thanks again.

Mary Deering

Tabernacle

Thank you so much Patrick.

by Francie Demitrovic 04/19/2010

Thank you so much Patrick. I want you to know that I consider this message board extremely informative as well as an excellent resource. I should probably mention that I got the job (at Equinox!) from the posting in ISSA's Help Wanted section!!!

Wishing you a most enjoyable day and week also!

I just wanted to thank you all at ISSA.

by Francie Demitrovic 04/19/2010

It took me 6 months to get my certificate, and 2 weeks later I have a job! Thank you!

I have several job possibilities that have been offered to me and one interview this fri.

by Mark Hamson 02/17/2010

Thank you so much for everything, and you were right I am very passionate about fitness and I will continue to learn and certify in much more.I have several job possibilities that have been offered to me and one interview this fri. I was told all I have to do is show them the pass letter until I receive my certification document. Again, thank you so much i should have done this years ago.

Sincerely, Mark Hamson

I am totally impressed with ISSA -- you guys rock!

by Melinda Lutes 02/16/2010

Thank you!!! I am SO excited!! I appreciate all your feedback and your help on this!! I am totally impressed with ISSA -- you guys rock!! :)

I would like to thank you for your time and encouragment in my becoming a CFT.

by Brian Bush 02/16/2010

I have recently passed my exam and will be completing my CPR/AED training tonight. I will hopefully receive my card soon and will fax it to you as soon as possible so I can receive my certification as soon as possible. I would like to thank you for your time and encouragment in my becoming a CFT. I have even started to work on getting my own personal training business up and running. Thanks again and looking forward to staying with your company for a long time.

I am very excited to begin my new endeavor.

by Eric Revesz 02/14/2010

Thank you very much ! I am very excited to begin my new endeavor. This course has been a great learning experience for me and I look forward to using my knowledge and skills to help others achieve their fitness goals.

Paul takes time to discuss my goals, and is very cognizant of what makes a good sales person and represents your organization as a professional.

by Steve Siegert 02/11/2010

I have been in communication with your associate Paul Taylor concerning furthering my education in personal training.Currently I am certified with AFPA but want to get certified working with baby boomers, and that population demographic since that is where I fit.I want you to know what a good job Paul has done representing ISSA. Paul takes time to discuss my goals, and is very cognizant of what makes a good sales person and represents your organization as a professional.Wanted to pass this along for very seldom you get someone who is tenacious but also has proper "people skills and personality".

Regards, Steve Siegert

I will recommend my entire staff to take this course.

by Wesley Phillips 02/11/2010

Mr. Gamboa, Thank you for your grading and assessing my work. Your critique will only make me a better Certified Fitness Trainer. I'm looking more deeply into the FITT Principle, and the BMR and DCR. I put a lot of time and effort into this work, and I'm so grateful that I passed the first time. I took the liberty to attach my basic First Aid and CPR Certifications, just in case you need them. This is such a great program. I'm so glad to now be an official part of the International Sports Science Association - the industry leading first federally accredited program. I researched many programs before signing up for this one, and I truly sought a program that was at least nationally/regionally accredited. You all did a great job with getting the entire program accredited through the government. I will recommend my entire staff to take this course. My wife, who is taking her ISSA exam as I write this e-mail, and me are both Directors of the Health & Wellness Ministry in our church (www.vcmi.org). We have approximately 5-10 people that work in our ministry that are interested in obtaining their certifications. We will recommend and require them to obtain the ISSA certification. The church will be elated to learn that we both completed our certifications just prior to starting the exercise and nutrition programs in March. My wife and I are also elated because this new ministry is expected to become a new national program within our church. Our church is really large, and encompasses three locations in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. We also have followings throughout the nation, and we just learned that the Pastors are using this ministry as a pilot program for the other locations. So, this is a huge endeavor for us, and we're truly striving to conduct this ministry appropriately from the beginning. Obtaining our certifications from an accredited body is a great start. Thank you once again. Wesley Phillips

Thank you so much for all of your help these past three months and for grading my exam right away even on a Sunday!

by Rachelle Kirsch 02/08/2010

Hi Patrick, Thank you so much for all of your help these past three months and for grading my exam right away even on a Sunday! I am so excited!! Fitness has always been a huge part of my life. Helping others get into shape and be healthy is a huge passion of mine. I am taking my CPR/AED certification on the 15th of this month and will send you my certificate as soon as I receive it. Thank you again so much and I am planning on taking a fitness therapy and nutrition course as well! Have a great day!

I start working this January as a personal trainer and is wonderfull to feel like you love what you do! and the very best is that my clients are very happy too.

by Gabriela Ribadeneira 02/07/2010

Hello Patrick, I'm happy of have my ISSA certification and of course I will review your comments, that's very important for me, thanks for your help. I start working this January as a personal trainer and is wonderfull to feel like you love what you do! and the very best is that my clients are very happy too.

Thank you a lot. Gabriela Ribadeneira

I have always been proud to be an ISSA Student and CFL and you assistance just reinforces that pride.

by Jeremy Martin 01/31/2010

Patrick, Good morning and as always I hope this email reaches you feeling well and rested on a monday morning after an amazing weekend. I just wanted to keep you up to date on my status. I arrived at my new duty station here in Crete, Greece a few days ago and I am already keeping up with my studies. I am taking a break today but I am extremely excited due to the fact that things are so slow here that I have more than enough time to study. With that in mind my goal is to complete my exam and have it in the mail by 28 February although I should be done much sooner. I am also working on getting into the next available CPR course so that I can get that updated as well.

I would like to again say thank you and hope that you know how much I appreciate your assistance and understanding how my deployment slowed down my studies. I have always been proud to be an ISSA Student and CFL and you assistance just reinforces that pride.

Have a great day Patrick and enjoy the week. Jeremy

I'm looking forward to adding this "jewel" to my resume and hopefully contribute on a higher level to the fight against obesity and its comorbities in the US population!

by Windy Foster 01/29/2010

Whoohoo- I sent my SFN Final in on Monday and just got word today that I passed. For anyone who's interested in the SFN, I highly recommend it! It was a great course with lots of useful information that can only postitively agument one's fitness training knowledge. Last year, I completed the CFT and the FT, so on Monday, I will submit the $75 processing fee and get my ISSA Elite 1 card. I am proud of my accomplishments as well as my choice of fitness affiliations. Thank you ISSA, for your high standard in instructional materials and advisory board, as well as your excellent student and graduate support. I'm looking forward to adding this "jewel" to my resume and hopefully contribute on a higher level to the fight against obesity and its comorbities in the US population! Go for the brass ring, everybody- you can do it. Regards, Windy

Thank you for the awesome focus on customer/student service.

by Crystal Ross 01/20/2010

Now that was fast! I received the Sports Nutrition package today. I didn't expect it for another week, definitely not over night express. That just reiterates my decision in choosing ISSA. Thank you for the awesome focus on customer/student service. Much appreciated, Crystal

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.