Answers (31)
3
I am saddened to say that this is not the question that producers of such a show are asking. I have seen little of this show, and what I saw scared me.
This is about ratings and name recognition. As a tennis player of reknown, she fits the profile of a 'trainer'. She probably would have very little input into the kind of 'training' these participants are subjected to. Fortunately, they have enough doctors on hand to deal with emergencies arising from the protocols that are established for those poor desparate and overweight souls.
This is about ratings and name recognition. As a tennis player of reknown, she fits the profile of a 'trainer'. She probably would have very little input into the kind of 'training' these participants are subjected to. Fortunately, they have enough doctors on hand to deal with emergencies arising from the protocols that are established for those poor desparate and overweight souls.
2
I'll weigh in on this one. As much as we would like to see a talented, certified fitness professional (and there are obviously many of them!) as the new trainer on Biggest Loser, we all know that chances are slim that will happen. I agree with Karin that television is all about ratings and getting someone in there who has the best chance of drawing viewers--even if its for the wrong reasons.
That being said, I often find shows like this, at the very least, are an opportunity to start a conversation with my students or clients. They will come in laughing or aghast about an episode, and then we will often talk about how unrealistic the situation was, or how unsafe an exercise was. It then becomes an opportunity to educate. I am also often pleasantly surprised to see that most of my students know the difference between safe and unsafe fitness routines, and for the most part do not buy into the crazy stuff. I guess we are doing something right if people can watch this stuff and then make an educated choice whether or not to believe it.
So, as with everything--you gotta rise above it and just keep doing what your doing hoping that you are making a difference in your own little corner of the universe.
That being said, I often find shows like this, at the very least, are an opportunity to start a conversation with my students or clients. They will come in laughing or aghast about an episode, and then we will often talk about how unrealistic the situation was, or how unsafe an exercise was. It then becomes an opportunity to educate. I am also often pleasantly surprised to see that most of my students know the difference between safe and unsafe fitness routines, and for the most part do not buy into the crazy stuff. I guess we are doing something right if people can watch this stuff and then make an educated choice whether or not to believe it.
So, as with everything--you gotta rise above it and just keep doing what your doing hoping that you are making a difference in your own little corner of the universe.
1
I did not know that she's a trainer. It would be nice if she's listed on FitnessConnect so we all can see her credentials.
1
She is not certified as a trainer nor does she have any credentials to qualify her to train anyone especially the morbidly obese! Just because someone's parents are qualified does not have any bearing on the child. That is as ridiculous as saying you would let Julia Child's children (if she had any) cater an event for you.
Even her credentials as a tennis player does not have any bearing on being able to safely and effectively train clients. There is a major difference between athletes, coaches, and trainers. She was a student to her coaches and trainers and being a A+ student does not make you a A+ trainer. There is a deeper knowledge needed to train clients to effectively lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. How many times have we seen gym rats try to tell others what to do only to see them both implementing incorrect form and getting nowhere in their goals.
Even her credentials as a tennis player does not have any bearing on being able to safely and effectively train clients. There is a major difference between athletes, coaches, and trainers. She was a student to her coaches and trainers and being a A+ student does not make you a A+ trainer. There is a deeper knowledge needed to train clients to effectively lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. How many times have we seen gym rats try to tell others what to do only to see them both implementing incorrect form and getting nowhere in their goals.
1
I completely agree with you. No matter who you are training, a seemingly healthy individual, an obese client, or a client with medical issues, it is important to work together with other trained professionals to ensure the safety and best progress of the client. I too am proud to be part of an industry that realizes the importance of being educated and properly trained, and demands continuing education to stay that way.
Too bad Anna, who will be dealing directly with obese clients does not have the benefits that we do in our training and education. It is reassuring that she is working under the direction of all the behind the scenes professionals so that the people she will be serving will be safe. I wish I could be like you to be with the glass half full (a flaw of mine indeed) but I worry that putting someone like her on a show with great ratings will give people the false belief that she is a trained professional and that if you are an professional athlete that makes you qualified to help a population as you correctly stated needs the training and professionalism of clinical credentials.
Too bad Anna, who will be dealing directly with obese clients does not have the benefits that we do in our training and education. It is reassuring that she is working under the direction of all the behind the scenes professionals so that the people she will be serving will be safe. I wish I could be like you to be with the glass half full (a flaw of mine indeed) but I worry that putting someone like her on a show with great ratings will give people the false belief that she is a trained professional and that if you are an professional athlete that makes you qualified to help a population as you correctly stated needs the training and professionalism of clinical credentials.
1
Just lets me know that it's all about the money. Ratings do wonders for shows that shouldn't even be on TV. She was a joke as a tennis player and whether she's a good trainer or not, means nothing. But hey, Jillian is known as Americas toughest trainer and she wasn't even certified during some of the tapings. I can go on and on about this show.
1
I am not a fan of reality television and so it follows I'm not a fan of the Biggest Loser. Most, if not all, self respecting decent trainers probably find nothing much to respect or like about this show which is all about ratings. Most good trainers I know do not even give the 'show' a second thought. We care more about real life, and the people we help..... not 'real TV'
1
Kelli,
I don't know her credentials but if she isn't a degreed (Health Science) certified personal trainer I don't think it's safe nor will she be effective. This show is dramatic. In a perfect world we would be able to "contain" our audience to lose weight. Unfortunately it's not realistic.
As for her being an athlete she may know quite a bit about training herself. Just because something works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for others. There is no comparison between her and someone who need to lose 100 lbs.
I think the best trainer is someone who knows the science behind the body, has a firm grip on good dietary principles and is an awesome motivator. All these things spell "results" when put to use.
Personally I strive to use low risk high benefit exercises with this audience. I have experience as the head trainer for two of the Mid Michigan Biggest Loser competitions here locally. I wish her much success.
Michele
I don't know her credentials but if she isn't a degreed (Health Science) certified personal trainer I don't think it's safe nor will she be effective. This show is dramatic. In a perfect world we would be able to "contain" our audience to lose weight. Unfortunately it's not realistic.
As for her being an athlete she may know quite a bit about training herself. Just because something works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for others. There is no comparison between her and someone who need to lose 100 lbs.
I think the best trainer is someone who knows the science behind the body, has a firm grip on good dietary principles and is an awesome motivator. All these things spell "results" when put to use.
Personally I strive to use low risk high benefit exercises with this audience. I have experience as the head trainer for two of the Mid Michigan Biggest Loser competitions here locally. I wish her much success.
Michele
1
I think she is there for ratings. She never won a major tournament when she played tennis yet at one time she made the most endorsement money for never having one any.
The show should employ a certified fitness trainer on camera, however, I have no doubt there are many on staff behind-the-scenes helping Anna.
She was a professional athlete though and not a soap opera star so we can try to give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure many people helped Jillian, too.
The show should employ a certified fitness trainer on camera, however, I have no doubt there are many on staff behind-the-scenes helping Anna.
She was a professional athlete though and not a soap opera star so we can try to give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure many people helped Jillian, too.
0
I was really surprised to read on Wikipedia that her father earned his PhD and was a professor in Russia at the University of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow. Her Dad is also a former Greco-Roman champion wrestler. Her Mom before she gave birth to Anna was a 400-meter runner. Personally, that is impressive to me. I say this as I have been in the industry for a very long time, I have a 15-year old son who knows quite a bit about exercise physiology as a consequence of having a Mom who is in the industry. Although he is not certified and is too young to train I've taught him a lot. He even comes home from school and points out what his gym teacher does incorrectly. My objective in teaching him is so that when he is 18 he is ready to earn a recognized credential and support himself when he goes to college.
Having said all of that, even though it appears that she doesn't have the proper credentials, I think she is a step above Jillian Michaels. Having a Dad as a former professor of Physical Culture and Sport a Mom who is a former track star and being a professional tennis player would be enough for me to hire her, and help her earn the proper credentials to become a respected fitness professional and a voice to inspire the world to fitness. From my perspective, I see a person who has done everything we champion all her life with support from parents who are passionate about physical activity. All she now needs is the science that is if she hasn't already learned it. I believe with all my heart that she will come out of this much more knowledgeable considering the well-prepared team she is collaborating with and will learn much that she can use in her professional life as a tennis player. She's young, a business person and not a novice to the world of sports and fitness.
We all recognize it's all about ratings, sponsorship etc. and hopefully whatever goals they have related to the Biggest Loser and using Anna Kournikova to achieve them will come into fruition. I'd like to see how this is going to develop. Somehow, I think we will probably see a chain of gyms with the Kournikova name behind as a consequence of her parents.
Having said all of that, even though it appears that she doesn't have the proper credentials, I think she is a step above Jillian Michaels. Having a Dad as a former professor of Physical Culture and Sport a Mom who is a former track star and being a professional tennis player would be enough for me to hire her, and help her earn the proper credentials to become a respected fitness professional and a voice to inspire the world to fitness. From my perspective, I see a person who has done everything we champion all her life with support from parents who are passionate about physical activity. All she now needs is the science that is if she hasn't already learned it. I believe with all my heart that she will come out of this much more knowledgeable considering the well-prepared team she is collaborating with and will learn much that she can use in her professional life as a tennis player. She's young, a business person and not a novice to the world of sports and fitness.
We all recognize it's all about ratings, sponsorship etc. and hopefully whatever goals they have related to the Biggest Loser and using Anna Kournikova to achieve them will come into fruition. I'd like to see how this is going to develop. Somehow, I think we will probably see a chain of gyms with the Kournikova name behind as a consequence of her parents.
0
Perhaps my comment left the wrong impression.
One of the things that I think is important for personal trainers to understand is that obesity is a clinical condition. The American College of Sports Medicine defines obesity as "a complex multifaceted disease involving, among other factors, hypothalamic, endocrine, and genetic disorders, the environment and behaviors."
Another reality is that personal trainers training the obese population as it is is defined by the ACSM are working outside of their scope of practice. The scope of practice for personal trainers across the board is working with apparently healthy populations who have been given clearance from their physicians to engage in moderate physical acticity. So, in other words if you don't have a clinical credential you shouldn't be training the obese population. However, we do not have the good fortune Anna Kournikova has of having clinicians working with her. If we are going to judge Anna Kournikova, we must equally be willing to judge ourselves. If you are a certified personal trainer working with anyone with a diagnosed disease are you really any different from Anna? From my perspective, Anna is the winner--she has a team.
I try to live my life as seeing the glass as being half full. The personal trainers who are working with individuals living with clinical conditions in a safe way according to established evidence based and scientific guidelines make me feel proud. I feel proud to be a part of an industry that truly cares for people and want to help them live healthful lives.
One of the things that I think is important for personal trainers to understand is that obesity is a clinical condition. The American College of Sports Medicine defines obesity as "a complex multifaceted disease involving, among other factors, hypothalamic, endocrine, and genetic disorders, the environment and behaviors."
Another reality is that personal trainers training the obese population as it is is defined by the ACSM are working outside of their scope of practice. The scope of practice for personal trainers across the board is working with apparently healthy populations who have been given clearance from their physicians to engage in moderate physical acticity. So, in other words if you don't have a clinical credential you shouldn't be training the obese population. However, we do not have the good fortune Anna Kournikova has of having clinicians working with her. If we are going to judge Anna Kournikova, we must equally be willing to judge ourselves. If you are a certified personal trainer working with anyone with a diagnosed disease are you really any different from Anna? From my perspective, Anna is the winner--she has a team.
I try to live my life as seeing the glass as being half full. The personal trainers who are working with individuals living with clinical conditions in a safe way according to established evidence based and scientific guidelines make me feel proud. I feel proud to be a part of an industry that truly cares for people and want to help them live healthful lives.
0
I feel that if she feels that she is qualified to be a trainer, she should get the certification. Anyone who works in the fitness industry and seriously proclaims themselves as a fitness professional, would want the credentaling to prove it.
The fact that she doesn't have to do this through NBC belittles our profession.
My father was a professional power lifter. BUT...His experiences did not make me a trainer.
The fact that she doesn't have to do this through NBC belittles our profession.
My father was a professional power lifter. BUT...His experiences did not make me a trainer.
0
Seems like my post has been taken out of context once again.
One thing I try to do before I make a broad assumption about an individual is try to learn a little about the individual. I tried to do that with Anna Kournikova. From my small perspective, it seems like you and she have similar backgrounds. You both have parents who were professional athletes. Perhaps, I am being presumptuous, but it also appears that you grew up in a household where good health was valued.
Somehow, I believe, your Dad being a powerlifter contributed to you becoming a fitness professional. I admire that. I would be very shocked if you were to state that your Dad didn't teach you anything about health and fitness.
When I read your post I could not help but to think about Venus and Serena Williams father. He didn't know anything about tennis. In his desire for one of his daughters to succeed in sport he enrolled them into a tennis school--you know, the place where professional tennis coaches are paid to teach champions. Well, it didn't work out for the Williamses. Mr. Williams had to remove his children from this professional school and teach them on his own. Who is the true tennis coach in this scenario?
I try my best not to judge and to see the glass as being half full all the time. Yes, it would be wonderful if she had a degree and a personal trainer certification. However, there is a probability that she does not.
One thing I try to do before I make a broad assumption about an individual is try to learn a little about the individual. I tried to do that with Anna Kournikova. From my small perspective, it seems like you and she have similar backgrounds. You both have parents who were professional athletes. Perhaps, I am being presumptuous, but it also appears that you grew up in a household where good health was valued.
Somehow, I believe, your Dad being a powerlifter contributed to you becoming a fitness professional. I admire that. I would be very shocked if you were to state that your Dad didn't teach you anything about health and fitness.
When I read your post I could not help but to think about Venus and Serena Williams father. He didn't know anything about tennis. In his desire for one of his daughters to succeed in sport he enrolled them into a tennis school--you know, the place where professional tennis coaches are paid to teach champions. Well, it didn't work out for the Williamses. Mr. Williams had to remove his children from this professional school and teach them on his own. Who is the true tennis coach in this scenario?
I try my best not to judge and to see the glass as being half full all the time. Yes, it would be wonderful if she had a degree and a personal trainer certification. However, there is a probability that she does not.
0
I think this is another poor example of degrading the fitness industry. Not only is the show a bad representation but having someone train other individuals without proper education is unsafe and ethically wrong. Getting to the show, that is another poor misleading representation on losing weight and demonstrates extreme examples which are not good representations of losing weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Not many people have a trainer, nutritionist, medical doctor at there disposal 24/7 therefore this is very unrealistic.
0
Everyone is stating as fact that she has no certification. This might be true, but how do you know? Or is it just speculation?
Let's do some research on this - you can ask Biggest Loser insiders for the facts.
Please come to the panel discussion at IDEA World called "Weighing in on The Biggest Loser." We've got these panelists lined up: Jonathan Ross, Shannon Fable, Brett Hoebel (The Biggest Loser trainer) and JD Roth, executive producer of The Biggest Loser.
Let's do some research on this - you can ask Biggest Loser insiders for the facts.
Please come to the panel discussion at IDEA World called "Weighing in on The Biggest Loser." We've got these panelists lined up: Jonathan Ross, Shannon Fable, Brett Hoebel (The Biggest Loser trainer) and JD Roth, executive producer of The Biggest Loser.
0
It just seems that having a celebrity on any type of show will bring ratings, but will people actually care about the true show meaning? All the focus will be on that person.
0
They have had athletes on there before who trained the contestants for a day workout. She has the fitness experience and a different twist compared to the other trainers. It should be interesting to say the least.
0
Good idea. I'm sure the Craig Ferguson predecesor, late night tv host Craig Kilborne would like that (lol)!
0
Personally i think the show needs to go off the air....period. It is dangerous TV and marginalizes a segment of the population for pure entertainment. it's a travesty in my opinion.
0
I watched The Biggest Loser for the first two seasons and, although some of the weight loss numbers were a bit unrealistic, the outcome was usually positive. However, now the show is excessive and ridiculous. Between Jillian screaming at the people, weight loss in excess of 20 lbs/week, contestants getting bigger and bigger and now bringing in celebrity tennis players, it has totally gone over the edge. Working with the morbidly obese requires a trainer with extensive knowledge and, although I know the show has physicians on staff, it totally gives our ever-growing population a false sense of how to properly lose weight.
0
Have you seen the article that Amanda Vogel wrote for Idea Fit Tips regarding Anna Kournikova. She is ISSA Certified. Any thoughts?
0
I am ISSA certified and it is a quality certification, I am definitely going to watch and see how she does.
0
Don't mind it at all. brings some star power to the show, which they obviously want, she is certified, which WE obviously want, and she's a female, which, they (and I) want. Now, to the degree at which she is capable of working out with obese clients remains to be seen, how do we know if Jillian and Bob were very experienced with that sort of thing either? Plus, I'm pretty sure a lot of us have a problem with the principles of this show, so what can we do about it anyway?
0
If anything, I would hope all the folks that answered this IN ASSUMPTION that she has no credentials learns to not jump to conclusions, or make fast judgments (especially in our field).
SHE IS CERTIFIED....and so for those saying she is not...SHAME ON YOU! ...you had no clue and just "put it out there" that she is not. A bit of slander...
MAY THIS BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE!
SHE IS CERTIFIED....and so for those saying she is not...SHAME ON YOU! ...you had no clue and just "put it out there" that she is not. A bit of slander...
MAY THIS BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE!
0
I am amazed at how many of you just jumped the gun to insist she had no credentials. And ASSUMED and went on with what seemed to be "more judgment" than constructively finding out if she indeed is qualified before "critiquing her". If going to intelligently speak/write on a topic, may this be a learning experience; one must do their homework (just as if you were looking to take on a trainer - and find out their credentials)...before assuming they do not. The show, however is another story...but the question was about Anna.
And she is indeed ISSA certifed!
And she is indeed ISSA certifed!
0
When did Anna Kournikova get her ISSA certification?
Joe Cannon MS CSCS
Joe-Cannon.com
Supplement-Geek.com
Joe Cannon MS CSCS
Joe-Cannon.com
Supplement-Geek.com
0
You can't criticize people for saying she has no certifications when there is no mention of any on her offical bio on the Biggest Loser page. Nor is there any mention of it on her official page. This is the only place I've seen mention of her being certified, and I've been looking for the information. The certification information for the other trainers is on their official bios. I wonder why the information is absent on her page.
