Specialist in Performance Nutrition Certification (SPN)

Specialist in Performance Nutrition (SPN)

We've all heard that "You are what you eat." But this tired axiom only tells part of the story. It's also critical to consider HOW you eat, meal frequency, macronutrient ratios, specificity to athletic objectives, and periodizing caloric intake.

Incorporating a cutting edge, scientifically sound diet and nutritional regimen can radically increase the effectiveness of your clients' fitness training objectives—resulting in more lean mass, less body fat, and greater energy levels. By learning the science behind nutrition and its effects on performance, muscle growth, and fat loss in the ISSA's performance nutrition certification course, you will amaze your clients with fast results as they apply your integrated approach to nutrition.

The easy-to-follow text is enhanced by two powerful reference tools. The first of these tools is a 30+ page glossary that includes every food and supplemental nutrient known, explaining the function of each in the human body. The second tool is an incredibly comprehensive section on supplementation which explains why nutritional supplements are vital to health and well-being and how they can diminish pain, fatigue, lack of endurance, mood swings, and cravings for sugar or fat.

Included in the Specialist in Performance Nutrition course (SPN)

Specialist in Performance Nutrition Textbook (359 pages) is enhanced by two powerful reference tools. The first of these tools is a 30+ page glossary that includes every food and supplemental nutrient known, explaining the function of each in the human body. The second tool is an incredibly comprehensive section on supplementation which explains why nutritional supplements are vital to health and well-being and how they can diminish pain, fatigue, lack of endurance, mood swings, and cravings for sugar or fat. The easy-to-follow course book is complemented by a curriculum guide with detailed learning objectives to help you get the most out of your studies. Finally, 2 audio CDs have been included to further enhance your studies.

20 Years of Personal Training Certification

Since 1988, the ISSA has certified and provided continuing fitness education to nearly 100,000 people just like you who want to help others feel better, look better and improve the quality of their lives.

We are unconditionally committed to providing expanded access to the highest quality personal training certification and continuing fitness education programs available, advancing our industry as a whole, and developing greater access to career opportunities for those who share our vision of Creating a Stronger, Healthier World™.

Try our Career Calculator to calculate how much extra money you could earn this year by turning your passion for fitness into profit as a personal trainer with just a few clients a week.

ISSA Specialist in Performance Nutrition Program Study Options

It all starts with home study materials. Our course is self-paced, so you can take as much or as little time as you need to complete it, up to two years. We also provide one-on-one toll-free phone support Monday through Friday to our students at no additional charge.

Enhance Your Studies With Online Learning

We also provide the ability to enhance your home studies with online learning at no additional charge. ISSAtrainer.com, our exclusive members-only site, includes interactive quizzes, online educational support, as well as audio supplement glossaries (so that you know how to pronounce the new terms you learn) and a video exercise library that demonstrates proper form for some of the most common and most effective strength exercises.

You receive the home study materials, section quizzes, and online access when you enroll in ISSA.

Your certification exam is open book and untimed. We will mail your final exam once you have completed/submitted at least 66% of your course quizzes. You may choose to complete your Section Quizzes either online or via mail--whichever direction works best for you.

ISSA Specialist in Performance Nutrition Certification Exam

Your final examination consists of seven parts:

• SECTION I: 9 multiple choice (9 points)
• SECTION II: 13 true/false (13 points)
• SECTION III: 24 matching (24 points)
• SECTION IV: 6 short answer (6 points)
• CURRICULUM GUIDE FILL-IN (157 points)
• CURRICULUM GUIDE LEARNING EXPERIENCES (120 points)
• CURRICULUM GUIDE WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (50 points)

How long does it take to complete the certification?

You have up to two years from the date of enrollment to complete your course. However, you may complete the course as quickly or as slowly as you would like within that 2 year period.

Help us Create a Stronger, Healthier World.™

Enroll Online or call us toll free at 800-892-4772 to speak with one of our enrollment representatives.

Student Support

We are most proud of the fact that ISSA's personal training course offerings do not just begin and end with a book and a piece of paper. While we are committed to providing top-quality course materials to potential fitness trainers, our course offerings do not stop there.

We also provide unlimited one-on-one support to all ISSA students as they study for their personal training certification exam—both online and LIVE via our toll-free help line—at no additional cost.

But, best of all, the ISSA's support doesn't end once you pass your exam. Included with your course fee is unlimited access to our ISSAtrainer.com web site, where you can access hundreds of job listings, ISSA exclusive opportunities and discounts, and our online forum where you can post client or business challenges and receive guidance from members of the ISSA family worldwide.

And access to this site is available for as long as you remain an ISSA personal trainer in good standing.

Specialist In Performance Nutrition: Weight Control, Fitness, and Performance Nutrition

INTRODUCTION

• Preface

CHAPTER ONE: Nutrition: The Vital Link To Super Performance

• Origins Of Performance Nutrition
• Nutrition Defined
• The Three E's Of Nutrition
• Table Of Performance Daily Intakes (PDI)

CHAPTER TWO: Nutrients: An Overview

• Macronutrients: Meeting Energy And Growth Requirements
• Macronutrient Manipulation / Modulation
• The Limiting Nutrient Concept
• Alphabetical Listing Of Additives And Their Status For Performance Nutrition
• Research On Nutrients

CHAPTER THREE: Carbohydrates and the Athlete: The Ultimate Performance Fuel

• Background On Carbohydrates
• Simple Carbohydrates: The Sugars
• Complex Carbohydrates
• Top 20 Grains And Legumes For Athletes
• Digestion Of Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates Pre-Exercise, During Exercise, Post-Exercise
• Pyruvate

CHAPTER FOUR: Proteins and Amino Acids

• Introduction
• Amino Acids Make Proteins; Types Of Proteins
• Protein Efficiency Ratio
• Designing Protein And Amino Acid Supplements
• Overview Of Commonly Encountered Amino Acids
• Digestion Of Proteins And Amino Acids
• Food Sources Of Protein
• Connective Tissue

CHAPTER FIVE: Lipids and the Athlete: Energy and Growth Factors

• Introduction
• Fats - The Most Misunderstood Macronutrient
• The Essential Fatty Acids
• Phospholipids
• You Are What You Eat; Too Much Fat In Our Diets

CHAPTER SIX: Water and Oxygen

• Water And The Athelete
• Dehydration Effects On Performance
• .Oxygen And The Athlete; The Lungs
• The Blood; The Blood Vessels
• The Tissue; The Muscular System; The Heart
• Your Need For Oxygen; Free Radicals
• Antioxidants; Species Of Free Radicals

CHAPTER SEVEN: Vitamins

• The Lipid Soluble Vitamins
• Vitamin A - Retinol And Pro-Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene)
• Vitamin D; Vitamin E
• Vitamin K; Vitamin C
• Thiamin; Riboflavin
• Niacin; Vitamin B6
• Folate; Vitamin B12
• Biotin; Pantothenic Acid
• Choline; Inositol

CHAPTER EIGHT: Minerals

• Introduction
• Calcium; Phosphorus
• Magnesium; Iron
• Zinc; Iodine
• Selenium; Copper
• Manganese; Chromium
• Molybdenum; Fluoride
• The Elecrolytes (Sodium, Chloride, and Potassium); Boron
• Vanadium; Germanium

CHAPTER NINE: Metabolite and Botanical Ergogenic Supplements

• Introduction
• Adaptogens, Alcohol, Alkalinizers, Androstenedione, BHMB, Bioflavonoids
• Caffeine, L-Carnitine, Coenzyme Q10, Creatine Monohydrate
• DHEA, Gamma Oryzanol, FRAC, Ginseng, Glucosamine
• Glycerol, Inosine, Melatonin, NADH, Wheat Germ Oil, Octacosanol
• Herbs, Supplements With Potential Effects That Are Marketed Toward Athletes
• Summary Of Commonly Available Herbs, Standards, Common Dosages, Uses, And Cautions

CHAPTER TEN: Guide to Food and Sports Supplements: Getting the Nutrients You Need

• All Foods Are Not Created Equal
• The Food Group Approach: Is It Valid For Athletes?
• Major Supplement Forms And Delivery Systems
• Major Categories of Sport Supplements
• The Economics of Sports Nutrition: Buy In Bulk

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Anatomy of an Athlete: Cells, Tissues, and Systems

• Cells, Cells, Cells
• Cellular Components
• Tissues
• Muscle Tissue; The Mechanics Of Muscular Contraction; Fast Twitch And Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers
• Muscular Hypertyophy; Nervous Tissue; Reproductive Tissue
• Systems: Skeletal, Skeletal Muscle, Nervous, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Digestive, Urinary, Reproductive, and Endocrine
• Some Of Your Body's Hormones

CHAPTER TWELVE: Digestion and Absorption

• The Digestive System - Physical Components: Mouth, Esophagus, Stomach, The Small Intestine, Large Intestine And Rectum, Pancreas, Liver And Gall Bladder
• Factors Affecting Digestion; About Digestive Supplement Aids; Digestive Enzymes; Herbal Factors, Intestinal Bacteria, Fiber And Digestion

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Body Composition and Metabolism

• Introduction; Body Composition Assessment
• Methods Of Body Fat Determination
• Sites Listed In The Formulas And Charts
• Use Of Skinfold Data; Body Fat Percentage; Percentage Fat Estimate Tables
• Formula For Calculating % Bodyfat; Somatotype; Guide To Estimating Calorie Needs; Average Daily Activity Level
• An Example Of Estimating Daily Caloric Expenditure Using The Hourly Method; Energy Expenditure Guide
• Daily Calorie Requirement Guide
• Overview Of Metabolism; Homeostasis; Your Metabolic Set Point
• Food And Metabolism; The Environment And Metabolism; Exercise And Metabolic Responses; Aerobic System Changes; Anaerobic System Changes
• Energy Metabolism; Useful Definitions
• Glycogen Depletion And Metabolism Of Fatigue; Monitoring Your Metabolism

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Fitness and Performance Nutrition Approaches

• Demystifying Nutrition
• A Word About Fad Diets... Avoid Them!; ISSA's 1-2-3 Nutritional Rule Of Thumb
• Rationale Behind The Different Performance Eating Plans; Nutritional Ratios Of Selected Performance Eating Plans
• Dynamic Nutrition Supplement And Eating Plan Examples
• 15% Fat, 30% Protein, 55% Carbohydrate Performance Nutrition Plan
• 20% Fat, 25% Protein, 55% Carbohydrate Performance Nutrition Plan
• 20% Fat, 20% Protein, 60% Carbohydrate Performance Nutrition Plan
• 25% Fat, 15% Protein, 60% Carbohydrate Performance Nutrition Plan
• Tips Section
• High Protein Foods - Animals
• Foods High In Complex Carbohydrates
• Vegetables And Beans
• Fruits
• Dairy; Spreads And Sauces; Beverages
• Mixed Foods

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Athlete's Guide to Effective Fat Loss and Muscle Gain

• Introduction
• The Weight Loss Misnomer; Fat Loss Off-Season and Pre-Season; Examples Of Elite Athlete Body Fat Levels For Different Sports
• Jump Starting Your Fat Loss Program; Fat Loss Tips; Why Most Fat Loss Diets Fail
• Before Dieting, Make Sure You're Ready; Thinking About Dieting? Take This Test Before Starting
• The Gender And Age Gap When Losing Fat; Factors Contributing To Obesity And What To Do About Them
• Important Rules For Making Performance Nutrition Work For Your Fat Loss Program; Common Supplement Fat Loss Aids
• The Zigzag Method Of Fat Loss
• Three Horror Scenarios And Three Better Scenarios
• Weeks Required To Lose Fat Using The Zigzag Method Of Dieting Together With A Periodized Training Program
• Additional Tips On Sound Nutrition; Muscle Gain
• Constructing A Custom Nutrition Plan For Fat Loss And Muscle Gain; Daily Food Intake Goals

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Enhancing Performance with Carbohydrate Loading

• Carbo-loading and Supplements

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Special Concerns of Athletic Females

• Who Is At Risk, Warning Signs, And Preventative Measures

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Drawing Your Clients Or Athletes Into A Performance Lifestyle

• The Five Steps

CHAPTER NINTEEN: Putting It All Together: The Athletic Performance Improvement Formula

• The Eight Technologies Of Training; Nutritional Robbery
• Sports Supplements
• Caveat Emptor

APPENDIX

REFERENCES

GLOSSARY

 

Course Author

Daniel Gastelu, M.S., MFS

Mr. Gastelu is President and Founder of SUPPLEMENTFACTS International LLC, serves as Director of Nutritional Sciences for the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), is an author, a "trainer of fitness trainers", and a sports nutrition and dietary supplement industry expert. Dan Gastelu has authored several books about nutrition, dietary supplements, fitness and sports nutrition. In addition to his education related activities, he has worked as an executive in the dietary supplement and sports nutrition product industry for 2 decades. Dan Gastelu is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he taught science courses. During the past two decades Dan Gastelu has developed many health care products, including: dietary supplements, sports nutritionals, nutraceuticals, and OTC drugs, making him a complete industry insider. He directed innovative research programs examining the effects of different nutrition programs on body composition, health and physical performance. Dan Gastelu has worked on numerous projects with prominent health experts, such as: Ben and Joe Weider, Ed Burke, Ph.D., Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., Cherie Calbom, M.S., C.N., Stephen Gullo, Ph.D., Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., Varro Tyler, Ph.D., Frederick J. Vagnini, M.D., Frederick C. Hatfield, Ph.D., Richard Simmons, Jack La Lanne, Denise Austin, and Tony Little.

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