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If you’re just starting with your freelance career, it can be difficult to find work. That’s why I’ve put together this list of the best freelance websites for beginners to help get you started.

These websites are the perfect way to attract more clients to your services and gain referrals so you can grow your business even more.

I started my own freelance business in May and have now been freelancing for 8 months as both a graphic designer and social media manager.

It’s been a true delight, and I can’t see my life being any other way. Luckily, my business started on the right foot because I utilized lots of these freelancing sites for beginners when I first started.

Krystianna in Florence, Italy. With freelance jobs, you can work from anywhere

The internet is covered with job boards, but I’ve helped you out by putting the best freelancing websites for beginners here in one place. Some of them might surprise you. Did you know about #6?

Here’s my list of the 15 best freelance websites for beginners.  What is Freelance Work?

Freelance work is perfect for those who want to be their own boss, give themselves their own job title, and work in a variety of different industries sharing their zone of genius.

Most freelancers work from home so they can live anywhere they want as long as they get the job done, while others are actually freelancers in-house, which is another possibility.

At times it can be hard to find work as a freelancer, so even those who are far along in their freelancing career look for clients on beginner freelance websites to get some leads.

To be a freelancer, you have to have solid time management skills, people or customer service skills, and a strong drive for success.

Freelancers are their own boss and usually own their own small business — there isn’t anyone that’s going to cover for them if they decide to slack off.

Freelance work is incredible if you have the right kind of personality and diligence in your work ethic. It can be enriching because you can help tons of other business owners reach success by utilizing your services.

Remote Work vs. Freelance Work

Don’t get this type of work confused with working remotely.

With remote work, you are usually an employee for a company, so workers of this kind report to a supervisor or boss throughout the day. Plus, there are teammates to rely on if you need help or collaboration. 

Remote work often also pays less (this isn’t always the case, but normally is) which is why freelance work can pay off if you work hard.

Freelancers work for themselves and are essentially an expert in their field. This means being able to charge a lot more for their projects versus someone who works as a salary job.

Imagine being able to set your own hourly pay or a fixed rate for projects — as a freelancer, you can do just that!

Looking for more Freelance articles?

• 20 Best Time Management Tools For Freelancers
• How To Make Money As A Freelance Social Media Manager
• 10 Ways To Make Money As A Graphic Designer
• How To Make Money On Upwork: An Expert’s Review
• 10 High-Paying Online Jobs
• How To Create a Freelance Website (Step by Step Guide)

What to Look For in a Freelance Website

When looking on freelance websites, there are a few things to look out for. First of all, most freelance sites that act as job boards for potential clients do take a cut.

For instance, one of the most popular sites, Upwork, does take 20% of a freelancer’s pay for the first $500 they make working with each client.

The longer they work together, the more that percentage goes down. But, it’s just something to keep in mind because you might want to have slightly higher rates to make the same amount you would off the platform.

Some sites also have someone handpicking the jobs, or they’ve created their own software that works to find jobs that aren’t being applied for as often.

These unique qualities are usually what make the platform stand out.

Upwork is one of the top freelancing websites for beginners (but, they do take a cut)

A majority of freelance websites also require you to be vetted to apply for jobs or even join the platform. Going back to Upwork as an example, which requires you to apply to the website before you can start applying to the client postings.

Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t automatically approved because they try not to have too many people offering the same services to give the freelancers on the platform a fair chance.

Last but not least, some websites might also require you to pay to join them.

This is a case of risk versus reward, so you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it to access a larger (often higher-quality) client base by paying a small fee.

8 Tips For Being Successful When Searching Freelance Websites

Of course, there are also some tips for being successful when searching for freelance sites for beginners. Be sure to keep these in mind when applying for positions that clients need help with.

1. Remember that you aren’t an employee. As a freelancer, you are your own business owner who is collaborating with another business owner to help them achieve success. Get rid of the employee/boss relationship idea immediately!
2. Keep a lookout for red flags. If a job seems way too good to be true, then it probably is.
3. Charge your worth. I made the mistake of lowballing myself for a few of the first interviews I had with business owners who wanted to use my services just because I wanted to make that sale and start a stream of income. But, the amount of time you lose is completely not worth it.
4. Let your personality shine. This can be part of a magnetic pitching strategy when trying to get clients to want your services. 
5. Have a clear idea of what type of business owners you want to work with. This can really help you to not have awkward conversations down the line if you end up working with someone that you had a funny feeling about from the beginning.
6. Don’t say yes to everyone. Your ideal client will show up eventually, you don’t need to say yes to every job.
7. Create a portfolio. If the type of service you offer can be best shown in a portfolio, make sure that you have one that you can easily share with potential clients. They love seeing your work in action because it can prove that you’re an expert at what you do. Better yet, create your own freelance website that showcases what you offer. 
8. This is more of a general tip, but try to set aside at least 1 hour a day sending proposals and pitching to clients who are interested in your work. 

What Are The Best Freelance Websites for Beginners? 

It can be tough trying to find work as a beginner when freelancing. It’s best to start with searching on freelance websites because you can quickly find clients in need of the services you offer.

Eventually, you might want to make your own freelance website and have a content marketing strategy to get your ideal clients to find you instead of the other way around.

Here are 15 of the best freelance websites for beginners:

1. FlexJobs

While FlexJobs is mainly for remote jobs, they do offer some freelance positions as well if you do a thorough search. This site currently offers 30,000 different jobs in a variety of industries, from fashion to travel.

You do have to pay a small price to access the positions posted on FlexJobs, but that’s because the site works to stop spammers from applying to positions and also uses the money to stop ads from being shown on their site.

No matter what position you’re interested in, you can pretty much find it on FlexJobs. Just make sure that it’s one that says “freelancer” on it and not “employee”. Click here to learn more.

Use promo code NOMAD to receive 30% off the membership fee. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT FLEXJOBS HERE

2. SolidGigs

SolidGigs is one of the best freelancing websites for beginners if you’re looking for hand-picked jobs.

This means that the platform will find jobs best suited for the services that you offer and make sure that you know about them so you can apply!

A site like this is perfect for beginners because it can save you so much time that you can focus elsewhere, such as on your own outreach on other platforms and making connections.

To join SolidGigs, all you have to do is enter your email and get on the list — it’s as easy as that.

For reference, SolidGigs currently features positions such as Freelance Guest Blogger, Senior Marketing Designer, and Media Consultant. Be sure to check and see if it’s for a full-time job or if it’s freelance since this site offers a variety of both.

Click here to try Solid Gigs for just $2.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOLID GIGS

3. 99Designs

If you’re a design freelancer, then you have no reason not to be on 99Designs.

This platform allows clients to find your personal profile and hire you. Or, a client can host a competition to see how each person would approach a project before hiring.

To join, sign up on their website and get designing! It’s as simple as that. Just be sure not to spend all of your time participating in just the contests.

4. Upwork

Upwork is said to be one of the best freelance websites for beginners, if not the best, because there are so many jobs on there at any given time no matter your skillset.

Essentially, freelancers use tokens called “connects” to apply to different positions and try their chances at getting hired by a client.

It’s a great site for beginners because it’s near impossible to not get at least one client with your first 80 free connects if you use them wisely.

There are a multitude of jobs on the platform, including virtual assistant positions, digital marketers, copywriters, and more. You can even find freelance photography positions on there if you happen to live in the same area as the potential client!

Read my review of Upwork and see if it’s right for you. 

5. Fiverr

This platform works opposite of Upwork. A freelancer can join and create their own custom packages (usually with the first package starting at $5, hence the name) to attract clients.

So, the site works as a search engine, and clients can find someone offering exactly what they want for their price range.

Some example positions on the site right now include UX designer, brochure creator, and blog writer. However, since you’re the one who creates the posting, you can make it for any of your skillsets. Learn more about how to make money on Fiverr.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are often overlooked as a great spot to find freelance gigs for beginners. If you know what kind of client you’d like to work with, then you can pretty easily find jobs on the platform.

For example, if you want to work with travel bloggers, then search for Facebook Groups that are created for them. Don’t just start posting in the group sharing what you do, but wait until someone asks a question about your expertise and leave a comment answering their question.

Sometimes, the person who asked the question will want to know more and ask you about your services.

In Facebook Groups, you can find lots of blog writing, virtual assistant, and social media manager jobs. Be on the lookout for jobs that are charging way too little and remember to know your worth.

7. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is another one of the best freelancing sites for beginners.

Keep in mind that the name of the site is a bit misleading because there are postings for both fixed price and hourly jobs on the site. Pay close attention as to whether the job you’re applying to is for a fixed price or hourly pay.

There are around 5,000 different jobs posted at any time, including positions for virtual assistants, translators, graphic designers, and more.

This site is perfect for beginners because there are constantly new jobs being posted, so be sure to always check in on the site when you have the time.

8. Dribble

Dribble is an amazing spot for freelancers who are looking to offer creative services of any kind. For example, a lot of the jobs on this site are for web designers, graphic designers, and branding strategists.

Companies both big and small post what kind of services they’re looking for on this site.

There is a general job board that offers both freelance and full-time gigs, but you can pay a small fee to get access to the exclusive freelancer-only board.

9. Behance

Many people don’t know this, but Behance, Adobe’s portfolio website, actually has its own job board that is perfect for beginner freelancers.

Oftentimes, the jobs are posted by individuals or small business owners who need help with tiny, one-off projects. These can be great for getting your foot in the door and having more testimonials to share with future clients.

One important thing to note is that if you’re looking to apply for jobs on here, make sure that you have your own Behance profile and portfolio fully updated because that’s what gets sent to the client when you apply.

It’s not a good look if your entire profile is empty or very outdated!

Similar to Dribble, Behance is catered towards creative job postings, in fields such as animation, photography, app design, and even fashion design.

10. Freelancer

Freelancer is a great website for those starting their career in freelancing — in fact, I used it often to apply for jobs myself when I started.

At this very moment, there are 19,000+ different job postings on Freelancer, so there are lots of clients in need of help with services just like yours.

With Freelancer, users can apply to jobs with a “bid” and then clients can choose whoever they feel is the best fit for their project. Some example positions on the site include proofreader, SEO expert, and logo designer, and many others.

11. TopTal

TopTal is an exclusive freelance job board that you have to apply for, and they only accept around 3% of their applicants.

However, as a new freelancer, don’t let that discourage you because if you have strong skills from your old job, then you can absolutely be admitted to this site.

TopTal posts freelance positions with companies like Airbnb, Zendesk, and Shopify, among others. The site is actively looking for freelancers who specialize in design, developing, finance, and project management.

12. Media Bistro

Media Bistro, while it offers full-time and part-time positions, also has a specific part of its site dedicated solely to freelancers.

All users have to do is create their own freelance profile, and they can apply to any of the freelance jobs on the site.

There are tons of remote and in-person freelance positions on the site, ranging from freelance production assistants at NBC Universal to 3D animators. This is a great way to start getting experience as a new freelancer.

13. Angel List

Angel List is somewhat of a hidden gem of a website, and it’s one that I’ve consistently used to find new leads and apply to jobs ever since my freelancing career started.

This site is super easy to join, and you can look for both in-person and remote freelancing jobs.

The great thing about Angel List is that it only allows job postings from startups, so if you know you want to work with smaller businesses, this site can be a gold mine for you.

14. LinkedIn

Believe it or not, many people post about freelance positions they need to be filled on LinkedIn all the time.

These are often on the LinkedIn job board, but you can also do a quick search using the search bar on the platform to find and connect with people who want your services.

The only downside to LinkedIn is that because there are so many people on the site, you’ll most likely be up against quite a few other people when applying to jobs.

That’s why it’s important that you apply across a wide variety of platforms and find what works best for you.

15. Guru

Guru has almost 2 million different job postings for freelancers, with a majority of them in programming, translation, and the arts. If those are one of your services, then you will find an abundance of potential clients on this site!

It’s pretty simple to join and is great for newbie freelancers because of the wide variety of job postings, and the fact that there are so many.

Freelancers won’t be up against as much competition as they would be if they were to apply elsewhere.

10 Best Freelance Jobs

If you’re considering starting a freelance business but don’t know what job to offer, then this part of the post is for you. Here are some of the best freelancing jobs (and the highest paying).

1. Freelance Writing

Do you have a knack for the written word? Well, you can actually be a freelance writer. The great thing about this is that if you have a specific niche, you love working with, like fashion or travel, then you can easily find jobs for that industry.

Freelance writing can include copywriting, social media caption writing, blog writing, and even ghostwriting novels.

2. Translation

Translators are always in high demand. If you are bilingual and can speak a second language well, then you’re in luck when it comes to searching for freelance jobs.

3. Teaching English Online

If you love teaching others and speak English, then teaching English online can be a great way for you to make money as a freelancer. There are tons of great resources out there if this is the specific type of job that you’re interested in as well.

Unlike other jobs on this list, be prepared to be vetted to teach English online to make sure you know your stuff.

Teaching English online is a great job for freelancers 4. Graphic Design

Graphic designers are always in high demand. With design, you’ve either got an eye for it or you don’t! If you’re one of those lucky people who do have a knack for design, you can charge quite a bit for your services, especially as you become an expert in your field. Beginners tend to make around $25/hour.

Learn more here:how to make money as a graphic designer.

5. Social Media Management

Social media management is one of the most important aspects of digital marketing today, and many small business owners don’t have the time to commit to it. So, needless to say, social media managers are always needed like graphic designers.

If you’ve got an eye for creating fun social graphics and you love caption writing and growing accounts with organic growth methods, then this might be a great freelance career path for you. Learn more about making money as a social media manager. 

6. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants essentially do exactly what it sounds like — they are an assistant to business owners and they work virtually. VAs complete a variety of small tasks throughout the week.

The great thing about being a virtual assistant is that one day you could be creating graphics while the next day, you might be helping to build an email marketing sequence. Learn more about how to become a virtual assistant. 

7. Instructional Designer

E-learning is one of the most up and coming industries at the moment, and for a good reason.

More and more people are switching to online learning, and lots of service-based business owners are even starting to sell their own online courses sharing their knowledge so that they can make a bit of passive income.

This is a great freelance career to pivot into if you’re a teacher and are looking for a change.

8. Web Designer

Since this is a digital world, almost every single company has its own website, and it’s important for them to stand out from their competitors. Web designers do just that and build sites on Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix.

Make money creating websites for clients 9. Branding Expert

Having a logo and a strong, cohesive brand identity is essential when it comes to having a business of any type, whether it has an online presence at all.

Branding experts create logos, mood boards, and really work to help showcase everything that a brand is about in just one single image.

10. Accountant

Accountants are always in fairly high demand and are commonly the first position to be outsourced by small business owners who don’t have the time to keep up with their business’s financials. If you’re a money person, you’re in luck because there’s always an abundance of these positions online.

What Are the Pros and Cons Of Being a Freelancer?

Unfortunately, being a freelancer isn’t all rainbows and butterflies, but it does have its perks.

Pros

• You are your own boss. No more having someone else constantly tell you what needs to be done!
• If you have a freelance remote job (like most freelancers do), then you can work from anywhere. Yes, that even means from your favourite beach.
• Freelancers can make a lot more than they would at a desk job doing the same services.
• Successful freelancers get to grow and expand their team. Imagine that – having your own business with people who align with your vision and want to help your business grow.

Cons

• A lack of time management can completely ruin your business and lose you, clients.
• If you find yourself sick one day, you can’t necessarily find someone else to do all the work for you if you have a deadline.
• There can be weeks sometimes where absolutely no work is coming in.

Now you know the best freelance websites for beginners

The key to success as a freelancing beginner is to keep putting yourself out there. Be sure to frequent these freelance sites often and always check in with them at least once every few days to see if there’s a client that is looking for services like yours. 

I hope you found this list useful. If you did, please leave a comment below and share this article with your social media contacts. Happy freelancing!

The post 15 Best Freelance Websites For Beginners appeared first on Goats On The Road.

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Finding unique gifts for travel lovers can be a daunting task. Not only do you need to find a gift that they’ll like, but something they’ll actually use.

As travellers ourselves who have been on the road for more than 10 years now, we’ve got the inside scoop on useful and fun items for travel that would make great presents.

Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas or a going away gift you’re after, you’ll find some gift ideas for travel lovers in this article.

In this post, I’ll list 12 unique, fun and practical travel gifts for your special someone.

On another note, we recommend also looking at the small businesses in your community and seeing if there are any products or gift certificates you can purchase, or other ways that you can support them this year

This article has been updated December 2020 to list gifts that your travel-loving family and friends will enjoy, but aren’t necessarily presents that could only be used while on the road. 

This post contains some affiliate links to Amazon and other companies. If you purchase a product using our link, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

1. Airbnb Experiences (online or in-person)

This is my top choice for gifts this year.

Sure, many people aren’t actually travelling at the moment, but what better way to keep the travel dream alive than joining an online Airbnb Experience?

These online experiences make for very unique travel gifts.

While you may not actually be in Italy, England, Mexico, or India, you can join an online class with people from there! Here are a couple of the top-rated options you can choose from:

Making Pasta With an Italian Grandma (a travel gift for foodies!)

If you love Italian food, you’ll want to join this cooking class. Travel virtually to an Italian grandma’s home and learn how to make pasta from scratch — from the experts.

Gnocchi, lasagna, ravioli, fettuccine and more. You’ll be sent a list of ingredients and the tools you’ll need to participate. Click here to learn more about this highly-rated, yummy class. 

Fun fact: at the beginning of 2020, Nick and I actually did this Airbnb experience in person in a village outside of Rome. It was a great cooking class, the grandmas were so fun, and we were SO full by the end of it! Highly recommended. Find out more here.

Gin Cocktail Class With a Mixologist

If you’re into gin, you’ll want to check out this cocktail class with an expert from the UK. Expect to learn some unique gin cocktails, play some drinking games, enjoy some jokes and laughter, and a fun night with new friends.  

This is a fun experience for singles, friends, couples, families and groups. You’ll be sent a list of ingredients and tools you’ll need in order to participate. Click here for details about this highly-rated class.

 

Taste Of India – Tea and Food

Learn more about Indian culture and cuisine with this online cooking class. Each day offers a different menu, so just choose the one that you think your travelling friend will enjoy. 

Whether it’s butter chicken, matter paneer, vegetable biriyani, paneer butter masala or samosas, there’s something for every Indian food lover! Of course, masala chai tea is also on the menu. 

JD is from Delhi and his family have owned a restaurant for three generations now — your special someone will be in good hands with this experience. Learn more here. 

Other Travel Gift Ideas Online

Those are just 3 of the MANY amazing online experiences found on Airbnb. If you’re looking for a gift that isn’t food and drink related, there are many others — music, dancing, magic, storytelling and more. 

SEE MORE ONLINE EXPERIENCES

2. JBL Portable Speakers

We’ve tried numerous Bluetooth portable speakers over the years, and as far as affordable electronic travel gifts go, these speakers are the best.

Everyone has a smartphone these days and connecting to these JBL speakers is easy. Plus, it weighs in at just over 1lb, making it practical for travellers.

Many people like to listen to music while they’re at the beach, chilling out by the pool, or having a relaxing night playing cards with new friends. Bluetooth speakers are a must. These days, we also use them for watching Netflix on our laptops. 

We’ve owned the JBL Flip 4 and Flip 5. Both are great, but the Flip 5 is waterproof and sounds excellent. This is an affordable gift for travel lovers.

VIEW ON AMAZON

3. Portable Espresso Machine

Not only is this travel gift great for those who love to wander, but it’s an excellent idea for coffee addicts.

If you’ve gone on a long-term trip before, or if you travel on a budget, you’ll know that the coffee available at hostels and guesthouses is usually sub-par filter coffee.

Or, if you’re camping, hiking or living out of a small vehicle, this is a great gift to get that coffee fix!

Portable, handpump espresso machines can be taken on the go. They’re small, compact and all you need is some hot water and some espresso grounds.

You simply add the grounds to a little pod, add some hot water, pump up the machine to build up some pressure, press the release button and voila, a shot of espresso appears. 

You can then add more hot water to your cup to make it less strong, or, add milk.

We’ve used the Handpresso machine, our friends prefer the AeroPress, while the Wacao Minipress is popular on Amazon. Click here to learn more about handheld espresso machines. 

VIEW ON AMAZON

4. Natural Body Care

With products for all sexes, and unisex items, you can find natural body care items from companies like Lush or Ethique.

Products are vegan (or vegetarian), handmade and nothing is tested on animals.

Not only that, but the ingredients are all-natural, and for the responsible traveller in your life, they’ll be happy to know that many of the items don’t have any packaging — plastic or otherwise.

When you’re thinking about gifts for travel lovers, consider the shampoo, conditioner and soap bars, body lotions and face wash — many of which come in nice packaging, perfect for a present. 

These items are great for travellers for many reasons:

1. There’s no plastic waste. 
2. No liquids so they can easily be brought on board a flight — great for those who fly carry-on.
3. Takes up less space in luggage than a shampoo or conditioner bottle.

VIEW ON AMAZON

5. Travel Hammock

Travel hammocks are great for those are looking to sleep under the stars, or on remote beaches. It’s also great for campers or for those who like to do some multi-day trekking (provided there are trees around to hang the hammock from!).

A travel hammock is also an excellent travel gift for those who just plan to backpack around.

Setting up a hammock on the balcony of your beachfront hut, setting it up for a break mid-hike, or bringing it to the beach for a day of chilling out between two palm trees is the ultimate in relaxation.

There are numerous travel hammocks to choose from, just make sure you get one that is lightweight and rolls up into a small package. Travellers like small items!

With more than 20,000 positive reviews, the Wise Owl Outfitter hammock is a great choice. Click here to compare prices and reviews on numerous travel hammocks.

6. Bluffworks Clothing

Bluffworks brand of clothing is a good option whether you’re on the road or at home. The clothing items are quick-dry, stylish and the best part…they don’t wrinkle!

For business travellers, or those who jet-set, having a nice set of clothing in your luggage is essential. Even if the person you’re buying a gift for plans on budget backpacking around the world, it’s always a good idea to have 1 nice dress shirt and 1 nice pair of pants.

You never know what can happen on the road. We’ve been randomly invited to weddings, found ourselves in the area when a new bar was opening up and were invited to enjoy a 7-course fine dining meal.

Shorts and a t-shirt simply wouldn’t meet the dress code.

Nick has owned the “Original” pants in charcoal for about 6 years now, and he wears them whenever there’s a “fancy” event happening — and they never wrinkle. Click here to learn more about Bluffworks clothes.

Bluffworks pants in action at a wedding! 7. Airpods/Earbuds

Having a set of Bluetooth speakers is great, but having your own set of headphones these days is a must.

Listening to music and podcasts while bumping along on a bus, hiking or working out. Chatting to a friend on video calling, or for those flight days when you want to watch a movie, headphones are a must-have and make great gifts.

Look for earbuds that offer noise cancellation and a mic, and also make sure that the earbuds you’re purchasing are compatible with your travel friend’s smartphone or tablet.

We now both have Bluetooth Apple AirPods and although we can’t use them when connecting to the TV screens on airplanes, we watch our shows on our smartphones or tablet using them.

Plus, when walking, chatting on the phone, and working out, it’s nice to not have cords in the way. Click here to compare the different styles of AirPods. 

8. Tinggly

When it comes to travel gifts, this unique idea from Tinggly is a good bet. Visit their website and choose a category that’s relevant to the recipient of the gift — “Key to Europe”, “Perfect For Him”, “Perfect For Her”, “Merry Christmas”, “Ultimate Collection”, “Bucketlist”, etc.

In each category are numerous tours and experiences for your travel-loving friend to choose from (in some cases, there are over 700 options).

Once they’ve chosen the event that interests them, they have 5 years to redeem it.

Experiences and tours are available worldwide, so just ensure that the gift you choose is offered in the country the recipient is going to.

When it comes to travel gifts, you really can’t go wrong with a wine tasting in Tuscany, a helicopter flight over Las Vegas, a day at the spa in Bali or volcano exploration in Hawaii! As travellers ourselves, we can say we definitely prefer memorable moments over possessions.

You can opt to send a physical box to the gift recipient, or send a voucher by email. Click here to learn more about this fun gift idea.

9. Travel-Sized Instrument

One of the best gifts for travel lovers, and musicians is a travel-sized instrument. What better way to connect with people than by singing, dancing and playing music?! 

Whether enjoying songs around the campfire, jamming on the beach at sunset, or travelling abroad, in many cases having a small instrument is more practical than a full-sized one.

A travelling ukulele or guitar are great options. 

Musician Authority has some great posts on some easy songs for beginners and beginner’s guides to playing the ukulele.

For guitar players, you can’t go wrong with Martin, and luckily, this company has a travel version guitar. Weighing in at around 2.5 pounds, and fitting in the overhead compartment of planes, the Martin Steel String Travel Guitar is perfect.

Another option is a ukulele which is already small enough to be a travel item. This 21-inch ukulele is lightweight, small, and includes a carrying case and tuner. A great present for travellers!

VIEW INSTRUMENTS ON AMAZON

10. Prana Clothes

Another clothing company that is an excellent travel gift. The travel, adventure and yoga clothes that prAna makes are practical, stylish and ethical. This brand cares about fair trade and sustainability.

I personally wear the Halle pant on about 95% of our flight days and I’ve always worn them when trekking — they’re stretchy and comfy.

I also own a sporty tank top, a cotton t-shirt and a hooded sweater, while Nick has a polo shirt, a dress polo and some loose cotton yoga pants. The clothes have lasted us for 7 years so far and are still going strong!

Stopping for a water break while trekking Torres del Paine in Chile – wearing Halle Pant

I wholeheartedly recommend this brand as a gift for the traveller in your life. Click here to see all Prana products on their website. They offer free shipping and 10% off new orders receive 

*Update December, 2020: I fell off my bike and got a hole in my Halle Pants that I’m wearing in the photo above. So, after around 6 years I finally had to purchase a new pair, this time I went with black but in the same style. And, they are still built just as well as when I purchased my first pair 6 years ago. Also, for those women who are tall like I am (5’10”), these pants come in a “tall” length!

11. Water Purification Products

When it comes to travel gifts, this might not sound like the coolest idea out there, but it can be a lifesaver and is something that travellers need to have in their bags.

When travelling to more offbeat destinations where the drinking water is questionable, it’s imperative that water from the tap is purified before being consumed.

Similarly, when you’re camping, cycling or trekking in the wilderness and the water source isn’t safe, it’ll need to be purified. We used a SteriPen when trekking in remote locations in Kyrgyzstan and it worked very well.

Not only do products like SteriPen or Lifestraw remove harmful bacteria and microbes from water, but travellers don’t need to purchase bottled water, which helps to save cash and the environment.

With SteriPen, you simply fill a (reusable) bottle with 1 litre of water and “stir” the pen around for 89 seconds. As you stir, it gives off UV rays that kill harmful bacteria.

Once you see a smiley face on the device, the water is safe to drink. There are different models of SteriPen, some charge via USB, others with batteries.

The Lifestraw is only good for one person as it is a personal straw, which has a filter inside of it.

It’s small and lightweight and is a good option for drinking straight from streams or puddles in emergency backcountry situations — it also filters out debris.

I think of it as more of a survival tool, which could be a cool travel gift if someone is going on an expedition. Click here to learn more about the SteriPens available and click here to learn more about Lifestraw.

VIEW ON AMAZON

12. Games (fun gifts for travel lovers!)

If you’re looking for fun travel gifts, then purchasing a game (or 2) is a good idea! These gifts can also be used for people travelling in a van/RV, going on camping trips, or simply for weekends at home.

If the person is travelling solo, then games for 1 or more are preferable but consider games that can be played with a group over a few beers.

We always have games in our backpacks and play when we’re waiting for flights, for our meals to show up, or when we’re in our accommodation. Keep in mind that travel games need to be somewhat small and lightweight.

For us, our go-to travel games are Cribbage, a simple deck of cards, pass the pigs, and dice for playing Yahtzee.

Our latest purchase is Bananagrams which is kind of like Scrabble but without the board, and it’s more fun. Other hilarious adult games include Cards Against Humanity (a great way to get to know people – and their sick humour), and The Game Of Nasty Things (travellers would just bring the cards and not the actual box, obviously).

Other great options are Monopoly Deal and Skip-Bo.

VIEW GAMES ON AMAZON

13. Bonus! Mini Projector

This is one of the more unique travel gifts on this list. 

For people who are travelling around in a van (which is very popular right now), who are travelling slowly or living abroad, or for those who want to set up movie nights in their backyards — get a projector!

These small machines project quality images, making it fun for a group of people or a simple movie night.

Because the projectors connect to your smartphone or laptop, you can also watch YouTube, Netflix, look at your photos on the big screen and more. 

We’ve used projectors with a proper pull-down screen, but we’ve also used a plain white wall and a white sheet and that works also. 

Have a look at this pocket-sized projector (yes, it fits in your pocket!) and this one which is a little bigger but is still considered a “mini” — it’s a highly rated, quality product. 

VIEW ALL PROJECTORS ON AMAZON

Other Gifts For Travel Lovers

There are a few gifts ideas that I want to suggest here — but they won’t be available to everyone. I’m recommending them as they are items that are created by good friends of ours, and we want to help support small businesses whenever we can!

Here are a few items to consider:

Handcrafted Caribbean Gin

Owned and operated by our good friends in our adopted home of Grenada, Bluelight Gin is the only gin distillery in the Caribbean. They’ve worked hard to create tasty bottles of booze, with a tropical vibe.

A portion of their profits goes towards helping keep our oceans clean as well. The gin is now available for delivery in the UK. The perfect addition to your camping trip, van life (while parked!) or weekend at home. Get your bottle here. 

Beautiful Paintings

Our talented friend in Grenada has started offering her paintings on Etsy. Paige creates unique pieces with love — from flowers, plants and landscapes, to portraits, animals and fruits. Plus, she can make a one of a kind piece of your pet.

Just send her the photo of your furry friend and consider it done. Learn more on her Instagram account here, or directly on Etsy. Items are shipped from the USA, and there are small-sized prints available, perfect for hitting the road.

One Of a Kind Greeting Cards

Again, more of our talented friends living on the island of Grenada! Lily and Lauren run Pickalily cards, which are hand-drawn and filled with hilarious puns. These unique cards are available online through Thortful for the UK only. See if there is a travel-related, or Christmas card for you. Learn more here. 

Happy Gift Giving

There you have it, 12 fun, unique and (more importantly) practical gifts for travel lovers. In reality, no matter what you give your travelling friend, I’m sure they will love it.

But hopefully, this article gave you some good ideas for products that can actually be taken on the road or enjoyed at home this year. Every time your friend uses your gift while they’re away, they’ll think of you. 

Like This Article? Pin it!

 

The post 12 Unique Gifts For Travel Lovers (2020 Guide) appeared first on Goats On The Road.

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For the redesign, LaunchCode is turning to architectural firm JEMA and its managing partner John Mueller.

St. Louisans used to walk into the Nathaniel J. "Nat" Rivers Office of the Division of Workforce Development in search of answers about unemployment benefits. That was before LaunchCode, a nonprofit organization that trains workers in tech fields and places them in apprenticeships, bought the building at 4811 Delmar and turned it into its mentor center.

Read More....

This is America's New War (Not Coronavirus....)

Because it's still in its infancy, most people don't yet really recognize what's happening in America right now...

In short: A new war is erupting.

But it's not a war between countries and big armies... or between states and the federal government. And it's not necessarily a political war either, although both parties will soon be involved.

Instead, it's a war between people who understand a life-changing new trend... and everyone else. 

This battle, by the way, was predicted as long ago as the 1930s, by a Nobel Prize Winning economist.

It's scary how accurate his predictions have been so far... and what they say about our future. You'll see exactly what I mean in a minute.

Why should you care?

Because ultimately, this war will result in the biggest legal transfer of wealth in the history of mankind – bigger than any political revolution by a huge margin.

And it won't just be the middle class that gets left behind.

All across America, millions of lives will be destroyed by changes only a handful of Americans fully grasp right now.

Even wealthy people will be shocked at how quickly their money and savings can disappear.

The good news is, no one in America can do a better job of explaining exactly what is happening—and more importantly, what you can do about it—than the founder of our research firm, Porter Stansberry.

Please, no matter what you are doing or how "safe" you feel today, pay attention to what Porter has to say.

Heed Porter's warnings... follow 3 steps he recommends... and help others understand what's happening, too.

Because this is a seminal moment, one that I believe will determine your family's fate for many years to come.

You can find Porter's one-of-a-kind analysis and his 3 recommended steps  on our website here...

Best regards,

Mike Palmer
Founding Partner, Stansberry Research
Delivering World-Class Financial Research Since 1999

P.S. In another year or two, anyone who doesn't fully understand this inevitable trend will be left behind. The coronavirus has only accelerated this process. The time for you to learn and act is now. Start with  Porter's analysis here...

Click Here for the Full Story

What do a doctor, dietitian, licensed clinical social worker, side-hustling nutrition coach, and personal trainer all have in common?

No, this isn’t the beginning of a terrible joke…

The answer: We interviewed people in each of these careers, and they all said getting a nutrition certification was worth it. 

But is a nutrition certification worth it,for you?

In this article, we’ll explore that question.

The truth is, a nutrition certification’s worth-it score depends on your situation.

To help you weigh all the pros and cons, we put together this comprehensive guide, complete with a free self-assessment tool to help you make the decision for yourself.

In this article, you’ll also find:

• The essential questions to consider before getting a nutrition certification.
• 5 unexpected side benefits of getting certified.
• Why a nutrition certification often translates into greater client success.
• How a nutrition certification can boost your income potential.
• Insights from seven successful certified nutrition coaches from a wide range of professions.

++++

5 questions that’ll help you decide if a nutrition certification is worth it

Figuring out whether a nutrition certification is worth it can be tricky. In part, because we all define “worth it” differently.

For instance, is a nutrition certification worth it if you:

• Gain knowledge you need to achieve your career goals?
• Earn more money because of it?
• Get more clients or new opportunities afterwards?
• Learn something that changes your nutrition philosophy?
• Create connections with like-minded people in your industry?

Consider the following questions to define what “worth it” means to you.

How to use this quiz to make your decision

Each section below ends with a question. You’ll rank your response on a scale from 0 to 5. (Just click the number on your screen, and your results will automatically populate at the end of the quiz.)

Once you’ve answered all five questions, you’ll get a worth it/not worth it result.

If you’re not sure how to answer one or more of the 5 questions (or just want to consider it from multiple angles), you’ll find boxes labeled “dig deeper” with prompts for further reflection.

Our advice: Keep a journal handy. Jot down your thoughts so you’ll have something to refer to when making your decision.

Question #1: Does a nutrition certification fill a gap in your knowledge?

A nutrition certification is worth it if it helps you gain key knowledge or skills, according to the coaches we interviewed.

Here are a few real-life examples of how a nutrition certification can fill knowledge gaps.

The personal trainer who wanted to master nutrition

The release of a massively popular Netflix nutrition documentary, coupled with a resulting deluge of client questions, made personal trainer Tyler Buckingham, PN1, PPSC, realize the full extent of nutrition misinformation.

He wanted to better understand the discussion as well as be able to answer client questions with authority. “I was like, okay, it’s time to get certified in nutrition,” says Buckingham, who trains a group of former athletes.

Since getting certified, he’s much more adept at answering the nutrition questions clients lob his way—especially tricky ones with no clear answer.

“I like having that flexibility and being able to say, ‘Hey, you could try this, or you could try that. What do you want to do? Let’s have a conversation about it.’”

In the end, Buckingham knows his clients are getting answers to their questions, and the actionable advice they need to keep moving forward.

The doctor who wanted to give better advice

A family medicine resident and CrossFit Level 1 coach, Kristina Hines, DO, PN1, felt confident talking to patients about exercise. But the few hours of nutrition education she got in medical school just weren’t cutting it.

“I didn’t really know what to tell patients nutritionally,” she says.

Her patients often had specific questions about how to eat, whether various diets were right for them, and what foods calmed their symptoms.

Dr. Hines wanted a deeper level of nutritional understanding, so she decided to pursue a nutrition certification.

Thanks to the certification course, Dr. Hines now feels comfortable answering just about any nutrition question patients come up with.

The registered dietitian who wanted to learn about behavior change

Jennifer Broxterman, MS, RD, was already a dietitian when she got her nutrition certification. But she wanted to learn more about the psychology of behavior change and motivational interviewing.

“As a university professor, I like to see different teaching methods and different learning styles,” she says.

For her, getting a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certification meant gaining perspective on how behavior change actually works, so she could better implement it with her clients.

Will a nutrition certification fill a gap in your knowledge?

already know everything have a major knowledge gap012345

Dig deeper

• What are you hoping to learn from a nutrition certification? How will the certification help you learn it?
• What skills would help you reach more people, or improve your work with them? Could a nutrition certification help?
• How do you feel when nutrition questions come up? How does that compare to how you’d like to feel?

Question #2: Will a nutrition certification bring you additional and valuable benefits?

People often cite benefits of becoming certified that go beyond their initial reason for doing so, such as:

• enhanced credibility
• more confidence
• improved communication skills
• opportunities to learn from peers and experts in the field
• a healthier relationship with food

Below, we’ll cover each of these benefits in detail, so you can decide if they’re worth it for you.

Benefit #1: Enhanced credibility

After Vivian Gill, MA, RN-BC, CPT,  earned her nutrition certification, she noticed something that surprised her: “My credibility increased,” says the registered nurse, personal trainer, and lifestyle coach. “Clients know I’m evidence-based and not biased, and they’ve felt the difference.”

Gill saw that lots of other trainers in her community pushed dieting, counting macros, and detoxing. Her nutrition certification helped her realize that a different approach would resonate more with her clients.

“I’ve decided to be the voice of reason and grace,” she adds.

Benefit #2: More confidence

What does Buckingham see as the biggest hidden benefit of getting certified? “Definitely the confidence I have now,” he says.

Not long ago, a client came to him wanting to lose weight. During their intake, Buckingham learned the client had already lost several pounds. Clearly, the person was doing a lot right.

In the past, Buckingham would have felt pressured to deliver a completely different program—for the sake of it. Thanks to what he learned from his certification, however, he confidently encouraged his client to keep going with some of the same strategies.

Buckingham also feels more at ease talking about nutrition’s gray areas.

Instead of claiming to know it all, he feels comfortable saying: “Hey, I don’t know the answer to this question, but I’ll find out,”  or “Why don’t we see if it works? Then after a week, we can see what happened, and take it from there.”

Benefit #3: Improved coaching and communication skills

Some nutrition certification courses, like Precision Nutrition Level 1, include information on the art of coaching as well as nutrition science. In other words, part of the course trains you to talk to your clients more effectively. (Want to see what we mean? Check out our FREE Nutrition Coaching e-course.)

Josh Chang, PN1, a dietitian and owner of Mycro Nutrition, says getting a certification was worth it for him because it taught him how to talk to clients about their barriers.

“Dietitians are trained to use a little bit of motivational interviewing and empathize with clients, but Precision Nutrition teaches you to take that one or two steps further—to get to know the client and how to dig into why they might be saying what they say or doing what they’re doing.”

“A nutrition certification may be worth it if you need a little help strengthening those communication or rapport building skills,” he adds.

Benefit #4: Opportunities to learn from peers and experts in the field

Some nutrition certifications offer Facebook groups, online forums, and even in-person events. These resources provide coaches with a chance to connect with like-minded health professionals, get input from others on challenges and, in some cases, access top experts in the nutrition field.

Having a large community of coaches at his fingertips was one of the biggest unexpected benefits for Chang.

“Once you enroll in PN Level 1 or 2, you get invited to a Facebook group. I particularly enjoy seeing how different coaches respond when people post questions. Some coaching suggestions are just so out of left field, in a good way. I’m like, ‘I would’ve never thought of that, but it’s brilliant.’”

Benefit #5: A healthier relationship with food

Jenna Ashby PA-C, PN1, an oncology physician assistant, decided to become a nutrition coach after overcoming disordered eating.

Though Ashby primarily uses her nutrition certification in her side job at Breathe CrossFit in Derry, New Hampshire, she also came away from the experience with some personal takeaways.

“It helped solidify what I’ve been building upon the last few years, and it helped me find more peace with myself,” says Ashby. “I now know, without a doubt: I can love my body, be okay with my body, and appropriately nourish it.”

“That’s huge because I once thought that, if I wanted to eat, I had to exercise, or vice versa. Now, that mentality is reversed: In order to be strong and feel strong I need to nourish myself. The PN certification really solidified that for me,” she says.

Will a nutrition certification bring you additional and valuable benefits?

not valuable at all massively valuable012345

Dig deeper

• How would you like clients to view your knowledge about nutrition, and how do you think you’re currently measuring up to that?
• How confident do you feel about your nutrition recommendations when working with clients? When you aren’t sure about something, how do you handle it?
• How would you rate your current coaching and communication skills? When you talk to people about nutrition, how does your message seem to be received?
• Where do you currently connect with peers and experts in your field? How might you benefit from additional opportunities?
• How would you describe your current nutrition philosophy and your relationship with food? Is there room for improvement here?

Question #3: Does a nutrition certification line up with your career goals?

A nutrition certification enables you to make nutrition recommendations to otherwise healthy clients. 

With a nutrition certification, you’ll be qualified to:

• Give the right nutrition advice at the right time
• Develop an action plan your clients will actually follow
• Help people transform their bodies and their health

These qualifications can be useful in a variety of careers.

What are your career opportunities with a nutrition certification?

People often wonder if they need to go to (or go back to) a university to get started with a career in nutrition. For certain jobs (such as registered dietitian), you need a specialized degree and training.

But there’s also a lot you can do with a nutrition certification alone. Coaches in our community have job titles like:

• Nutrition coach
• Sports nutrition coach
• Weight loss coach
• Weight management consultant
• Corporate wellness educator
• Nutrition program manager at a gym or other health facility
• High-performance consultant
• Stay-at-home parent and part-time nutrition coach

If you already have additional certifications or degrees (or plan to get them), there may be other career options. Some PN-certified coaches are also:

• Registered dietitians
• Sports nutritionists
• Personal trainers and strength coaches who do nutrition coaching
• Physical therapists who do nutrition coaching
• Doctors, nurses, and physician assistants who do nutrition coaching
• Psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers who do nutrition coaching

What are you not qualified to do?

It’s important to note that Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)—which involves giving nutrition advice to treat or cure disease—is out of scope unless you’re specifically MNT-accredited. You won’t be qualified to do this with a nutrition certification alone, and you should never try.

Depending on where you live, rules and regulations vary on what people with nutrition certifications are allowed to do.

For instance, in some states in the US, the only people who can provide meal plans are registered dietitians. But in these states, nutrition coaches can still help people with their eating as long as they’re not telling people exactly what they should and shouldn’t eat.

If you take a Precision Nutrition certification, you’ll learn that meal plans, deeming foods “off-limits,” and telling people exactly what to eat aren’t our style anyway. In our nutrition certification, you’ll learn how to get results without using these tactics.

Does a nutrition certification line up with your career goals?

don’t line up at all yes, they completely line up012345

Dig deeper

• How can nutrition coaching fit into your current job? Or are you looking to pursue a new career in nutrition?
• Take a look at the job titles listed above. Which ones sound interesting to you and/or resonate with your career goals?
• Do you need a nutrition certification to be qualified (or feel confident enough) to hold the job titles you listed in the previous question? Why or why not?

Question #4: Will a nutrition certification help the clients you work with (or want to work with)?

Our grads say a nutrition certification can help you provide a better service to your clients (or potential clients). This service can not only focus on what they eat, but also how they think, feel, and go about their daily routine. (We call this “deep health” coaching.)

This allows you to figure out what’s really holding clients back from making the lasting changes they really want.

That’s important since many people get a nutrition certification, at least partly, because they want to help people—even if it’s their friends or family members. So it’s worthwhile to consider how getting certified will help the people you work with (or eventually want to work with).

For instance, Buckingham now includes nutrition coaching his personal training clients as an added value service. “If you’re meeting me in person, I’ll often say, ‘Hey, let’s talk nutrition. Let’s make sure that you get those questions answered,’” he explains.

Getting a nutrition certification may also improve client experiences. “I think it’s made me a better practitioner,” Dr. Hines says.

Developing her motivational interviewing skills, she says, helped her approach conversations about nutrition in a way that makes patients feel more at ease.

“Now, I’m able to meet my patients where they are instead of having them feel like I’m just lecturing them. I really try to empower patients to know that they have a say in this. It’s not just me telling them what they have to do.”

Lastly, a nutrition certification may help clients get better results.

For example, Kelly Lynch, LCSW, EMT, CPT, PN1, a therapist who specializes in treating first responders, began suggesting clients talk to their physicians about blood work and other diagnostic tests, especially when she suspected their mental health symptoms might be related to (or exacerbated by) nutritional deficiencies, GI dysfunction, or hormonal issues.

When one of her clients described worsening depression along with digestive issues, Lynch thought of a condition she’d learned about during her certification that could contribute to these symptoms: SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). She encouraged the client to ask their doctor about it.

Sure enough, testing revealed Lynch’s hunch was correct, and the client’s depression improved once the SIBO was treated.

Will a nutrition certification help your clients?

won’t help at all will help majorly012345

Dig deeper

• What additional value would your clients receive if you got a nutrition certification?
• How would more knowledge and better coaching/communication skills improve clients’ experiences?
• In what way would nutrition and coaching expertise help your clients get better results?

Question #5: Will a nutrition certification boost your income potential, or provide other financial benefits?

Based on our survey of 1000 nutrition coaches and additional independent research, coaches with a nutrition certification earn slightly more per hour than coaches without one.

If you have two to three certifications, you’ll earn an average $12 more per hour than coaches with just one.

And coaches with a Precision Nutrition certification earn 11 percent more than people with other certifications.

So it’s safe to say that, on average, certified coaches earn more.

For Chang, getting a nutrition certification was the impetus to start his own coaching business, getting him out of a hospital nutrition setting and into the driver’s seat of his own career and earning potential.

Lynch experienced greater interest in her therapy services after sharing that she’d gotten certified in nutrition. It also helped her launch a coaching side business, providing an additional revenue stream.

For some, a nutrition certification might be an avenue to saving money. In addition to enabling her to start a side job as a nutrition coach, Ashby says getting certified meant she no longer felt like she needed to pay for nutrition coaching from someone else. Now, she feels totally confident adjusting her own eating habits.

Will a nutrition certification boost your income potential, or provide other financial benefits?

not at all yes, absolutely012345

Dig deeper

• Will getting a nutrition certification allow you to charge clients more than you are currently, or offer new services?
• How might getting certified in nutrition increase interest in your services? Could it help expand your client base?
• How might getting a nutrition certification potentially save you money, in terms of services you’ll no longer need or outsourcing you’ll no longer have to do?

So is a nutrition certification worth it?

YOUR TOTAL SCORE: –

Now find your score range to see if a nutrition certification is worth it.

20 and above: Yes, a nutrition certification is worth it for you!

Based on your answers, it sounds like a nutrition certification will pay off. By getting certified, you’ll level up your:

• nutrition science and coaching knowledge
• career opportunities and coaching services
• ability to help clients
• income potential
• and so much more.

6 to 19: A nutrition certification might be worth it for you.

Based on your answers, it sounds like a nutrition certification will pay off in some ways, but might not in others.

The big question for you to consider: Do the likely benefits outweigh the costs?

To answer that, take another look at your quiz answers, specifically at the ones where you scored a 4 or 5.

Compare the benefits with the cost associated with getting certified.

For example, let’s say you ranked high for a certification filling a knowledge gap as well as for it likely bringing in more income. For costs, maybe you already have the money set aside as well as the time to take and pass a course. In that case, you’ll likely decide that a certification is worth it.

On the other hand, let’s say you picked 5 for a certification lining up with your career goals. For all of the other questions, you choose a 3 or lower. On top of that, you’d have to borrow money to pay for a certification. And you’re already working two jobs. Oh, and you’ve got a baby on the way. Well, a certification might not be worth it to you—not right now anyway.

5 and under: It doesn’t seem like a nutrition certification is worth it for you.

Based on your answers, it’s not clear that you’ll find a nutrition certification to be worth it. That said, there are always exceptions.

You might be interested in getting a certification just for your own personal benefit—not for your career. You may not want to work with clients, earn money through nutrition coaching, or change jobs, and that’s totally legit.

No matter what you decide, it’s important to have a clear picture of your reasoning. Hopefully, that’s what you’ve gained through this self-assessment.

Where to go from here

If you decide to get a nutrition certification, you have quite a few programs to choose from.

For guidance, check out this in-depth article: How to choose the right nutrition certification program for YOU.

Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science.

If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly.

The post Is a nutrition certification worth it? 5 questions to ask yourself before signing up. appeared first on Precision Nutrition.

https://www.precisionnutrition.com/is-a-nutrition-certification-worth-it

On Wednesday, October 7th, 2020, we’re opening registration for the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification, the world’s most recommended nutrition education program.

Developed over 15 years, and proven with over 100,000 clients, the Precision Nutrition curriculum stands alone as the authority on the science of nutrition and the art of coaching.  It gives you the knowledge, systems, and tools you need to feel both confident and qualified to coach nutrition with anyone—in-person or online.

Whether you already work in health and fitness, or you’re starting a new career or side business you’re passionate about, the PN Level 1 Certification is your springboard to a deeper understanding of nutrition, the authority to coach it, and the ability to turn what you know into results—for yourself and your clients.

For more about the program, check out the frequently asked questions below.

But, first, watch these two short videos; the first is a full breakdown of the program from Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, and the second video features
interviews with renowned coaches like Eric Cressey, Molly Galbraith, Adam Lloyd, and Jon Goodman:

Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon gives you a sneak peek inside the brand-new edition of the Level 1 Certification.

 

Dr. John Berardi and fitness industry leaders discuss what makes the Level 1 Certification so unique and effective.

 

Want to learn even more? Join the Presale List Today

As we’re about to open the program—and last time we sold out in hours—we’re getting lots of questions. Here we’ll answer the most common ones so you can decide if it’s a good choice for you.

• What is the Precision Nutrition Certification?
• What will the Precision Nutrition Certification do for me?
• How was the Precision Nutrition Certification developed?
• What happens after I get certified?
• How do I sign up?

What is the Precision Nutrition Certification?

Q:

What's the program all about?

A:

Developed over 15 years, and proven with over 100,000 clients, the Precision Nutrition Level 1 curriculum stands alone as the authority on the science of nutrition and the art of behavior-change coaching. We’re the only nutrition certification company in the world that coaches its own clients every day, which means everything you’ll learn in the program has been tested and proven in the real world, with real people. Whether you’re already mid-career, or just starting out, the Level 1 Certification is your springboard to a deeper understanding of nutrition, the authority to coach it, and the ability to turn what you know into results. This means you’ll feel qualified to offer nutrition advice and confident in your ability to coach anyone to better health and fitness. But, here’s the thing: You don’t have to currently work in, or operate, a health and fitness practice to benefit from the Precision Nutrition Certification. Many people who join the program see it as their first major step toward becoming a health and fitness professional. (Often they’re still in the job they plan to leave for this new career). Others want to coach people on the side without leaving their job, so they can earn extra income doing something they love. Still others complete our certification program simply to learn more about how nutrition influences a person’s health and fitness… so they can eat better themselves and help others do the same. Whatever stage you’re at in your career, this program will give you everything you need to confidently coach nutrition with anyone. Here’s what our recent grad Darius Pinkney had to say about the program: “Before joining the PN Level 1 Certification I felt lost and confused about what good nutrition is. I didn’t have the confidence in my abilities to successfully coach nutrition, and I believe that held me back from reaching my full potential.  Now, after going through the Certification and receiving my credentials, I feel so much confidence in my abilities and skill set. Having this knowledge now gives me the assurance of being able to coach and guide my clients. The Precision Nutrition Certification helped me combine the science of nutrition and coaching in one course. There’s no other program like it.”

Q:

What’s included in the program?

A:

Since we first launched the Precision Nutrition Certification, we’ve been the definitive source of nutrition education for health and fitness professionals who want to catapult their careers and make a difference in people’s lives. Yet we’re never satisfied with yesterday’s success. Nutrition science is dynamic, new discoveries are made almost daily. And that’s just on the research side. As we continue to coach our own clients (over 100,000 and counting), we’re discovering new methods of helping them achieve real, lasting behavior change. As we train and certify health and fitness professionals (nearly 100,000 and counting), we’re also uncovering the best ways to help our Certification students learn, retain, and apply the material. That’s why we spent last year re-envisioning and redesigning the program from the ground up. Now in its 4th edition, it’s more valuable and practical than ever. Inside you’ll find: 3 unit textbooks, beautifully packaged in a box set—to give you everything you need to know about nutrition, behavior-change psychology, and coaching practice (click here to download the table of contents). Plus, it’s easy to carry from your house, to the car, to the gym, so you can study anywhere! 20 animated instructional video seminars, to help you better understand each chapter (check out a sample video below). Workbook and study guide, with exercises and thought experiments to help prepare you for the end-of-chapter exams. Real-world case studies, drawn from our work with over 100,000 clients, to help you practice and retain the powerful new concepts you’re learning. Active learning tools, to help you use what you’re learning in the real world, right away. Over 40 premium coaching tools, including assessment forms and questionnaires, to help you learn more about your clients and unlock their full potential (click here to download an overview of the questionnaires and assessments). The 4th Edition of the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is beautifully packaged in a box set and packed with the latest research and proven coaching practices. As promised, here’s “What is a great coach?”—which supplements Chapter 3 of the text. (Remember, every chapter has a video like this, to go along with the text.) Want to learn even more? Join the Presale List Today Free access to ProCoach—our online coaching software Since our company’s inception, we’ve coached our clients 100% online. And we’ve helped thousands of coaches around the world do the same. As a PN Level 1 Certification student, you’ll get free lifetime access to ProCoach—our online nutrition coaching software—for use with up to one client, friend, or family member. Now you can try coaching online, put what you’re learning into practice immediately, and develop the confidence to coach nutrition the right way. Tested with over 100,000 clients, ProCoach helps you deliver world-class nutrition coaching. Now you can grow your business while working less & getting better results. Community of like-minded people + top experts As a PN Level 1 student, you’ll get instant access to our private Facebook community. Now you’ll be able to learn alongside an extremely supportive group of health enthusiasts from around the world—including top strength coaches and personal trainers, world-class yoga instructors, doctors from a variety of disciplines, and more. With study tips, live webinars, and other resources, being part of this community will deepen your learning, introduce you to new people, and help you level up your career. You’ll have the chance to connect daily with experienced coaches, fellow students, and even textbook authors. Ask questions, troubleshoot specific coaching scenarios, and get feedback or advice whenever you need it. Want to learn even more? Join the Presale List Today With the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification, you’ll learn a science-proven method for coaching nutrition the right way, from the company that Nike, Equinox, Titleist, and professional athletes worldwide turn to for advice and expertise. Now, more than ever, our certification is guaranteed to give you a one-of-a-kind education experience—plus the knowledge and confidence to coach nutrition with anyone who comes to you for help.

Q:

Why choose Precision Nutrition over other certification options?

A:

Both research and experience show that the best way to help someone transform their health is to start with their nutrition. But understanding nutrition science is only a small part of what it takes to get people the results they deserve. It only matters if you also know how to help someone change their behavior. This is where other nutrition programs miss the mark: They may teach a little science (that you’ll probably never even use), and then they send you on your merry way to figure out the “coaching” part on your own. None of them teach you the science of nutrition and the art of behavior-change coaching. Specifically, that means knowing how to break down your client’s complex goals into a series of proven practices that will lead to lasting changes. And then communicating with your client in an authentic way that builds trust and sets them up to succeed. This is where Precision Nutrition is different: We’ll teach you all the nutrition science you need to feel competent. And we’ll give you the behavior-change coaching skills you need to help people get the results they deserve. Here are a few reasons why we’re the obvious choice… We coach people every day We’re the originators of habit-based nutrition coaching. Since 2005, we’ve helped over 100,000 clients transform their lives through better nutrition. As we mentioned above, we’re the only nutrition certification company in the world that coaches our own clients. Through the years, we’ve built, refined, and perfected our coaching method for helping people change how they eat, look, and feel. Now we’re ready to help you become the kind of coach who can get results like these… #1 recommended nutrition program In a recent third-party industry report, close to 1,000 health and fitness professionals rated nearly a dozen well-known nutrition certification programs on a variety of factors. The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is top-ranked across the board: #1 most recommended nutrition education program 94% of customers rate our program better than anything else out there for learning how to become a better coach and helping clients change their behaviors Highest rated in customer satisfaction, reputation, nutrition content quality, and program effectiveness Bottom line: If you want to learn nutrition science and coaching from the best in the field, you’ve come to the right place. Science-backed and peer-reviewed The Precision Nutrition Method, which drives our Certification and ProCoach programs, was recently validated in 3 peer-reviewed studies. This means that the system you’ll learn in the Level 1 program is truly evidence-based. For years, we’ve known how effective our coaching method is for helping people lose fat, build strength, and make big health improvements. Now the medical and scientific communities know it, too. Our method was recently validated in peer-reviewed studies published in Internet Interventions, the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, and Obesity Science and Practice. After being authored by some of the world’s top health and fitness experts, each new version of our program text is peer-reviewed by dozens of top professionals in a range of disciplines. This means everything you’ll learn has been vetted by top experts and validated by science. We’re the experts other experts come to for advice When elite athletes, professional sports teams, and Fortune 100 companies need game-changing nutrition programs, they come to us. We’ve worked with top sports organizations like: And companies like: And major media outlets like: In the PN Certification, we’ll peel back the curtain and give you the same world-renowned knowledge and tools we share with our elite clients.

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Q:

Which is better—taking the Precision Nutrition Certification or going back to school?

A:

While we won’t pretend to have the perfect advice for every situation, here are some facts to help you decide… If you decided to go back to school for a nutrition degree or to become a registered dietitian, you’d likely spend anywhere from $10,000 – $20,000 USD per year. If you did a four-year degree, you’d be looking at spending upward of $40,000 – $100,000 USD. The only problem? Most university programs don’t teach you the skills needed to help people transform their bodies and health. They’re intended for people looking to become professors, researchers (people who work at universities), or clinical dietitians (people who work at hospitals). If you want to do any of that, you go to college, study for years and get a Ph.D. or an R.D. Both noble professions. Our co-founder John Berardi got a Ph.D. in the field, so we’re not knocking it. Brian St. Pierre, who co-wrote the textbooks for the Precision Nutrition Certification, earned both a master’s degree and R.D. and worked at prestigious hospitals and research institutes. And both Krista Scott-Dixon and Helen Kollias, our other co-authors, earned Ph.D.s at respected universities. But neither of those roads teach you how to actually coach an exercising client through a health and body transformation. That’s a very specific skill set, requiring both an understanding of the science of nutrition and—this is critical—a reliable system for coaching it. So unlike anything else out there, the Precision Nutrition Certification does both of those things. It was designed from the ground up, specifically for those who want to help clients transform their bodies and health through better nutrition. In other words, it’s like getting a graduate-level education in nutrition science and behavior-change coaching, so you can get results for anyone who comes to you for help—at a tiny fraction of the cost of attending a university.

What will the Precision Nutrition Certification do for me?

Q:

Who is this program for?

A:

The Precision Nutrition Certification is for: Anyone working in health and fitness who wants to help their clients get better results than ever People who are passionate about health and fitness, and want to help others—either on the side or as a new career Those who want to learn all they can about nutrition—so they can improve their own health We’ve worked with nearly 100,000 students from every corner of this industry and beyond—from personal trainers and yoga instructors to physicians, therapists, nutritionists, holistic wellness coaches, stay-at-home parents, and people who want to coach nutrition on the side. Carolina Belmares is a full-time personal trainer and nutrition coach who used the PN Certification to level-up her skills… “The Precision Nutrition Certification gave me the confidence of knowing I’m following a proven method that’s brought success to thousands of clients. And it shows! My own success has increased since applying what I learned.”   Kelly Slagh is a kindergarten teacher who loves to coach nutrition on the side… “Upon completing the program, I feel prepared to coach others, and I have a clearer focus of what my next steps are. I can’t wait to see where this new adventure leads me!”   Gonzalo Torres joined the PN Certification to improve his own nutrition. Now he uses his coaching skills to help his friends and family… “Now I have a proven nutrition coaching methodology, and I’ve made a real difference in my family’s health.”   And Ray Chan is a former accountant who decided to switch careers and become a full-time health and fitness coach… “Now that I’m PN Certified, I have the confidence to have crucial conversations about nutrition with my clients. And I can help them get past the inevitable plateaus standing in the way of their goals.” Whether you already work in health and fitness, or you’re starting a new career or side business you’re passionate about, this certification will give you the knowledge, systems, and tools to make a real, lasting change for anyone you work with.

Q:

What will I learn in the program?

A:

We couldn’t find a textbook or a course that did all the things we wanted to do, nor all the things we wanted to teach others. So we created the Precision Nutrition Certification, based on our extensive research and work with over 100,000 clients. It’s packed with the latest findings in nutrition and behavior-change psychology, and includes practical coaching strategies, plus a step-by-step system for getting results with anyone. Let’s get specific… In Unit 1, you’ll learn all about the Precision Nutrition approach to coaching. After working with over 100,000 clients (and counting), we’ve learned what really works for helping people change. Now we’re passing it onto you. We’ll show you how to: Set yourself up for the best learning experience Explore your own coaching style Use scientific evidence in coaching Build a healthy coaching relationship with clients Coach people to “deep health”—where your clients thrive in all areas of their lives (physical, mental, emotional, and so on) Next up is Unit 2, where you’ll dive into the science of nutrition. We’ll cover topics like: The body’s systems, organs, and cells Calories and metabolism Digestion, absorption, and water balance Energy production, fat storage, and muscle gain Macronutrients: protein (amino acids), carbohydrate (fiber, sugar, and starch) and fat (triglycerides and fatty acids) Vitamins, minerals, and zoonutrients (yes, zoonutrients!) And much more It’s like getting a graduate-level education in nutrition science. Yes, you’re going to “nerd out” a bit! But don’t be intimidated. Each chapter is written in a way that’s easy to consume and comprehend. In Unit 3 you’ll learn how to best apply this new information, including how to: Walk clients through the PN Coaching process step-by-step Assess clients, gather data, and identify their goals Create an action plan they’ll actually follow Measure their progress and adjust where necessary Help them achieve lasting changes in their health and lives Work with all types of clients and situations Build a coaching business, in-person or online In all, you’ll get nearly 700 pages of the latest, most effective research in nutrition science and behavior-change psychology—co-authored by some of the industry’s leading authorities in health and fitness. And that’s not even including the workbook & study guide, case-studies, and video seminars you’ll have access to. With this incredible learning resource we’re doing everything in our power to change the game. We’re out to educate and train a new, more effective kind of health and fitness coach… one who’s ready to deliver life-changing results for anyone who comes to them for help.

Q:

Why offer a certification like this?

A:

Because an effective nutrition coaching system is the missing component in the health and fitness industry today. If a health intervention or exercise program isn’t accompanied by an effective nutrition system, you’ll get mediocre results—no matter how badly the client or patient “wants it.” The fact is this: Many very good coaches, in a variety of health and fitness fields, see their efforts go to waste because their excellent programs aren’t accompanied by a proper nutrition intervention. And that’s not merely our opinion. To give you a very specific example: There’s ample research demonstrating that in the absence of nutrition change, even very intense exercise programs with experienced trainers, will yield an average of merely 3 to 6 pounds of fat loss in 6 months’ time. Think about that: A client would spend $3,000-$5,000 for 6 months with a personal trainer, only to lose a few measly, unnoticeable pounds of body fat. That’s not good. To give you a counter example, in our Precision Nutrition Coaching program, clients average around 15 pounds of fat loss in the first 6 months. That’s nearly 3 times as effective. In Precision Nutrition Coaching, we provide both exercise and nutrition coaching, and that’s the difference. But keep in mind: Our coaching is 100 percent online. They get those results without ever meeting us in person. If they work with a coach or trainer while doing Precision Nutrition Coaching (which can help them work harder in the gym and stay accountable locally), they lose closer to 25 pounds of fat in 6 months. That’s over 4 times as effective. (Of course, nutrition coaching isn’t just about fat loss. It’s also about building strength, improving health, feeling energetic, and more. We’re just using fat loss as an example.) So something is missing, and that something is a proven nutrition coaching system. That’s why we developed the certification program: To teach you both the science of nutrition and the art of behavior-change coaching. Because once you really understand both, on a deep level, you can deliver results that are impossible with exercise alone. Equally rooted in the latest nutrition science and behavior-change psychology, the Certification offers a proven and practical coaching system that shows you exactly what to do at every stage of the nutrition coaching process—from the very first time you meet with a client, until they reach all of their goals.

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Q:

What do you mean when you say, “Exercise alone doesn't work”?

A:

We mean exactly that: Exercise alone doesn’t work. If a person doesn’t change their nutrition, nothing else they do will matter much when it comes to body composition change (fat loss, muscle gain) and the associated health improvements. And that’s what 95 percent of people are looking for, isn’t it? Simply put, the past 25 years of published scientific research show that while exercise alone can promote very small changes in body fat, lean mass, and the associated health markers, those changes are almost negligible. In fact, one published review, a meta-analysis of more than 700 previous exercise studies done over 25 years, showed that about 6 months of supervised exercise programming will produce only 9 pounds of weight lost. If we assume 50 percent of that weight lost is fat (which is a safe assumption, based on the research), that means that clients can expect to lose around 4.5 pounds of fat during a 6-month training program. So, let’s assume a client meets with their trainer four times a week at $50 an hour. That’s $200 per week, $800 per month, and $4,800 for 6 months. All for 4.5 pounds of fat lost? That’s a cost of $1,000 per pound of fat lost. After all that time and money spent, would an overweight client even notice 4.5 pounds fat loss? Would their cholesterol be significantly lower? Would they feel like they got their money’s worth? Not likely.

Q:

What results can I expect when I integrate nutrition coaching into my current practice?

A:

Again, let’s look at one comparator, Precision Nutrition Coaching, which incorporates both exercise and nutrition. During the first 6 months of the online-only program, the average fat loss is around 15 pounds. In addition, we see hundreds of reports of clients being taken off blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes medications. If that client uses our exercise and nutrition system while working with a trainer in-person, they’ll see an average of 25 pounds of fat loss over the course of 6 months. And the best performers are losing up to 100 pounds in 12 months. It’s quite amazing. So with the right exercise and the right nutrition programming, supervised by an in-person coach, the cost per pound of fat loss can go down from $1000 per pound to $100 per pound. That’s nearly 5 times the fat loss and 10 times the cost-effectiveness. If you’re a health and fitness professional, imagine how in-demand you’d be if you could regularly deliver results like that. It’s absolutely possible. In fact, it’s what we should expect. But no one is teaching this stuff. Nothing out there covers the specific problem: How to deliver nutrition coaching in an exercise, personal training, health, rehab, or sport coaching environment. And that’s why we created this certification. We wanted to create a new kind of program: one that helps you become a body (and health) transformation expert, and one that helps clients get the kind of results they deserve. The Precision Nutrition Certification is a massive step in that direction.

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Q:

Would nutritionists and dietitians benefit from this program as well?

A:

Absolutely. In fact, we wish every dietitian would find their way to this program and get involved. Although RDs have excellent training in all aspects of clinical nutrition, most dietetics programs don’t even offer a sport and exercise nutrition course. If they do, the course is usually too general to be of any use in the field. Trust us. We know because we’ve taught in dietetics departments. Just because someone has earned an RD or LD credential doesn’t mean they’re done learning. The best dietitians, physicians, trainers, and coaches make lifelong education an important priority. The Precision Nutrition Certification program would be an asset for every dietitian.

Q:

Can I earn CEUs from my training or dietetics organization with this program?

A:

Most likely. The curriculum is pre-qualified for CEUs with the following organizations: ACE: 2.0 CECs ACSM: 20 credits/hours AFAA: 15 CEUs CDR: 16 sessions CPTN: 14 CECs CrossFit®: 20 CEUs ISSA: 20 CEUs NASM: 1.9 CEUs NBHWC: 15 CECs PTA Global: 24 CECs REPs UK: 16 credits USA Cycling: 15 CEUs This means that, if you are certified by any of the groups listed above, CEUs are guaranteed upon successful completion of the course. We should also note that a host of additional organizations accept our course on a one-off basis. For these, graduates from our program submit a summary of the course and their certificate for review.

How was the Precision Nutrition Certification developed?

Q:

What qualifies you to teach a course / offer a certification like this?

A:

First and foremost, we’re practitioners, not just theorists. In fact, we’re the only nutrition certification company in the world that coaches our own clients, in addition to educating health and fitness professionals. We’re in the trenches every day, coaching thousands of people around the world, from all walks of life. We’re constantly improving our coaching process based on our own learnings from the field, along with the latest research in nutrition science, exercise physiology, and behavior-change psychology. Our team includes some of the best nutritionists, PhDs, dietitians, and specialists in the industry. For example, Dr. John Berardi, Precision Nutrition’s co-founder and co-author of the Level 1 program, has had vast exposure to almost every aspect of health, fitness, and nutrition. He’s been: A student of nutrition, completing his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology and Nutrient Biochemistry at the University of Western Ontario. A teacher of nutrition at multiple universities, including the University of Texas, Eastern Michigan University, and the University of Western Ontario. A competitive physique athlete, winning Mr. Jr. USA in 1995. A personal trainer, running a successful training business in Miami. A researcher who has published studies in peer-reviewed academic journals. An author of over half a dozen nutrition books and hundreds of articles in magazines like Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and many more. A consultant to companies like Nike, Equinox and Titleist. A nutrition coach to thousands of everyday people and quite a few pro athletes and Olympic gold medalists. So apart from being qualified academically, he has a pretty unique perspective—one that’s very well-suited to teaching this material, especially to professionals. Dr. Berardi has seen the field of nutrition from more angles, both personally and professionally, than almost anyone else teaching nutrition today. In addition, he’s written chapters for other nutrition textbooks, he’s created Masters-level university courses on sport nutrition, and he’s created nutrition certification material for other certifying bodies. So he has extensive experience creating academic course material. But most of all, we think our team is qualified to teach this because we’ve used and tested this very system extensively with our own clients here at Precision Nutrition. Remember: Precision Nutrition isn’t just a certification company. Over the past 15 years, through our Precision Nutrition Coaching system, we’ve been quietly conducting the largest body transformation research project in the world. We’ve had over 100,000 clients go through our nutrition coaching curriculum, doing what is essentially a total exercise, nutrition and lifestyle intervention. The purpose of this coaching is simple: to help people lose fat, gain lean mass, and completely transform their bodies (and lives). Now, here’s the thing: Since the entire program is online, we’re able to collect data on everything. And we mean everything. Because we don’t see clients in person, we can’t “eyeball” things. We need data. So we have detailed psychometric (personality) profiles on our clients. We track compliance and every measurable and relevant behavior. And, of course, we regularly collect photos and monitor body composition and performance outcomes. As a result of this rigorous data collection, we’re guessing we here at Precision Nutrition know, better than almost anyone else in the world, which variables are most important to body transformation success. Now, remember, we’re not talking about what we think is correlated to success. We’re talking about what we absolutely know is correlated with success. Success here means compliance, consistency, and ultimately, fat loss, muscle gain, and life-changing health improvements. It takes a long time to gather this kind of information, especially since no one in the health or fitness industry has ever done anything like it before. But now that it’s been gathered, analyzed, and tested, we believe it’s time to share it. From there, the Precision Nutrition Certification was born.

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Q:

Will there be multiple levels of certification?

A:

Yes, two. This is the first, the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification, and includes the textbooks, the online material, and the online exam. Essentially, Level 1 certifies that you have a solid understanding of nutrition science and behavior-change coaching. Once you pass the exam, you get a Level 1 certificate acknowledging your completion of that part of the certification program. Some people will stop there. And that’s cool with us. With the Level 1 certificate, they’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to help people improve their bodies and health through better nutrition. The Precision Nutrition Level 2 Master Class is only open to students and graduates of the Level 1 program. The Level 2 student is required to do an online mentorship, perform regular research reviews, and produce client case studies showing that they can actually deliver results. Level 2 certifies that you can take the theory and apply it with your clients all the way through a successful health and body transformation. So, unlike other nutrition certification programs, the Precision Nutrition Certification has both a self-paced component where you learn the material (Level 1) and a mentorship component where you practice under the watchful eye of a world-class coach (Level 2). Those who complete both levels will be among the best in the world at getting results.

Q:

How long does it take to complete the Level 1 program?

A:

The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is entirely self-paced, so there’s no deadline. You can take as much or as little time as you like. The pace that seems to work best for most of our students is completing one chapter per week. That means reading the chapter, reviewing the online video, answering the workbook questions, and writing the 10-question exam. If you follow that structure, you can expect to spend 3-5 hours per week on the certification materials. Since there are 20 total chapters, you’d earn your Precision Nutrition Certification in a little over four and a half months. But here’s the best part: You don’t need to wait to get certified in order to feel confident and qualified to coach nutrition. Since you’ll be learning and practicing from Day One, you’ll be in a perfect position to start helping your clients immediately.

Q:

How do I stay committed and on track if the program is self-paced?

A:

That part is easy. In addition to the printed materials you’ll receive (i.e. textbooks, workbook, client assessment forms), you’ll also get access to our online course platform. The platform hosts our educational videos, case studies, online quizzes (one per chapter), and innovative learning tools to help you practice and retain the material. It also encourages (and tracks) your progress. We built the online platform ourselves based on the best practices of distance-based education. Most students find it the perfect blend of flexibility and accountability. And the proof is in our graduation rate, which is well above the industry standard. You’ll also get access to a private online study group where you can ask questions and get support from your peers and the Level 1 authors. They’ll help you overcome any roadblocks and keep making progress through the program.

Q:	How about Level 2?
A:	The Level 2 program is an in-depth online mentorship that takes 12 months to complete. And, as discussed above, it’s only available to Precision Nutrition Level 1 students and graduates.

Q:	Do I need to have a science degree to become certified?
A:	No. We assume no prior knowledge of biology, chemistry, etc., and so we don’t require a university degree. Now, if you were terrible in science, you can expect some parts of this certification to be semi-challenging. But if you’re willing to read and understand new concepts, you can definitely learn the material.

Q:

Is this program accredited by a national education board?

A:

While our certification program isn’t “accredited” by the national education boards, you can still be sure that it is the most respected (and most recommended) nutrition certification in the world. If you want letters and a rubber stamp, there are organizations for that. At Precision Nutrition, we’re all about passing on important and life-changing knowledge. We’ll leave all the bureaucratic hoops to other organizations. However, we should mention that we are recognized as a continuing education provider by the top fitness and nutrition organizations in the world (see below). In addition, as mentioned above, our course material is approved for teaching at the master’s level.

What happens after I get certified?

Q:

Once I'm Precision Nutrition Certified, will I be listed on your site?

A:

Yes. And given our exposure online, that’s a big advantage for Precision Nutrition Certified professionals. As we grow our online coaching programs, that advantage will grow with it. For example: Our coaching clients are often interested in finding a local coach, one who actually knows what the heck they’re doing, to help them out with their new exercise movements, etc. In the past, we had no one to send them to. We can’t just send them blindly into the local fitness club with their Precision Nutrition exercise and nutrition program in hand. It would be a disaster. So with the Precision Nutrition Certification we’re creating an army of health and fitness coaches who actually get it. Coaches who our readers, clients, and customers can trust. What’s more, by being Precision Nutrition Certified, coaches will be part of a network of local professionals that we trust and that we can refer our own clients to. Once you’re certified, you’ll have a professional profile in our new online directory of Precision Nutrition Certified Professionals, so you’ll be easy to find when people are looking for local help.

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Q:

Are there any requirements to maintain my certification?

A:

As a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified professional, you’re required to re-write an exam every two years from your date of course completion to keep your certification current. Taking an exam every two years will ensure your knowledge is up-to-date, and you’re still practicing at the top of your field. If you take the recertification exam before your Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification expires, you’ll maintain your status as “certified” in the PN Directory of Certified Professionals. And we’ll send you a new certificate.

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Q:

What about those people specifically looking for national accreditation?

A:

People come to Precision Nutrition to get certified because they want the best possible exercise and sport nutrition training—from one of the world’s most recognizable exercise and sport nutrition companies. For those of you looking for some other end, like national accreditation (which often means that the program has been reviewed by your government; and we all know how awesome they are at offering nutrition information), give us a shout at info@precisionnutrition.com. There are other programs for that and we’ll be happy to point you to those types of certification programs.

Q:

What advice will someone be able to offer clients or after completing the course?

A:

That’s a great question and one we cover in-depth in the course. Most health and fitness professionals are allowed to make nutrition recommendations to otherwise healthy clients. So even without the Precision Nutrition Certification, most folks can make nutrition recommendations. What we’re offering is a much better system for making those recommendations. The only scope of practice that’s restricted is Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), which means giving nutrition advice to treat or cure disease. You won’t be qualified to do this, and you should never try, unless you’re specifically MNT-accredited.

Q:

What are other people saying about the program?

A:

The feedback on the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification has been overwhelmingly positive. In the past 7 years we’ve enrolled nearly 100,000 students in the course. And student satisfaction ratings exceed 99 percent, meaning nearly 100 percent of our students rate the course as “excellent.” And, in case you missed the video above, here are some thoughts from a few of the top coaches in the industry:

Precision Nutrition co-founder Dr. John Berardi gives you a sneak peek at the Level 1 Certification.
(Plus, industry leaders share their thoughts on the program).

 

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How do I sign up?

Q:

When does the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification program begin?

A:

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Nightclubs & Pick Up Bars We might as well begin with a list of the best singles bars and nightclubs to pick up Burlington girls: Club Metronome at 188 Main St JP’s Pub at 139 Main St Nectar’s at 188 Main St Light Club Lamp Shop at 12 N Winooski Av Side Bar at 204 Main St Drink at 135 St Paul St #8411 Red Square at 136 Church St The Archives at 191 College St Higher Ground at 1214 Williston Rd Mad River Distillers at 137 St Paul St Retro Live at 14 Margaret St Suite c, Plattsburgh Bar Antidote at 35 Green St, Vergennes The main area for singles nightlife is Church Street right in the center of town. If you are thinking about taking a trip here we highly suggest you get a hotel as close to Church Street as you can, particularly if hooking up with Burlington girls is the main goal of your trip. You can find more bars spread around the Lake Champlain area, but the best singles nightlife is right downtown. Remember that this is a college town so if class is not in session you may not find much going on. Though with that said during the summer tourists should start visiting Lake Champlain so it can sort of even out. Either way, if you aren’t really liking the scene there are plenty of beautiful women in Toronto only a short drive away. Meet Burlington Girls During The Day That downtown Church Street area should also give you some option during the day. The shops, bars, and cafes in the area will be drawing in single Burlington women before the sun goes down as well. Other good spots to potentially meet some girls would be other malls and shopping districts like: Champlain Centre Dorset Square Mall Shopping Center University Mall Shelburne Road Shopping Plaza Plattsburgh Consumer Square If you are young enough to pull it off strolling around campus may not be a bad idea either. Chat With Girls Online The world has changed a lot in our lifetimes, like how much better it is to order a ride from an app instead of standing on the side of the road waiting for an open cab to drive by. That is a big time improvement, yet online dating sites offer that same convenience even though some have a strangely negative opinion about them. Take a minute to think about the last time you went out to party in a bar or club. Were most of the girls near you there to drink and have a good time? Or were they there to get a new backdrop for an Instagram photo shoot? How is a guy ever supposed to get laid if most girls don’t care about anything other than how they looked in their latest selfie? But we can’t blame tech for everything and it has broadened our horizons thanks to online dating sites. If you want to meet girls in Burlington online and are just looking to hook up then check out Adult Friend Finder. You will be surprised at just how popular this site is all across the Northeast. You could put on some nice clothes, wait in a long line, and then spend way too much money on drinks to be around a bunch of women who may or may not even notice you exist. Or you could just log on to Adult Friend Finder and start messaging girls who actually want to get laid right now. By the way, if you are a tourist this site won’t only work well to meet girls in the Lake Champlain area, it probably will work even better in your hometown. Burlington Dating Guide The best ways to meet single girls near you are now out of the way and our Burlington dating guide needs to help prepare you for your date night. You are only going to hook up if she has a great time being with you. Any of these romantic restaurants and cocktail bars should make for a good tone setter: Hen of the Wood at 55 Cherry St Bistro de Margot at 126 College St Trattoria Delia at 152 St Paul St Spot on the Dock at 1 King St Splash at the Boathouse at 2 College St Honey Road at 156 Church St The Gryphon at 131 Main St Leunig’s Bistro at 115 Church St Anthony’s at 538 State Route 3, Plattsburgh Waterworks at 20 Winooski Falls Way 201, Winooski The sunset over Lake Champlain is the perfect back drop for a date night before partying in the Church Street nightlife or taking her to see a live performance at one of these venues: Flynn Center at 153 Main St Vermont Comedy Club at 101 Main St Strand Center Theatre at 25 Brinkerhoff St, Plattsburgh Day Date Ideas Getting out to enjoy a sunny day is always advisable if you can and there are few better places to do just that then Lake Champlain. Here are some good great areas to enjoy nice weather outdoors together: Battery Park Waterfront Park North Beach Park Red Rocks Park Point Au Roche State Park You could rent a boat or go kayaking on the lake, or in the winter ski on the Green Mountains. Along with those thee Burlington Bike Path would be perfect if you are with a sporty girl. Or you could just take a Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour and sample some more delicious treats at the Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory Store. For some cool museums and landmarks try out: Shelburne Museum Echo, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Fleming Museum of Art Ethan Allen Homestead Boston seems like a good spot to go for a weekend getaway when you find the right lady to take. Enjoy Dating Burlington Girls That is all that we have for you right now but we try to update our pages as often as possible so check back. If you have any special tips or want to correct any out of date information here please go ahead and do so in the comments. Also don’t forget about the single women near you on Adult Friend Finder who are always ready to hook up with new guys. That wraps up our best places to meet girls in Burlington with our dating guide, enjoy your time at Lake Champlain. The post Best Places To Meet Girls In Burlington & Dating Guide appeared first on WorldDatingGuides. https://worlddatingguides.com/burlington/ Sep 10 '20 0 comments Best Places To Meet Girls In Cortina d’Ampezzo & Dating Guide If you are looking for the best places to meet girls in Cortina d’Ampezzo with a dating guide then you can find the info you need here. It won’t take very long for us to cover picking up single women and where to take her out on a date night in full detail. Trying to hook up in the nightlife is how we will start before pivoting to meeting single Cortina d’Ampezzo girls during the day or how you can use online dating sites to speed things up. Date night spots and a variety of stuff to do at any time will also be discussed. You may be interested in reading more of our dating guides for Italy. Nightclubs & Pick Up Bars Some of you may only be here for a list of singles bars and nightclubs to pick up Cortina d’Ampezzo girls so here it is: Discoteca Belvedere at Località Pocol 38 VIP Club in Europa Hotel at Corso Italia 207 La Suite at Piazza Angelo Dibona 6 Bar Sport at Corso Italia 132 Hacker Pschorr Haus at Via Stazione 7 Molo Pub at Località Maion 4 Lounge Bar in Cristallo Hotel at Via Rinaldo Menardi 42 Panino Top Bar at Via Cesare Battisti 11 Bar Dolomiti at Via Roma 50 Janbo at Via Stazione 5 Like most ski towns this one is pretty small and easy to figure out. The main area for singles nightlife is right in the heart of the city along Corso Italia. Anyone who is reading this before planning a trip would be wise to get a room in that area, particularly if hooking up with Cortina girls is a big part of your plans. The last thing you want to do is try and get women to leave an area they feel comfortable in to go to a hotel far away from where they feel comfortable. Not only will being in the center of town improve your chances of getting laid but it will also pay dividends in your day to day life while here. Of course towns like this really revolve around tourists so the party could be great one weekend and almost non-existent the next, you really never know. Normally we would tell you about some other nearby cities to go to if there isn’t much going on here, but there really aren’t any. The closest big city with great nightlife is Munich but it is hours away. Meet Cortina Girls During The Day Once again Corso Italia in the heart of town will be the best spot for day game. Hopefully there will be many single Cortina women walking around going to the shops, cafes, and restaurants in the area. You may also want to look for big groups of girls who are about to hit the slopes or go on some kind of tour and try to tag along. Plus hotel après ski bars and lobbies can often be gathering spots pretty early. Chat With Girls Online Alright guys, we aren’t going to tell you that there are any great online dating options here since this is a town built on tourism. During peak season you can probably have some success with meeting Cortina d’Ampezzo girls online but you are going to need to move fast because you can’t expect them to stick around town for long. Instead what we want to do is tell you about a great way to bring this party mountain life back to your home town when your vacation ends. How can you do that? By using Adult Friend Finder, the biggest hook up site in the world. When a girl signs up for it you know she is ready to get laid right as soon as she can. You can go ahead and try using it here, but you will also be shocked at how many girls in European and American cities use this site when they want to get laid soon. You can have some success using Adult Friend Finder to hook up with Cortina d’Ampezzo girls,but  also look into it while you are sitting in your home town wishing you were back on your trip. Like we said, you probably are going to be surprised at the options you will find. Cortina d’Ampezzo Dating Guide We just fully covered the best ways to meet single girls near you so now this Cortina d’Ampezzo dating guide needs to cover the next part of your plans. Getting one to go out with you is definitely a positive, but now you have to show her a good time on your date night if you want to have any chance of hooking up. Any of these romantic restaurants and cocktail bars could do the trick: Ristorante Ospitale at Localita Ospitale 1 Beppe Sello at Via Ronco 68 Col Druscie 1778 at Via Dello Stadio 12 Pezie de Paru at Strada Provinciale 638 Tivoli at Località Lacedel 34 Il Vizietto di Cortina at Corso Italia 53 Lago Ghedina at Via Lago Ghedina 2 Ra Stua at Via Paolo Grohmann 2 El Camineto at Località Rumerlo 1 The Bar in Hotel de la Poste at Piazza Roma 14 After your meal go party at an après ski bar from the nightlife list or just get a nice bottle of wine plus a warm blanket and sit by the fire in your room. Day Date Ideas We probably don’t even need to mention it but most people come here for the skiing or hiking. Even if you don’t ski you can ride the Faloria Cable Car to get some amazing views of the stunning surroundings. The adventure park can be a lot of fun, and these are some of the best outdoor sights to see: Three Peaks Nature Park Regional Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites Parco Nevesole Cascate di Fanes Lago di Limides Lago di Sorapiss Giau Plass Hike They even have some cool museums and historic sites here like: Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Museum Museum Of The Great War Forte Tre Sassi Museo Paleontologico Rinaldo Zardini Enjoy Dating Cortina d’Ampezzo Girls OK guys, we feel like we have covered this town as well as possible. If you have any special tips or want to correct any out of date information here please tell us in the comments. Also don’t forget about the single women near you on Adult Friend Finder who are always ready to hook up be it here or in your hometown when the trip ends. That wraps up our best places to meet girls in Cortina d’Ampezzo with our dating guide, enjoy your time here. The post Best Places To Meet Girls In Cortina d’Ampezzo & Dating Guide appeared first on WorldDatingGuides. https://worlddatingguides.com/cortina/ Sep 9 '20 0 comments 3 Times I Realized Being a Pickup Artist Was Really Weird Confession: I used to be a professional pickup artist. Yes, I read women’s palms and rehearsed ridiculous lines that other men claimed were the secret to getting laid. I even used a “cool” pseudonym, Niko. But, that was a lifetime ago. I’ve spent the past twelve years teaching men to honestly know themselves and communicate with integrity. I’ve written healthy, effective dating advice that treats women with respect. Yet still, month after month, men ask me about my journey as a certified PUA. They’re fascinated by what I’ve learned, the stories I can tell, and what it was really like working as a coach for various companies. In truth, the pickup community did teach me about the critical roles that leadership, non-verbal communication, and flirting have in creating attraction. It helped me find other men who wanted to go out and challenge their comfort zones, too. But most importantly, it made me believe. It made me believe that I had the capacity to proactively improve myself to become more appealing and social. It planted the seed that I could learn the art of human connection and talk to whoever I wanted, whenever I wanted. For this, I will be forever grateful. Despite that, when someone asks me, “What was it like being a pickup artist?” my gut response is… Weird. Really fucking weird. Because during my time as a PUA, I experienced many surreal moments that made me question what I was doing. So much so that I eventually got disgusted with it all and left to start my own practice. So today, instead of sharing some wild and crazy success stories, I’d like to share the times when I saw major red flags in the industry. I want to show you why I don’t teach pickup today. The leader of the wolf pack As an impressionable young man, I joined the Boston pickup scene. It was a private club where 200 men would share advice on a forum, meet for local seminars, and go out to talk to women together. Only months after joining, I became a lead coach. I was so proud of myself. One day, we were out walking around the city. I joked and laughed with the guys to help them loosen up. We talked to new people and kept it all lighthearted and fun. This natural ebb and flow of energy was my favorite way to socialize. Suddenly, one of the other coaches pulled me aside. With an incredulous look, he said, “What do you think you’re doing?!” “What?” I was totally caught off guard. I thought I was doing a great job. “Stop treating them like they’re your friends.” “Who? The other guys?” “Yes!” He pointed at my chest and said, “You are their pack leader. You must lead them around like dogs. You’ve got to show them who the true Alpha is.” I unsuccessfully stifled a laugh. Before I could even reply, he had whipped himself into another frenzy: “I can tell just by the way you’re looking at me you’re seeking my approval.” “Dude, I have no idea what you’re talking about…” And I just walked away, shaking my head, and rejoined the group. This interaction was just another example of pickup’s bizarre obsession with competitiveness and having to be “Alpha” all the time. I saw guys fiercely debate about who had the best conversation routines and compare their sexual conquests. All they ever talked about were the intricate mechanics of convincing women to sleep with them on a regular basis. And here I was, a guy who just wanted to have a good time while being more social. I loved hanging out with friends and talking about books, technology, games, and whatever else came to mind. I was completely out of place with the men who were always serious, silent, and plotting their next perfect pickup line. I was done with treating social interactions like a chess game. The eye of the predator…I mean tiger I attended a weekend pickup conference in New York City. A lot of the famous coaches were there. And the coach giving the final presentation said he had something big in store for us: a “top secret” video. He was only going to show it to a few stops on his tour and then destroy it forever. We all had to turn off our phones and put them away. All this suspense had hundreds of men on the edge of their seats. We were dying to find out what was in this video and how we could become legendary PUAs, too. Cue the video projector. “Eye of the Tiger” starts playing, getting louder and louder. Fade in with photos of the coach as a pale, nerdy teenager. He looked like a young Marilyn Manson. It cuts to a picture of a beautiful woman. Then hidden camera footage of him talking to her in a bar and using a cheesy story to break the ice. I’m thinking to myself, “Okay, it’s a montage video of him talking to beautiful women to inspire all of us. That makes sense.” Abruptly, the bar scene cuts to a hidden camera in a bedroom where he’s aggressively having sex with that same woman. I’m like, “Holy shit, alright that was pretty intense. I don’t think she knew there was a camera.” Then there was a new picture of a gorgeous woman. Followed by bar footage with him telling the SAME EXACT STORY. Then boom: him having rough sex with her, clearly filmed without her consent. And it went on. And on. And on. Same stupid story. Same hidden camera. I remember feeling sick to my stomach. I looked around and saw the few female coaches and staff members with expressions of absolute horror. Some of them just got up and left. At the end of the video, the lights came on and the coach stood at the front with a huge grin. He shouted, “Now who wants to work with me?” and at least half of the men in the room ran to sign up for his services. I recall sitting there thinking, “What the hell just happened?” Men were applauding a guy who manipulated and humiliated women. I was in a conference room full of lonely, aroused men who would pay anything to be just like him. Yeah, I originally got into pickup because I wanted to feel desired and get laid. But not like this. I grew up watching my mother get abused by terrible men. I had a little sister I practically raised. I couldn’t imagine a sick fuck doing the same thing to either of them. It was then that I fully realized, “This is super messed up.” Any man of sound mind could tell — this was disturbing behavior. I knew I didn’t want to be like these men and I didn’t want to teach anyone to be like this, either. The men who can only count to 10 One of the guys in our pickup community began dating a woman he was excited about. He wanted some of us to meet her so he brought her to hang out with us at the bar. Big mistake. The way the other guys started talking about her behind her back was like something out of a National Geographic documentary – except by really mean anthropologists. Things like… “Pssh, she’s not that hot.” “I’d say she’s a 7, at most.” “She could still lose a few pounds.” And so on. May I remind you: these guys themselves had NEVER dated anyone nearly as attractive as this girl!!! Yet they lacked so much self-awareness that it was no big deal to completely objectify and critique her one minute into meeting her. Did they care whether or not their friend was happy? Did they try to get to know the woman on a personal level? Did they wonder if she was interesting, funny, or smart. Of course not. They reduced her value to how aroused they were by her biological symmetry on a scale of 1 to 10. In pickup, a perfect “10” of a woman is the ideal. Followers are obsessed with sleeping with as many 10’s as possible. But it never stops. There was a coach who’d been with over a hundred beautiful women and when he came out and said it didn’t make him happy, he was mocked. And the antithesis of convincing oodles of women to sleep with you is actually getting into a relationship with one of them. How dare anyone want to do that! Even Neil Strauss, whose book The Game started it all, was shunned when he wrote about falling in love with his (model) girlfriend. Many in the community vowed to burn his books and never look back. During the time I spent in the industry, I made this pivotal observation: not one person could sustain a real relationship. Instead, they all treated women like disposable numbers and were so performative, they kept everyone at arm’s length. They never let anyone get close to them or have a chance at a real connection. Their avoidant behaviors left them lonely, jaded, and bitter. The way men objectified women and counted them like Pokemon cards never resonated with me. I didn’t want to be one of those old dudes ranting about his heyday banging “broads” and acting pervy to young women. Goodbye to strange times These stories illustrate only a few of the many red flags I saw within the pickup community. They don’t include… How some men obsessively consumed gigabytes of pickup books, courses, and videos while rarely implementing the advice in the real world. The thousands of “lay reports” where men detailed their sexual conquests online for other men to live vicariously through them. The multiple guys I knew who moved to countries in Asia or Eastern Europe solely because they believed they would get laid easier with impoverished foreign women. The lingo the community invented and how we all spoke in code like we were badasses. The coaches who’ve been literally banned from various countries for harassing and assaulting women. No really, they can’t enter the country. Looking back on it, I wish I had recognized this world of weirdness sooner. But when you want something so bad for yourself, it’s easy to justify behaviors and detach from reality. Like everything, though, you have to experience things for yourself before discovering the cold, hard truth. These interactions forever changed my perception of the industry and I’m glad they did. So the next time you’re thinking of asking me, “What was it like being a pickup artist?” Know my answer will be, “I went down the rabbit hole and trust me, you don’t want to go there. It’s weird man, really…fucking…weird.” — Want to attract more women and build real confidence without resorting to shady tactics? Talk to me for a free, confidential strategy session. https://www.nicknotas.com/blog/pickup-artist-really-weird/ Sep 9 '20 0 comments Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 ... » »» Archives All March 2023 January 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 August 2022 June 2022 June 2022 June 2022 June 2022 June 2022 June 2022 June 2022 July 2021 May 2021 May 2021 January 2021 January 2021 January 2021 December 2020 December 2020 December 2020 December 2020 November 2020 November 2020 October 2020 October 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 July 2020 July 2020 April 2020 August 2018 January 2018 November 2017 September 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 October 2016 May 2016 March 2016 March 2016 January 2016 November 2015 November 2015 November 2015 November 2015 October 2015 June 2015 Sponsors Advertisement Sponsors Terms of use | Contact Us | Sport Scores | Privacy Policy | ADVERTISE | RSS | XLive © Copyright SoChaseMe.com Google this Only VIP Members can watch this photo. 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