Nutrition certification

So last weekend I did a 3 day course on nutrition and wellness. It was a course delivered by CAN-FIT-PRO and held at Ryerson University.

I had been planning to take this course since last year. I originally was looking for a general course to learn more about nutrition. I wasn't looking to be an 'expert' in nutrition or to get certified. But as it turned out, the CAN-FIT-PRO course was one that was available and reasonably priced.

I couldn't find the time last year to take the course given working and doing theatre. So this year, faced without a full time job or as much theatre involvement, I thought this was a good time to take some education. You'll see from past postings that I took a coaching course at George Brown as well.

So I looked back into this nutrition course earlier this year. I tried to get into the March session, but it was full and ended up in the July session.

I'm still not sure I want to get my certification. I mean I don't envision a career change into being a nutritionist or anything, but I do like to know that I have the self-confidence (and maybe a certificate) to talk amongst friends with a little authority.

The course was well attended. It had the requisite number of gym fitness trainers and few general interest participants.

The course tends to be more aimed at helping the gym folks pass the exam. It's not really about learning nutrition and wellness so much. We do go over the basics and from discussions I do pick up a few things.

But generally, I seemed to have most of this all covered. No big revelations on the nutrition side. Read Nutrition Action and Men's Health and you too will know most everything about nutrition.

I'm glad to know that I have a good grasp on this and that when I talk to others about this stuff, I'm not just making it up.

I just wish that with this knowledge came the ability to eat better and trim my waistline. I've eaten well for years, but still I haven't found a way to lower the amount of fat in body. And yes, I do go the gym and exercise. I think keeping cheat meals down to a minimum and having smaller portions may be the way to go.

But back to the course. Over the 3 days, I kept trying to determine if I should go for the certification. To get it, I would need to write an exam and update my CPR. Both cost a little more money. Now the course I'm in has prepared me to write the exam; I only need to book the exam and write it. There is a test and practical case exam too.

So I'm now trying to figure out if I really want and/or need to get the certification. It would serve to complete this little endeavour. I could tell friends to shut it when they start believing the fad diet stories. And I would feel a certain level of accomplishment. Ah, the accomplishment.

So I will likely go ahead and book the exam. Just another thing to put on my resume.