Freedom Fitness Center

Freedom Fitness Center owner Mike Fournier began lifting weights 37 years ago at age 17 while training at Ft. Benning’s Infantry School.
Throughout the years, Mike has trained in body building, power lifting and strong man. At age 54, he continues to train and has plans to compete in March 2018 in Syracuse in a sanctioned power lifting event.
Mike has studied throughout life and has obtained an A.S.S. degree in Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Studies, (Mater Dei College) Bachelors’ in Exercise Science and Health, (S.U.N.Y.) a Master’s degree in Childhood Education (S.U.N.Y.) and has completed one year of Post Graduate studies with an emphasis on working with Students with Disabilities. (S.U.N.Y. and Indiana Wesleyan University) His ultimate goal is to complete his Doctorate degree. He also has a background in Criminal Justice.
Upon completion of his Master’s degree, he obtained New York State teaching certifications in the areas of Elementary (grades 1-6), Students with Disabilities (grades 1-6) and Physical Education.
Following graduation, Mike worked in the Malone and Saranac Lake school districts until accepting an offer of employment in the Substance Abuse field with the New York State Department of Corrections in 2009.
Mike is a Professional member in the American College on Sports Medicine, (A.C.S.M.) which is considered to be the Gold Standard for all types of Trainer certifications. He’s also a member of the National Scholars Honor Society and is a member of the American Legion. (national)
* note…The National Strength and Conditioning Association (N.S.C.A.) is the only other organization to be considered “Gold Standard” in the Health and Fitness industry. Membership in these organizations are nearly universal requirements for employment on any top college, professional or Olympic sport team.

What to look out for when hiring a so called certified trainer.
Regarding certifications in the fitness world, they’re “a dime a dozen”. Anybody can pay five or six hundred dollars for a few on-line reading materials and take an on-line test to obtain one. There are over 300 organizations on the internet willing to give out these so-called certifications as long as you’re willing to write the check.
When a “trainer” tells you they studied Kinesiology, Physiology, Motor Behavior, Psychology of Sport etc. the first thing you should ask the “trainers so called” is what type of degree they have.
Many so called personal trainers will tell you they “studied” those areas but never actually attended a college classroom for even one class. It’s just part of the reading from their five hundred dollar “study package” bought on-line. I promise you, my books for one semester for any one of the subjects I just mentioned cost more than what these so-called on-line certifications cost from start to finish”.
Being certified in the fitness world is not the same as being qualified.
Consider the fact that many people who seek a personal trainer are in or recovering from poor health or injury or have been in poor physical condition for years. Do you want to hire a health professional (so called), without so much as a two or four-year degree pushing you to your physical limits?
Being skinny or a strong weight lifter is not part of a professional resume or a requirement for certification and you shouldn’t be duped by appearance and fancy marketing.
Does your professional trainer have personal liability insurance? Why not? They’re supposed to be professional!
With all the over regulation from Government today in every aspect of our lives, Personal trainer certifications are still part of the wild wild west. Anybody can buy one on-line and anybody can think of a fancy organization name, take your money and print out fancy paperwork on a computer. You as a consumer must ask what Health related degree the trainer holds.
A Health Professional with no degree is not a Health professional. That alone should send warning lights and sirens to the consumer.