Frequently Asked Questions

Maria is a registered dietitian, master personal trainer and Medical Exercise Specialist. It is unique to have one person to have all three credentials. Because of this unique trio of credentials she can offer her clients life changing, comprehensive, permanent solutions that go far beyond the typical “personal training” experience.

As a medical nutrition professional, Maria is qualified to provide detailed, scientifically based nutrition counseling and/or weight loss programs which is beyond the scope of a trainer’s job.

As a master personal trainer she has the knowledge and years and years of experience working one on one with hundreds of individuals, each one adding to her exeperience that you will benefit from.

​And as a medical exercise specialist she is able to guide those suffering from injuries and chronic disease towards a healthier life by designing programs that not only help alleviate the symptoms of chronic health conditions, but prevent them from occurring altogether.

This broad experience and education enables her to offer clients exponentially greater benefits and results.

Nutrition Services Insurance Benefits

Your nutrition appointment costs may be covered in full with no cost to you. Here are all the ways you can save.

Preventative Care Now Will Reduce Your Medical Costs Later

Even if your weight loss expenses are not covered by insurance or tax deductible or eligible for FSA or HAS deductions, study after study shows that preventive care greatly reduces future health care costs, as well as increasing patients' health.

Health Insurance Coverage 

​To see if you have any insurance benefits for nutrition counseling, please call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask them the questions below. Nutrition coverage differs with each plan.

Maria Faires, Registered Dietitian  NPI: 1790133791

·        What are my out-of-network nutrition benefits?

·        Do I have a deductible to meet before insurance pays for nutrition?

·        Do I have any nutrition counseling benefits covered under the preventative care portion of my plan?

·        Are benefits per year or lifetime?

·        Do I have benefits for nutritional counseling CPT codes 97802 and 97803?

·        Do I have benefits for nutritional counseling, diagnosis codes Z71.3?

·        Is a doctor’s referral required?

·        Is there a limit on the number of visits I am allowed?

·        Are there any restricted diagnoses?

·        Do I have a co-pay or co-insurance?

Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Accounts

Even if your insurance company does not cover my nutrition services, you may also use your FSA or HSA for my nutrition services.

Tax Deduction

For some people, participation in my weight loss programs can be tax deductible. If your physician has recommended you lose weight to treat a specific weight-related disease (such as obesity, hypertension, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.), you may be eligible to include certain portions of my program fees as a medical expense. I strongly suggest you get documentation from your physician stating their health recommendations.

For more information, please speak with your tax consultant. Internal Revenue Service Publication 502 (2010)  

Yes, I do. As long as both participants have close to the same needs. Contact me and we can discuss your situation and determine if partner training is right for you.

Maria specializes in an integrated approach to finess, combining exercise, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle into a total wellness strategy specifically for each client. If you are looking for something more out of your committment and investment to your health, look to Maria to help you.

Maria's studio is a "private" facility where an appointment is required for you to workout. Maria guides you through every workout to assure you get results every time. And she even makes it fun along the way!

Inside the studio you’ll find no crowds, no unwelcome stares, and nothing to make you feel self-conscious. The facility is new, spotless and completely stocked with state-of-the-art equipment. There is a restroom for you to change if you would like. There are no memberships or contracts either. You just buy the number of sessions you wish to use.

Visit my policy page at http://www.myactivenutrition.com/Office-policies.php

24-Hour Cancellation Policy

Please remember that I have reserved appointment times especially for you. Therefore, I request at least a 24 hour notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment. This will enable me to offer your cancelled time to other clients who are on the wait list. All cancellations without 24 hours’ notice and “no shows” will be charged at full and deducted from your prepaid package. 

Appointment Confirmation

Please note that I do not confirm appointments.

Due to the significant number of appointment requests I receive, I must have a credit card number or pre-payment on file in order to hold your appointment.

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment time, please let me know at least 24-hours in advance in order to avoid a missed appointment charge to your credit card.

If your appointment is not cancelled within 24 hours, your credit card will be charged 100% of the service.

No, you don’t need to be in good shape to begin working toward your goals. The consultation and assessment is designed to assess your individual fitness level, detect postural imbalances and starting strength to create the most effective training program possible.

See my resources page to see specific items.

Yes. However, because your program will be specifically tailored to your goals and needs, the strength training will not cause you to bulk up but to lose body fat, tone up and improve metabolism.

Absolutely, my work with each client is tailored to their body's needs and personal goals. I have worked with all abilities and ages, from 10-92.

Yes. I have special advanced training to assist people who have had an injury to workout safely. I can even work with your physician and/or physical therapist to come up with a plan that will be most beneficial for you.

Yes. Maria is speicially trained and will be able to tailor you an effective, safe and beneficial training program. Safe and effective exercise during pregnancy will help with lower back pain, the birthing process and expedite the post-partum weight loss.

Her ultimate goal for her clients is to have an optimally healthy and well functioning body. Because we live in a world of computers, the majority of people she sees have what she calls "computer body": forward head, rounded shoulders, a weak core and turned off glutes. Her system is focused on bringing the body back to its anatomically correct position. Through the synergy of a dynamic full-body warm up, corrective exercise and a comprehensive strength and conditioning program the body gets properly re-aligned. 

Depending on your specific goals and your schedule, you will meet with your trainer for about one hour each session anywhere between two to three times a week to exercise.

There are many reasons why people hire a personal trainer. Trainers are excellent for providing motivation, teaching safe workout techniques, giving individualized instruction, suggesting new effective workouts, to boost confidence, to provide sport-specific training, assist with injury rehabilitation, and to teach new skills. You may want a trainer to motivate and push you to the point where you begin to see lasting results and to give you ongoing encouragement and support so you keep it up!

A medical release is a note from a physician stating any necessary exercise restrictions or suggestions or that states that the client has been cleared to exercise with no restrictions. Clients with a known medical condition (i.e., cardiovascular, metabolic, pulmonary, orthopedic, etc.) may be required to obtain medical clearance from a healthcare provider before they can work with a trainer. Clients with symptoms suggestive of a clinical condition, or with multiple risk factors, may also be required to get clearance.

It doesn’t matter where you start it’s where you finish that counts. As long as you have the drive and determination to do the necessary work, then Maria can show you how to get there.

Maria works with each client based on the current fitness level of the individual. The advice given is individually tailored to help the client make steady progress towards achieving a higher level of fitness and well-being. Her goal is to offer you valuable and empowering fitness advice, boost your confidence with exercise, teach you how to safely and effectively choose and use equipment, and to strategize with you on how to build a better fitness routine for you.

We do not have play areas and do not offer child care.

No. That is not Maria's style. She’ll challenge you, push you, and encourage you to try new activities that will test your strength, endurance, and courage. But she won’t yell or intimidate. Her ultimate goal is to help you learn to enjoy exercise and make this part of your life.

Using her unique blend of professional skills as a personal trainer with an extensive background in motivational counseling, Maria has successfully worked with many types of resistances to starting or keeping with an exercise program.

She can help you turn excuses and procrastination into action and motivation, so you can enjoy the increased vitality and dynamic energy exercising brings you, and look forward to exercise as one of the very best parts of your day.

Yes. To insure your safety and success in getting the results you want Maria will meet with you for a comprehensive assessment of your health, physical capabilities, and familiarity with the exercises prescribed.

Periodic follow-up is also recommended to monitor your progress, assess your health, review your fitness goals, and observe your exercise technique. She will use this information to design new and exciting exercise programs to keep you motivated, interested and fresh, and to accelerate your progress in accomplishing your fitness goals.

Balanced nutrition is a critical component in creating exceptional physical and emotional health. With two Bachelor's degrees in Nutrition, Maria is uniquely qualified to teach you exactly how to establish healthy eating habits that will support your fitness goals.

Most people who strictly follow a diet, regardless of which one, will lose weight, but once off the diet gain all, if not more of it, back. This often causes depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and feelings of failure.

The fact is, "diets" simply don't work because they are based on deprivation and control, focus on food, counting calories, and the number on the scale. Diets do not address your emotional relationship with food: when and why you choose to eat.

Maria will help you to transform your emotional relationship to food through a non-diet approach to permanent weight loss. You will learn ways to manage difficult thoughts and feelings without turning to food, how to eat to be healthy instead of eating simply to lose weight, and how to incorporate and maintain healthy lifestyle changes, so that you improve your self-esteem, enjoy the success of accomplishing your fitness goals, and not only make peace with food, but truly enjoy it.

Most people are shocked to learn that anyone can call themselves a personal trainer without any credentials at all. Most so-called personal trainers at big gyms are not certified by an accredited organization. Even if a trainer holds a legitimate certification, they may still have little or no practical experience.

Your trainer should have a college degree, at least one certification from a National Commission for Certifying Agencies and a minimum of five years of experience in actually training clients.The following agencies are NCCA accredited:
 

• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• The Cooper Institute (CI)
• International Fitness Professionals Assn. (IFPA)
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT)
• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC)
• National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)
• National Exercise & Sports Trainers Assn. (NESTA)
• National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)
• National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)
• National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• Training and Wellness Certification Commission (TW-CC)

Yes we do. These are an excellent gift any time of the year, for any occassion.