NASM CNC Practice Test

Answer choices

1. A. Resume immediately at the previous maximum target.
2. B. Start an entirely new nutrition program to create novelty.
3. C. Restart with a smaller version of the established habit that fits the client's current capacity, then rebuild.
4. D. Wait until life returns completely to normal.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Resume immediately at the previous maximum target.: Incorrect. Current capacity may differ after a major disruption.
• B. Start an entirely new nutrition program to create novelty.: Incorrect. The prior habit already demonstrated value; the issue is re-entry after disruption.
• D. Wait until life returns completely to normal.: Incorrect. A minimum viable action can often be resumed before all stressors disappear.

Answer choices

1. A. Record the client's report objectively, including product, timing, observed/reported reaction, actions taken, and referral advice, without writing a medical diagnosis such as 'supplement allergy confirmed.'
2. B. Omit the reaction to avoid creating medical information in a coaching record.
3. C. Document 'confirmed allergy' because the temporal relationship is strong.
4. D. Record only that the client 'didn't tolerate it' so the note stays simple.

Answer choices

1. A. Recommend a costly supplement stack to compensate.
2. B. Build the plan around affordable foods available to the client—such as beans, eggs, frozen produce, canned fish, or other acceptable staples—rather than requiring premium labels.
3. C. Tell the client budget should not influence food decisions.
4. D. Agree that organic foods are required for nutrient density.

Answer choices

1. A. Calculate the targets from the client's body weight because NASM permits macronutrient calculations.
2. B. Explain that disease-specific nutrient targets are medical nutrition therapy and refer the client to an RDN or other qualified clinician, while offering to support general habits that are consistent with the clinician's plan.
3. C. Ask the client to choose their own protein target, then coach adherence to preserve autonomy.
4. D. Use the targets from a reputable kidney-disease website and monitor symptoms weekly.

Answer choices

1. A. Protein cannot be used for tissue building when carbohydrate is present.
2. B. Carbohydrate and fat are included only to improve taste.
3. C. Muscle gain requires enough total energy and training fuel as well as protein; carbohydrate supports demanding sessions and recovery, while fats contribute energy and essential physiological functions.
4. D. A protein-only diet would be equally complete if calories matched.

Answer choices

1. A. Translate 'cleaner' into the coach's preferred list of allowed foods.
2. B. Have the client promise to make better choices whenever possible.
3. C. Set a goal of losing two pounds this week.
4. D. Ask the client to define one observable behavior they want to perform, how often, and under what circumstances.

Answer choices

1. A. Assume all calories must come from protein.
2. B. Use the Nutrition Facts panel rather than the front claim alone, because calories can come from nutrients other than sugar.
3. C. Assume the calories are a labeling error because sugar-free means calorie-free.
4. D. Ignore calories because front-of-package claims supersede the Nutrition Facts panel.

Answer choices

1. A. Yes, because creatine directly increases aerobic capacity in all users.
2. B. No, because creatine has no performance effects at all.
3. C. Yes; any supplement that increases muscle energy improves all exercise modes equally.
4. D. No. Creatine's evidence is strongest for strength, power, and repeated short bursts of intense effort; it appears to have little value for endurance activities such as distance running.

Answer choices

1. A. Reject it automatically because industry-funded research is never valid.
2. B. Use only the abstract because methods are irrelevant once the design is randomized.
3. C. Do not dismiss the study solely because of funding, but treat funding as a potential source of bias and evaluate methods, outcomes, reporting, replication, and the broader evidence base.
4. D. Accept it automatically because randomization eliminates all bias.

Answer choices

1. A. Calcium activates vitamin D exclusively in skeletal muscle.
2. B. Vitamin D promotes intestinal calcium absorption and helps maintain calcium and phosphate availability for normal bone mineralization.
3. C. They are paired only because both appear on the Nutrition Facts label.
4. D. Vitamin D is converted into calcium after absorption.