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pizzicato66 · 06-26-2009, 04:28 PM

I found this thread when googling "personal training for the obese" and I have to tell you, I think it's a hugely lacking area! I myself am not a trainer, but rather I'm a bariatric patient who has lost 80 lbs since my surgery in Fall 2007, and I've worked with trainers on and off since long before my surgery (in the end, it was what helped me get on track and stay on track). One of my biggest frustrations is finding how little trainers know about life as a "large person" and how to modify workouts to make it doable and not too intimidating.

My niece and I are actually thinking of starting a business for training and support of the morbidly obese, including modifications for nutrition to match gastric bypass and lap-band dietary needs. I also have some ideas on how to help trainers.

1. it's HARD WORK moving around with extra bulk and weight. I'm thinking about designing a "fat suit" that's weighted so you get a better idea of how it feels to sit, stand, kneel, fit into equipment, step up/down, balance..... it's all VERY different (in fact, I'm still relearning balance right now). Try strapping on an extra 100 lbs (or more) and go through a boot camp. I managed it... can you?
2. subscribe to some of the support sites for weight loss surgery patients. You'll find it is NOT a cop-out (and NO, I will NOT remove my lap-band because you think it is a cop-out), and in fact, it offers challenges traditional approaches don't have (but it's totally worth it in the end).
3. don't go over the top with the "you can do it!" enthusiasm. Just be supportive and know that it really does hurt in ways you won't realize unless you've been there. Don't be surprised if big emotions crop up while the person is working out (anger, frustration, even tears). If you keep your cool and are supportive, they'll come back. If you don't, they're much more likely to quit (or at least find a different trainer).
4. that extra bulk gets in the way of folding up. For example, just "sitting on your feet" when kneeling can put stress on the knees - try doing it with a foam roller wedged in behind your knees and you'll get the idea.
5. put a few wide chairs and benches around so bigger people have a place to rest when they need it.
6. if you're measuring or testing a client, find a quiet spot out of main sight, and YES, please get a larger tape measure. Be as calm and nonchalant as possible, because the person you're measuring/testing is showing HUGE trust in you (we don't let just anyone know what we weigh or measure).

I'm sure I can find other examples, but this gives a good idea. I'm actually considering coming up with a business model to do seminars on working with bariatric patients or at least obese patients, to give the trainers a better idea of what it's like to be the client. Is this something you'd find useful and would pay for?

06-26-2009, 04:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
pizzicato66 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	I found this thread when googling "personal training for the obese" and I have to tell you, I think it's a hugely lacking area! I myself am not a trainer, but rather I'm a bariatric patient who has lost 80 lbs since my surgery in Fall 2007, and I've worked with trainers on and off since long before my surgery (in the end, it was what helped me get on track and stay on track). One of my biggest frustrations is finding how little trainers know about life as a "large person" and how to modify workouts to make it doable and not too intimidating. My niece and I are actually thinking of starting a business for training and support of the morbidly obese, including modifications for nutrition to match gastric bypass and lap-band dietary needs. I also have some ideas on how to help trainers. 1. it's HARD WORK moving around with extra bulk and weight. I'm thinking about designing a "fat suit" that's weighted so you get a better idea of how it feels to sit, stand, kneel, fit into equipment, step up/down, balance..... it's all VERY different (in fact, I'm still relearning balance right now). Try strapping on an extra 100 lbs (or more) and go through a boot camp. I managed it... can you? 2. subscribe to some of the support sites for weight loss surgery patients. You'll find it is NOT a cop-out (and NO, I will NOT remove my lap-band because you think it is a cop-out), and in fact, it offers challenges traditional approaches don't have (but it's totally worth it in the end). 3. don't go over the top with the "you can do it!" enthusiasm. Just be supportive and know that it really does hurt in ways you won't realize unless you've been there. Don't be surprised if big emotions crop up while the person is working out (anger, frustration, even tears). If you keep your cool and are supportive, they'll come back. If you don't, they're much more likely to quit (or at least find a different trainer). 4. that extra bulk gets in the way of folding up. For example, just "sitting on your feet" when kneeling can put stress on the knees - try doing it with a foam roller wedged in behind your knees and you'll get the idea. 5. put a few wide chairs and benches around so bigger people have a place to rest when they need it. 6. if you're measuring or testing a client, find a quiet spot out of main sight, and YES, please get a larger tape measure. Be as calm and nonchalant as possible, because the person you're measuring/testing is showing HUGE trust in you (we don't let just anyone know what we weigh or measure). I'm sure I can find other examples, but this gives a good idea. I'm actually considering coming up with a business model to do seminars on working with bariatric patients or at least obese patients, to give the trainers a better idea of what it's like to be the client. Is this something you'd find useful and would pay for?