Overweight gym staff
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What about doctors and nurses then? Do they have to be in shape to give you advice?
If their advice is correct it shouldn't matter what they look like, just because they don't follow the advice themselves doesn't mean the advice is of any better or poorer quality.
The only change is that you perceive them to be stupid because they are fatter than your acceptable standard.
atypicalsmith - you would change gym? Why on Earth? Just choose a different trainer or ignore it. Jeez, some people.
When obese doctors or nurses comment on your BMI and you think "you realise that the BMI scale is a population measure not an individual assessment tool" then eyebrows tend to get raised, yes
I know a lot more about specific medical conditions than many primary care physicians because do independent research...clearly not more than specialists but I have had to correct hospital generalists before, or double check their prescriptions ...I've been proved right on a number of occasions
I would assume that a dietician would know more about nutrition than a nurse or doctor
As for gym trainers....if you can't do it then how can you advise others too ...
Of course you advise someone else how to do something, even if it's not possible for you at that moment in time.
I've been heavily into scuba, snowboarding, motorbikes etc over the years.. is being fat stopping me from being able to teach someone? No, of course not.
Wasn't there the first wheelchair football coach recently? Not saying he's the best or worst coach, but you can't say he cannot coach because he can't use his own legs.
Most boxing coaches are generally older ex-boxers.. doesn't stop them teaching does it?
Not sure why this is such a difficult concept to grasp really.
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If I've done my research and what they tell me coincides, I don't need their advice; if it doesn't, I don't want it or I'm back to square one.By doing your own research of course. As I stated in my first reply to the OP.
"I think you have to research your own goals nowadays."
If something is very important to me I research it myself, and take advice, and then I will come to my own conclusion.
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... it would be good for people to remember why they go (or at least are supposed to go) to the gym for.... to shut the xxxx up and train!
Ho and by the way - sorry to bust your bubble but with bodypump you won't get that big.... if at all - newbie gains at the most.
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I can't speak for other gyms but the one I use has profile boards of the trainers / physios along with their qualifications and specialities.
I would be wary of taking advice from some random punter wandering up to me in a generic company T-shirt and telling me what to do though.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »
If I've done my research and what they tell me coincides, I don't need their advice; if it doesn't, I don't want it or I'm back to square one.By doing your own research of course. As I stated in my first reply to the OP.
"I think you have to research your own goals nowadays."
If something is very important to me I research it myself, and take advice, and then I will come to my own conclusion.
Don't take their advice then, jeez. The point is, people are saying that if you are out of shape/overweight then your advice isn't valid. That's just plain wrong.
People just have a poor attitude towards overweight people and it stinks. Just go to the gym and do your work out, some people will offer poor advice whether they are thin or fat, they are just generally ignorant or wrong, but maybe, just maybe fat people are intelligent too?0 -
Overweight Gym staff with "Health Maker" on their Shirts, trying to advise me how to get fit & healthy - wouldn't fill me with too much confidence.
That's like going to a Dermatologist who's face is covered in Spots!0 -
Aren't some boxing coaches waifs who look as though they couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag? They inspire and teach big guys and girls with big muscles...0
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ExRelaySprinter wrote: »Overweight Gym staff with "Health Maker" on their Shirts, trying to advise me how to get fit & healthy - wouldn't fill me with too much confidence.
That's like going to a Dermatologist who's face is covered in Spots!
What a terrible metaphor just because someone has spots would not mean they are a bad dermatologist. They could have a condition that is difficult to treat by anyone no matter how good. Maybe they became a dermatologist due to their issues. In the same way someone may work at a gym because of their personal issues. I've seen over weight and unfit looking Olympic coaches that have trained people to Gold medals. How someone looks is not an indication of their knowledge.0 -
What about doctors and nurses then? Do they have to be in shape to give you advice?
If their advice is correct it shouldn't matter what they look like, just because they don't follow the advice themselves doesn't mean the advice is of any better or poorer quality.
The only change is that you perceive them to be stupid because they are fatter than your acceptable standard.
atypicalsmith - you would change gym? Why on Earth? Just choose a different trainer or ignore it. Jeez, some people.
When obese doctors or nurses comment on your BMI and you think "you realise that the BMI scale is a population measure not an individual assessment tool" then eyebrows tend to get raised, yes
I know a lot more about specific medical conditions than many primary care physicians because do independent research...clearly not more than specialists but I have had to correct hospital generalists before, or double check their prescriptions ...I've been proved right on a number of occasions
I would assume that a dietician would know more about nutrition than a nurse or doctor
As for gym trainers....if you can't do it then how can you advise others too ...
Of course you advise someone else how to do something, even if it's not possible for you at that moment in time.
I've been heavily into scuba, snowboarding, motorbikes etc over the years.. is being fat stopping me from being able to teach someone? No, of course not.
Wasn't there the first wheelchair football coach recently? Not saying he's the best or worst coach, but you can't say he cannot coach because he can't use his own legs.
Most boxing coaches are generally older ex-boxers.. doesn't stop them teaching does it?
Not sure why this is such a difficult concept to grasp really.
Specific skills / sports experience are very different from general fitness coaches in gyms IMHO
I choose my PT because of his knowledge base, training and experience, he is fit because he puts his own advice into practice...if he was unable to implement his own advice I would wonder how valid his knowledge base is and whether he actually is qualified to instruct others. That said, I continue to go to him when he is injured because of his knowledge base and ability to teach..
.but we are talking first impressions here...if someone swanned around with health coach on their t-shirt and a clearly obese body underneath it then I would think "he can't walk the walk" and that would be my right. There is so much crap advice in the fitness industry that a physical representation of "I don't take my own advice" would be enough to make me vote with my wallet
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The point is, people are saying that if you are out of shape/overweight then your advice isn't valid. That's just plain wrong.
While I agree with you there is a certain reality here. We, as human beings have limited time within which to make decisions usually based on imperfect information. It would be great if we judged everyone on the basis of sufficient evidence to come to a conclusion but I don't feel that is likely to happen.
So, we statistically discriminate as a mental shortcut. In the absence of a detailed exploration of what the person's qualifications are a fit appearance suggests more strongly that they are able to give better advice ("walking the walk") than someone who doesn't look as good.
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It was already mentioned that eating in a deficit isn't as hard as hitting a major league curve ball. I don't know why it's such a difficult concept to grasp that there's a difference between sport-specific, specialized knowledge and eating at or below maintenance.What about doctors and nurses then? Do they have to be in shape to give you advice?
If their advice is correct it shouldn't matter what they look like, just because they don't follow the advice themselves doesn't mean the advice is of any better or poorer quality.
The only change is that you perceive them to be stupid because they are fatter than your acceptable standard.
atypicalsmith - you would change gym? Why on Earth? Just choose a different trainer or ignore it. Jeez, some people.
When obese doctors or nurses comment on your BMI and you think "you realise that the BMI scale is a population measure not an individual assessment tool" then eyebrows tend to get raised, yes
I know a lot more about specific medical conditions than many primary care physicians because do independent research...clearly not more than specialists but I have had to correct hospital generalists before, or double check their prescriptions ...I've been proved right on a number of occasions
I would assume that a dietician would know more about nutrition than a nurse or doctor
As for gym trainers....if you can't do it then how can you advise others too ...
Of course you advise someone else how to do something, even if it's not possible for you at that moment in time.
I've been heavily into scuba, snowboarding, motorbikes etc over the years.. is being fat stopping me from being able to teach someone? No, of course not.
Wasn't there the first wheelchair football coach recently? Not saying he's the best or worst coach, but you can't say he cannot coach because he can't use his own legs.
Most boxing coaches are generally older ex-boxers.. doesn't stop them teaching does it?
Not sure why this is such a difficult concept to grasp really.
Specific skills / sports experience are very different from general fitness coaches in gyms IMHO
I choose my PT because of his knowledge base, training and experience, he is fit because he puts his own advice into practice...if he was unable to implement his own advice I would wonder how valid his knowledge base is and whether he actually is qualified to instruct others. That said, I continue to go to him when he is injured because of his knowledge base and ability to teach..
.but we are talking first impressions here...if someone swanned around with health coach on their t-shirt and a clearly obese body underneath it then I would think "he can't walk the walk" and that would be my right. There is so much crap advice in the fitness industry that a physical representation of "I don't take my own advice" would be enough to make me vote with my wallet
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@rabbitjb - of course you are entitled to your opinion and your judgements. Everyone is, but sometimes *just sometimes* it is better not to go by first judgements and stop and think a little bit.... Maybe I'm wrong in my assumptions?
Everyone stereotypes and judges - it's how we react to it that matters (or that's how I see it)0 -
Well my reaction is to not employ someone who doesn't appear to value health and fitness as a health and fitness coach
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isulo_kura wrote: »ExRelaySprinter wrote: »Overweight Gym staff with "Health Maker" on their Shirts, trying to advise me how to get fit & healthy - wouldn't fill me with too much confidence.
That's like going to a Dermatologist who's face is covered in Spots!
What a terrible metaphor just because someone has spots would not mean they are a bad dermatologist. They could have a condition that is difficult to treat by anyone no matter how good. Maybe they became a dermatologist due to their issues. In the same way someone may work at a gym because of their personal issues. I've seen over weight and unfit looking Olympic coaches that have trained people to Gold medals. How someone looks is not an indication of their knowledge.
I stand by my "terrible metaphor".
As i said, i wouldn't be filled with confidence on both examples i gave.
When it comes to the Health & Fitness industry, most people go on first impressions AND a lot of it comes down to what someone looks like.
If the people working in these industries are not seen to be taking the advice they're dishing out,..... it just doesn't look good!0 -
A little pudge over muscles? Fine. Obese or doughy? Not interested in their advice.
Diet and exercise aren't astrophysics. If you can't put it into practice, I don't want your help.0 -
I totally agree with first impressions and in some ways I think you cannot really help your first impression.
But the OP came here to have a rant and didn't even take a few moments to consider other options that have been discussed here. I just think it's rude and catty, and there's plenty enough of that to go around without adding to it.
I believe if I was faced with a super toned gym instructor, next to an overweight and out of shape out then I too would cast a judgement (in my head) of their ability to lead and motivate me, but I would ever say it on a forum to try to fat shame or ridicule overweight gym staff like the OP has. It certainly wouldn't irritate me either, I'd just chose the best person for the job, as rabbitjb has pointed out, their qualifications should matter more than their physical appearance.
I had a PT session with a guy who was very tall and technically overweight. I didn't have a choice as it was just a taster session, so he was the person I got. Once I got talking to him he said he used to be in the army but he had a brain tumor and had just come back to personal training, he showed me the scar over his head. Now, I know that's a one-off example, but it's an example of how you can mistreat someone just because they look out of shape.
Anyhow, just a bugbear of mine when people judge fat people. I'm fat, and I got treated a hell of a lot better when I was slimmer.
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In that case a large proportion of successful elite coaches of many sports would be in your opinion no good.ExRelaySprinter wrote: »isulo_kura wrote: »ExRelaySprinter wrote: »Overweight Gym staff with "Health Maker" on their Shirts, trying to advise me how to get fit & healthy - wouldn't fill me with too much confidence.
That's like going to a Dermatologist who's face is covered in Spots!
What a terrible metaphor just because someone has spots would not mean they are a bad dermatologist. They could have a condition that is difficult to treat by anyone no matter how good. Maybe they became a dermatologist due to their issues. In the same way someone may work at a gym because of their personal issues. I've seen over weight and unfit looking Olympic coaches that have trained people to Gold medals. How someone looks is not an indication of their knowledge.
I stand by my "terrible metaphor".
As i said, i wouldn't be filled with confidence on both examples i gave.
When it comes to the Health & Fitness industry, most people go on first impressions AND a lot of it comes down to what someone looks like.
If the people working in these industries are not seen to be taking the advice they're dishing out,..... it just doesn't look good!
Your choice and your opinion but judging people on appearance instead of experience and results is just blinkered and could mean losing out on valuable experience and knowledge. Bad advice is bad advice no matter if someone ultrafit or fat and overweight gives it and that's the same with good advice
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isulo_kura wrote: »
In that case a large proportion of successful elite coaches of many sports would be in your opinion no good.ExRelaySprinter wrote: »isulo_kura wrote: »ExRelaySprinter wrote: »Overweight Gym staff with "Health Maker" on their Shirts, trying to advise me how to get fit & healthy - wouldn't fill me with too much confidence.
That's like going to a Dermatologist who's face is covered in Spots!
What a terrible metaphor just because someone has spots would not mean they are a bad dermatologist. They could have a condition that is difficult to treat by anyone no matter how good. Maybe they became a dermatologist due to their issues. In the same way someone may work at a gym because of their personal issues. I've seen over weight and unfit looking Olympic coaches that have trained people to Gold medals. How someone looks is not an indication of their knowledge.
I stand by my "terrible metaphor".
As i said, i wouldn't be filled with confidence on both examples i gave.
When it comes to the Health & Fitness industry, most people go on first impressions AND a lot of it comes down to what someone looks like.
If the people working in these industries are not seen to be taking the advice they're dishing out,..... it just doesn't look good!
Your choice and your opinion but judging people on appearance instead of experience and results is just blinkered and could mean losing out on valuable experience and knowledge. Bad advice is bad advice no matter if someone ultrafit or fat and overweight gives it and that's the same with good advice
Well said.0 -
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Oh man I'm glad my job does not involve judgmental people or separates people into sheep and goats based on their looks. To me good advice is good advice, regardless of the person's weight, gender, race, height.. etc.
I remember when I was a teen I won a free swimming course in a school contest. I had a choice of one trainer out of three. Two of them appeared actively fit, and the third was a morbidly obese middle aged woman. For some reason her list was the longest. When I asked around, it turned out she trained more national medal winners than anyone in the country. Skill is the most important aspect in certain careers... go figure.0
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