Would you hire an obese trainer???

BigWin20

You have to know their back story. What if they were 600 lbs a year ago and now they are 300 and have completely devoted themselves to health and fitness? What if they have a masters in exercise physiology and a CSCS instead of just a gimme PT cert? If they are just fat because they lack the motivation to practice what they preach it's a whole different scenario. During my 9 year career as a personal trainer I saw trainers that were anerexic looking and some that were fairly overweight. As hard as it was/is, maybe more info is needed. Personally I always felt like I was a walking billboard for myself, and right or wrong, people want to hire the best looking trainer, not search out the one that knows the most.

NocturnalGirl

No I wouldn't. There's no excuse for being obese, yeah sure there are health problems that may cause weight gain but obese means severely overweight.

rcc1988

Sure, why not? Some of the physically strongest women I've ever met have been quite overweight. It doesn't stop them from getting through a workout.

GermanicKnight

No, I would not.

I also do not trust a skinny chef.

mashanda

I would because it doesnt mean they dont have the knowledge. I know myself I have encouraged and helped many of my friends start their weight loss journey because I have lost weight in the past and have plenty of knowledge on weight loss and exercise. I know some"skinny" trainers that I use to hang out from the gym...BAD...eating habits. the only reason the didnt gain weight is because they work out anywhere from 3-4hours a day teaching classes and training clients. I dont think size really matters.

kimnsc

I would. I'm not hiring him/her for their looks, I would be hiring them for their knowledge. Saying that I would ask around, check their references and ask to see their certification.

I had an extremely fit personal trainer who was was a complete moron and his "training" left me with a severe knee injury. Looks don't help if they are incompetent.

phinphanbill26

Don't judge the book by its cover. A person's appearance has nothing to do with how much knowledge is locked inside the block on their shoulders.

Jezebel_Barbie

If I needed someone to be a living embodiment of what I wanted to achieve in order to feel motivated by them then no, because their physical appearance is paramount to that.

If I needed someone who could motivate and encourage me with their words and self belief then yes, because their personality is the overriding factor.

People will fall 50/50 into either camp. Completely depends on what YOU want out of your relationship with them.

Personally I don't need the visual to motivate me, so I would.

tuneses

Would you go to bald barber?

HauteP1nk

To know and to do are two totally different things.

The obese trainer may definitely know what it takes to be fit, but then maybe they just don't do it for themselves.
However, why would I want someone to train me and motivate me who can't even train or motivate themselves?

Then on the other hand there could be circumstances like health issues that might cause someone to become obese....

Neecy_Pooh

No. Never.

GorillaNJ

The other morning at my gym I thought about this, there was a guy, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt, who was more fat then I am. And he appeared to be giving a woman a personal training session. My first reaction was, who would hire that guy as a trainer...

But thinking about it more, if you have a good relationship with the person, and they are able to motivate and instruct you... why not. Just because a person is in amazing shape does not mean they are personable or a good trainer. I know a couple of the trainers in my gym I would rather eat hair then carry on a conversation for more then 30 seconds with them.

mcrowe1016

I wouldn't let a homeless man handle my investments....Sure he might have a perfectly reasonable explination for being homeless, but I am not taking the chance with my savings.

Same thing for the trainer. I am not taking chances with my body (let alone the money to hire a trainer).

Edited to add: I wouldn't say never....I would just say probably not.

complicatedmoves

Just curious.

Maybe if they just had a baby.

uberlaut

As an obese trainer myself, I know that some people DO hire obese trainers. And have good (PERSONALIZED) results with me, at least.

To be fair, I am 5'5", work out HARD 5-6 days a week, have lost over 100lbs and maintained that loss, and am carrying somewhere between 140-150lbs of lean mass, so that puts my bodyfat at about 25-27%. So yes, I'm "obese" by the obsolete BMI chart, but I'm fit and healthy by actual proven methods of testing.

uberlaut

Also, I actually went to a physical school for personal training for 6 months. The hottest girl in class...NEVER worked out and seldom did her homework.


She just came by that body naturally. She gets clients, but she can't get results...so she doesn't KEEP clients.

wellbert

Would you go to bald barber?

I think a better question is: Would you go to a barber with a wreck of a haircut?

GorillaNJ

Would you go to bald barber?

I think a better question is: Would you go to a barber with a wreck of a haircut?

I did once... he is the third chair in my barber shop, and I was in a rush and just said how bad can he do. When I showed up for my regular barber the next morning at 7am I knew just how bad it could be! Lol

bm99

Also, I actually went to a physical school for personal training for 6 months. The hottest girl in class...NEVER worked out and seldom did her homework.


She just came by that body naturally. She gets clients, but she can't get results...so she doesn't KEEP clients.

And that has something to do with the way she looks?

Everyone is saying "well if the obese trainer is a good trainer and has the knowlege base..." Well NO **** you want a good trainer! That has absolutely nothing to do with a person being fat or thin. A thin trainer is not less knowlegable simply because they're thin, they suck for some other reason. And there is nothing about being a fat trainer that makes you more likely to be a better trainer.

When someone puts themselves in a teaching position, many people expect them to be above and beyond in whatever subject they're teaching. You want your kid to have an illiterate English teacher? You want to go to a church where the pastor also runs a cat house?

jaxbeck

Never. As far as the argument that they may still have the knowledge, If he/she did not have the discipline or drive to put it in motion, how would that person be able to motivate me as a trainer

secretlobster

I would not hire an obese trainer. Nope. If you don't teach by example, then I'm not going to pay you to teach me... And I agree about motivation.

I saw my old trainer last night (she moved away last year) and she looks fantastic. It was really motivating for me to be trained by someone who takes great care of her own body.

An obese trainer is a hypocrite.

callmeBAM

Would you take financial advice from someone that's broke?
Would you go to a toothless dentist?

It kills me when I go to a doctors office and all the ladies working in the front area are fat and/or smoke.

jonski1968

I was obese...I still am theoretically...But even at my heaviest...I knew alot about diets and training...So my answers is yes...As long as they knew what they were talking about..

Not everyone has the discipline to practice what they preach...

callmeBAM

Would you go to bald barber?

Yes. That's a bad example.

WhittRak

Sure why not. They may not practice what they preach, what do I care?

Captain_Tightpants

I wouldn't.

The knowledge is one thing but there's a whole other (much more important imo) piece to the puzzle, which is having a deep understanding of the psychological games that really mean success or failure in weight loss.

In that light, perhaps a trainer who has been lean all their life is equally useless. My preferred trainer would be someone who fought a battle with weight, won, and kept it off for at least five years.

714rah714

Only if they were training me to eat.

JustJennie1

No. I also wouldn't take an aerobics class from an instructor who is out of shape. It doesn't matter how knowledgeable the person may be I want someone who I can look up to and aspire to be. If I have a personal trainer or aerobics instructor who is jacked and has the physique that I aspire to it will make me work harder, ask more questions and get advice from them on how to go about getting the body I want. I would be less inclined to ask an out of shape or obese trainer these questions because they're obviously doing something wrong. I don't care if they're on a journey to be healthier. They should have done that before they became a PT or instructor.

Go ahead and flame me if you want but as someone on here said you wouldn't take financial advice from a broke person would you? So why should I take fitness advice from an obese person?

TinkrBelz

Would you take financial advice from someone that's broke?
Would you go to a toothless dentist?

It kills me when I go to a doctors office and all the ladies working in the front area are fat and/or smoke.

This!! I teach Zumba and I feel that if I want women to show up to my class, that I have to be fit and healthy. I am showing my clients that what I am doing is working, and that I practice what I preach. " Do as I say and not as I do"....that is never a good thing!

almc170

It would depend on their knowledge and experience