Chubby Trainers & Nutrionists

GorillaEsq

I understand where you're coming from when you say that physical appearance is particularly important in some lines of work, such as the health/fitness industry. However, I'm more concerned with a person's KNOWLEDGE of said industry more than whether or not they choose to apply it to their own lives. Just because a health/fitness professional appears not to be physically fit, that doesn't mean they don't know HOW to get fit. I may be a little leary because of their appearance, but, more often than not, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. I will admit, though, sometimes it does take a conscious effort not to jump to conclusions based on somebody's appearance.

Agreed. That falls under the "don't judge a book by its cover" doctrine. Though, if it's a fitness book, and the cover has love-handles, saddle-bags and the diabetus... there may be a better book on Amazon. Just sayin.

tcunbeliever

I think I would have a hard time taking them seriously. And maybe they are educated and I would miss out on some knowledge, but I just don't think I would be able to get past the visual. I already know that when I have overweight friends telling me about how I need to change my diet or how their diet is better than mine it's totally impossible for me to do anything other than roll my eyes. I'm trying to be healty and fit, if you are not already healthy and fit then I don't see how you can help me. Actions speak louder than words and if you don't look like you are walking the walk then I'm certainly not going to hear your attempts to talk the talk.

JennKie1

I could not agree more! It's a profession where image is everything. Most personal trainers have to "sell themselves", and it would be tough to do that when you don't look fit. I had a trainer approach me at the gym asking me what my goal was. I really didn't realize she was a trainer - I thought she was a fellow (chubby) member looking for a work-out buddy. I almost asked her what her goal was until I saw her name tag. I certainly wasn't in any position to pay someone who looks worse than me (and I am admittedly in terrible shape and quite chubby myself) to tell me how to look "better". I already know how to look like THAT, I'm living it. It's an industry where you need to lead by example. So, I'm sure I will also get beat up for my comments, but I am a "chubby" person myself, and I also would expect a "fitness professional" to actually be "fit" and walk-the-walk.

elewellen

Nurses and doctors are people too we still need education. Let's see i did not have to take not a one nutrition class to get me degree. I did gain during nsg schol related to stress, time and money. Nutrionalist and personal trainers are just people too. So if you are carpenter look around your home what needs to be fixed? So you may be a waitress do u wait on family? So you may work in the court system does that mean u have never had been in any trouble? So you are homemaker so u make all your blankets and quilts? Get real

GorillaEsq

All hail the grammar czar!

No. In her defense, I'm a grammar Nazi. And I totally butchered that post on the first pass. I would have made fun of me too.

MSeel1984

For me, it would depend on HOW chubby. I've seen some bigger women work out harder than their skinnier counterparts. If these chubby individuals are still working on their own bodies and have the adequate training and knowledge necessary to train me, I really wouldn't have a problem with it.

I think I'd be happy with a trainer who could show me their progress in pictures too. I think it would be really encouraging for them to show 'this was me and this is me now' to show that what they're promoting/selling/teaching actually works.

This has nothing to do with anything except that I LOVE Your avatar (no pun intended). Toph Beifong rules.

Mathguy1

My initial knee jerk reaction agrees with you. I would never higher a personal trainer that looks like my "before" photo (when I was 235). As for a nutritionist who looks unhealthy, if they appear "chuuby" I hope it's because they are in the process of losing weight and perhaps havent hit their goal weight.

If the trainer/nutritionist is male and overweight, then I would only work with that person if they are in the process of returning to their normal weight (they could have recently recovered from an injury that prevented him from working out for 5-8 months). Perhaps he is finishing his bulking cycle and will soon be cutting? If female, I would subtly find out if they recently had children (within the last year or two).

I wouldn't hire a trainer/nutritionist who doesn't practice what they preach. I also wouldn't visit a doctor who smokes. Working with a trainer is about trust and finding one that is the right fit. If that trainer isn't the right fit, there are plenty of other trainers to choose from. In the end, it's your money. Spend it on a person who you trust.

ohnoetry

I'd rather train with someone who believes in me and listens to my goals and wants, but knows how to motivate me as well. I've had several trainers who were totally in shape but didn't know what the hell they were doing. Super buff dudes trying to tell me to work through injuries or to not rest a sprain, are you kidding me?

My favorite trainer and now friend and mentor is a tiny girl who lost over 100 lbs and has completed over five marathons. She might not look intimidating but that girl has whipped me into shape and I basically worship at her fitness alter!

Fitness comes in all shapes and sizes.

esl269

Logically, sure, I know a trainer could be overweight and still have just as much (or more) experience in the field than one who was in shape, as their own habits have no direct link to the lessons they've learned. But... I'd still pass. On some level, it would be annoying to have someone in worse shape than me telling me how to get in shape.

porcelain_doll

I don't know their journey.

I don't know if they have lost 100lbs to this point.

No, it doesn't bother me.

^ This.

I have a friend that has lost 140 lbs. with somewhere around 70 more to lose, and is currently working to become certified in either nutrition counseling or personal training, I can't remember which. But he is doing it because he understands what people at his original size are going through, and he can connect with them perhaps a little bit better than someone who has never been more than, say, 30 lbs. overweight in their life (or even overweight at all).

I was just in a Zumba class a couple weeks ago where the teacher was short and chubby. I will admit that at first, I was questioning how the class was going to go (if it was going to be challenging enough). Within three minutes, I was already getting my butt kicked. The gym is a tricky place to judge books by their covers, so to speak.

jcstanton

All hail the grammar czar!

No. In her defense, I'm a grammar Nazi. And I totally butchered that post on the first pass. I would have made fun of me too.

Wow! Do I detect a note of humility here? I'm impressed!

enigmachik

Honestly, it would make me want to know a little more about their background, for example were they once bigger than they are now and have improved dramatically?

But that being said, I would find it MUCH easier to relate to relate to a chubby trainer/nutritionist than someone who looks like they've never struggled a day in their life with their weight. When a chubby person says, "look, this is where I came from" I can look at their progress and believe it is possible for me. But a skinny minnie who has never known what it feels like to be bigger doesn't make an impression on me because I can't look at them and believe a transformation is possible for me.

AmberJo1984

I have to admit... I would have the same doubts. I'm trying to better my health. I would question how well someone can help me do that if they looked like they needed to better their's as well. But, that's probably not the best way to think of things. I guess it's human nature to question them.

AmyP619

Knowledge is knowledge.
You dont pay them to look good, you pay to learn from them.

I agree.
Maybe they know a crap ton about the subject and are brilliant at helping other people. Like you said, you don't know their story..they could have medical conditions.
Like someone in here mentioned that they've seen chubby nurses and doctors.. SO? I'm sure they're damn good at their jobs if they made it that far.

MissAnjy

I definitely think it's strange when I see it.
I remember in college, our president of the student athletic association was 500+lbs and had to be assisted up the stairs to give a speech on athletics and how important it was to the school and health, etc.
Nobody could take that seriously. With all due respect, he could have said all the right things, but nobody would have taken it to heart.

thoshowski

Personally, I would rather work out with a slightly overweight trainer. When I work out with a completely fit trainer, I feel like they don't understand my pain and what I am going through. A slightly chubby trainer, I feel would understand what is wrong, what my issues are and help me work through them with understanding rather than resentment I get from some "skinny trainers".

deniseblossoms

nice, an English lesson from a pair of feet.

I have to admit I feel the same way. I don't want to take advice or pay someone for their skill when they haven't mastered it for themself.

jerbear1962

I have to agree with everyone that is saying, it depends on where they started. If someone asks me for diet advice now I'm still way obese, so why should I be giving advice. It's because I've lost 70 pounds and know what it took to get here. Now if they started smaller and gained that would bother me. Then they are abusing the new money their making.

jcstanton

Honestly, it would make me want to know a little more about their background, for example were they once bigger than they are now and have improved dramatically?

But that being said, I would find it MUCH easier to relate to relate to a chubby trainer/nutritionist than someone who looks like they've never struggled a day in their life with their weight. When a chubby person says, "look, this is where I came from" I can look at their progress and believe it is possible for me. But a skinny minnie who has never known what it feels like to be bigger doesn't make an impression on me because I can't look at them and believe a transformation is possible for me.

This is a good point, too. I've had trainers/coaches on both ends of the spectrum, and, frankly, I've had more success with the ones who've been where I am.

Lizsullie

I'm a bit torn on this one. I have a bit of weight left to lose and I'm a dietitian. When people think of dietitians they always assume our whole job is about weight loss and making "normal" (every-day) people healthier. In fact, the majority of the job has to do with the diets of sick people, with cancer, or liver disease, or kidney disease, or heart disease etc... So sometimes I do feel a bit hypocritical when someone asks what I do and I say I'm a dietitian and I can tell they're wondering about my weight. However, in a hospital, dealing with patients, you can't question my knowledge and my weight is irrelevant.

Joreanasaurous

I agree. Practice what you preach.

Plus not to be shallow or anything, but if I had a personal trainer they would either have to have a body I aspire to have... Or a body I would lust over.

GorillaEsq

Wow! Do I detect a note of humility here? I'm impressed!

I'm too awesome to be humble.

PhiliciousCurves

I’m sure that the overweight or chubby-sized nutritionist has all of the educational background and credentials necessary to help people with their diet, as with an overweight trainer helping with exercise, but does it even matter if what they are trying to help others accomplish, they cannot accomplish for themselves? Yes it does! Seriously, would you trust a broke financial advisor with your money, or would you go to a dentist that has bad teeth? More than likely, you would not!

ZeroWoIf

Well to some people this is their job and that is what all of you people need to understand. When you do it for a living then you sure have an excuse to give nutrition advice even if you don't look like you could give advice. The most fit people can also give horrible advice.

rmojo13

I agree with you. Now I do have to start by saying that I am 40lbs overweight and am still working on it. However, if personal trainer is to be considered a "health professional" and is trying to represent themselves properly, I feel that they either need to have a fit look to them or they need to be improving on their look if they are "chubby". I do know of some who lost a lot of weight and became trainers and continued to lose weight and become more fit. I think that is fine, but if they don't practice what they preach it would be hard to take them serious while they told you what to do.

My workout partner and I always talk about it since there is a gal at our gym that is probably 80-100lbs over weight and almost always is training someone that looks like THEY should be training her! To me it would be like if your financial adviser had gone bankrupt last year and you knew it but still decided to let him/her handle your money. Doesn't make sense, does it?

minkakross

wouldn't bother me, my nutritionist is "chubby" it hasn't hurt my journey any... I need to know what's in her brain not what is on her dinner plate. This might also be an issue of gender or learning styles. When I meet someone new, I put a great deal of value on the first things they say, not what they looked like when saying it.

jcstanton

Wow! Do I detect a note of humility here? I'm impressed!

I'm too awesome to be humble.

I knew you were gonna say that. LOL

Danielle_2013

There is something to be said for practicing what you preach.
I want a trainer who fully embraces the lifestyle and is visibly credible.

courtneyprudhomme

I don't know their journey.

I don't know if they have lost 100lbs to this point.

No, it doesn't bother me.

Thank you for saying that - that is EXACTLY what I was thinking.. people that KNOW me, know I have lost almost 80 lbs.. but do people who don't see me as that fat chick trying to run?? Or the fat chick giving nutrition and exercise tips (something I do for my friends and family members who ask what im doing).. and that' the problem with judging a book by its cover.. you dont REALLY know the back story so you may be really missing out assuming they are unqualified. Perhaps ask questions before judging by appearances.

FullOfWin

I think the best measure would be before and afters of their clients if they can provide any.