Best exercises for bigger person?

mssgeni

My house mate is a bigger man, he weighs about 420 pounds... I take him to the gym with me when I can but it sort of frustrates me when I see him work out, but I really don't know what is recommended for him. He doesn't want to do cardio because it will stall his efforts because it'll burn his muscle away. I don't do the machines myself (and I know I should!) so I don't know how right or wrong he is, but I would think that cardio could help burn fat and wouldn't get rid of the muscle...

His workout consists on hopping on the treadmill for like 5 minutes until he burns 20 calories, then proceeds to go to the weights for the rest of the 30 minutes but when I spy on him I notice he does like 30 seconds of reps then just sits there for a few minutes and proceeds again. He doesn't add a whole lot of weight either.

Am I being too demanding on him? In his whole three months of going to the gym he's only lost about 10 pounds... which isn't terrible but I feel bad for him because I know he really wants to lose the weight but I don't know how to help him.

ruedesigns

Water aerobics are wonderful for larger bodies. And they are great overall body workouts. See if you can find an aqua mix class or aqua boot camp.

mssgeni

I wish I could My gym doesn't have those classes and since he's my guest I don't think he can enroll in any of the classes available actually. Only the machines and stuff...

CLCinNOLA

He needs to check with the gym staff and find out which machines can support his weight. At my gym we have seated stair steppers that are great for the heavier folks who are looking for some cardio.

RainHoward

It's awesome that you want to help him. However, if he isn't willing to, is unable to or simple does not want to put in the effort, you can't help him.

I currently weigh 527 so I'm speaking as a fellow fat man. Sometimes going to a gym is simply depressing. We don't fit in half the machines. We can't keep up with most people. And often, at least for me, being around a bunch of meatheads is simply depressing and annoying.

If he truly does want to lose weight and isn't simply going because you want him to, it may be better to just go for walks with him for a while. Get him out and moving. But the most important thing I think you can do is talk to him about it and find out what he's thinking. If he just doesn't know what to do, or isn't willing to do it.

mommytoaiden

My husband is a large man about 450lbs. He just starting seeing a personal training and on day one of his workout he did 20 minutes on the treadmill at 2.5MPH and then some crossfit training; kettleball lunges and wallball, both 3 sets of 10 with 25lb weights.

ZyheeMoongazer

At that weight moving around can be a struggle for some, joint pain, shortness of breath, etc.

If able, walking is probably the best option. Slowly increasing his speed until he is at a fast walk. I wouldn't recommend he move to a jog or run until he brings his weight down significantly. The amount of impact on his joints could cause injury.

If walking is too much for him, water aerobics is probably the next best option.

In the end, he needs to be motivated to work out.

mssgeni

I think he has the motivation... he just doesn't know how to go about it. He'll give it his all (I remember him doing the incline at like 15 for a minute, even if I told him that was way too much he was determined and didn't listen!) and then be sore for the next two weeks and not work out at all or he'll just do the bare minimum. I just think it's a matter of him not knowing what to do.

I feel really bad for him now. I guess I am being too demanding on him...

So you guys generally recommend some light cardio until he gets in better shape? I'm glad to hear the weights are a good idea, I wasn't sure if he was wasting his time when he needed to do cardio instead...

RainHoward

There are some great videos on youtube, also some good blogs and what not about large men and exercising. Maybe see if a personal trainer at your gym would be willing to talk to him and help him out. Sometimes all it takes is a point in the right direction.