Chubby Trainers & Nutrionists
GorillaEsq
Posts: 2,198 Member
I was watching the news this morning, and the commentator did a featured segment on "nutrition." The newscaster interviewed a local nutritionist on the show as she discussed at-length "good, healthy lifestyle choices."
There's no nice way to put this, so I'll just throw it out there... she was chubby. Noticeably chubby. And, I'm not sure exactly why, but this phenomenon bothers me greatly, and has for a while.
Now, before my collective Haters light their own hair on fire and start banging away on their keyboard in retaliation, I'm not "anti-chubby." There are many, many heavyset people at my gym, and anyone who knows me, will affirm that I'm their biggest cheerleader... (though I do look a bit odd in a skirt and pigtails).
I'm also aware that there are many reasons someone may be heavy... So, before you derail the discussion by hopping up on an e-soapbox, championing the rights of the glandularly-challenged, save the effort and try not to exacerbate your ever-developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
That said, image is a part of everything we do. When you see someone for the first time, you don't bask in their inner beauty and depth, until AFTER you get to know them. As mammals, our first impressions of a person fall into three basic categories...
- "Hey, you're attractive. I would like to propagate my genetic code with you and fondle your naughty bits..."
...or
- "You scare and/or intimidate the *kitten* out of me. I need to flee, fight or pee in every corner of the room..."
...or
- "Holy crap, WTF happened to your face? Did you mother breed with a wildebeest?" ...
- Or something in between all of the aforementioned.
Which leads me to my point... Is anyone bothered by "fitness-nutritionist-type-professionals" who clearly do not look the part?
Is it utterly ridiculous to have a "chubby" nutritionist or "flabby" personal trainer?
Or does it fall under the same notion that your heart surgeon doesn't need to have heart disease to be a good cardiologist?
Happy Monday.
Keep being awesome.
There's no nice way to put this, so I'll just throw it out there... she was chubby. Noticeably chubby. And, I'm not sure exactly why, but this phenomenon bothers me greatly, and has for a while.
Now, before my collective Haters light their own hair on fire and start banging away on their keyboard in retaliation, I'm not "anti-chubby." There are many, many heavyset people at my gym, and anyone who knows me, will affirm that I'm their biggest cheerleader... (though I do look a bit odd in a skirt and pigtails).
I'm also aware that there are many reasons someone may be heavy... So, before you derail the discussion by hopping up on an e-soapbox, championing the rights of the glandularly-challenged, save the effort and try not to exacerbate your ever-developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
That said, image is a part of everything we do. When you see someone for the first time, you don't bask in their inner beauty and depth, until AFTER you get to know them. As mammals, our first impressions of a person fall into three basic categories...
- "Hey, you're attractive. I would like to propagate my genetic code with you and fondle your naughty bits..."
...or
- "You scare and/or intimidate the *kitten* out of me. I need to flee, fight or pee in every corner of the room..."
...or
- "Holy crap, WTF happened to your face? Did you mother breed with a wildebeest?" ...
- Or something in between all of the aforementioned.
Which leads me to my point... Is anyone bothered by "fitness-nutritionist-type-professionals" who clearly do not look the part?
Is it utterly ridiculous to have a "chubby" nutritionist or "flabby" personal trainer?
Or does it fall under the same notion that your heart surgeon doesn't need to have heart disease to be a good cardiologist?
Happy Monday.
Keep being awesome.
0
Replies
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At my old job, the head of the gym was noticeably chubby. First impression made worst when he forgot about our scheduled meeting and showed up 30 minutes late and completely wasted my lunch break. I left pissed and skeptical about his qualifications.0
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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.0 -
Nope I agree. To me, if someone is telling me that I need to eat healthier and exercise, etc, they should be doing the same thing. I'm not a "do as I say, not as I do" type person. If I have to do it, so do you!0
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Let's get right to the important stuff..."mammal", "you're", "your". Muah!0
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I've seen obese doctors and nurses as well. Not judging, just kinda weird to see.0
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I know. I fixed it. That was a mess. I was typing stream-of-consciousness while I was on a conference call I didn't care about.Let's get right to the important stuff..."mammal", "you're", "your". Muah!0 -
I've seen this topic discussed before and it always seems like the majority would have no problems "believing in" a chubby trainer.
If my trainer doesn't look lean, strong, ripped...whatever...my thought would be that they don't practice what they preach. As such, I wouldn't be hiring them.0 -
I don't know their journey.
I don't know if they have lost 100lbs to this point.
No, it doesn't bother me.0 -
They have zero credit.0
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I know. I fixed it. That was a mess. I was typing stream-of-consciousness while I was on a conference call I didn't care about.Let's get right to the important stuff..."mammal", "you're", "your". Muah!
Just messing with ya...it's so rare to see you do that, I couldn't resist. Happy Monday!0 -
When i worked for nutrisystem, we have a very large nutritionist/leader. The only reason she got hired is because when she was initially passed over, she threatened to sue for discrimination. The clients even complained because they said they had a hard time taking her seriously since she clearly couldn't take her own advice.0
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Knowledge is knowledge.
You dont pay them to look good, you pay to learn from them.0 -
Just because someone is a CPA or in the industry, doesnt always mean they follow the rules or file their return on time. Same thing for lawyers, you think they dont break the law or speed when they are late. My point is, chubby is easier to see and speculate what their life/short comings might be.0
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Unfortunately first impressions do count and if I was paying them for their time, I would be a little leery. That being said, if they could show me they knew their stuff and could take me where I want to go, I'd be happy. And quite honestly, I'd probably be less intimidated. :ohwell:0
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Now.. that's a good argument. If they're chubby because they don't workout, that's one thing. If they're chubby because they're on the backside of 150 pound weight-loss regiment, that's something else.I don't know their journey.
I don't know if they have lost 100lbs to this point.
No, it doesn't bother me.0 -
That was so funny and I think you have made some really good points. For me,, if somebody obviously wa not followin their own advice, then I would question their overall professioanl abilities. Unfortunately for people in the food/fitness/health industry, they :ohwell: need to show they believe in the product too.0
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I completely agree that there shouldn't be "chubby" trainers or nutritionist. They are there to set an example to the public. I am a dietitian and was a personal trainer. When I worked as a personal trainer, I was a walking billboard. When people signed up for a trainer they stated them wanted to "look like" me, and that's how a got clients. As a dietitian, people are constantly observing what I'm eating.0
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Yes. Yes, I've heard that some do that.Same thing for lawyers, you think they dont break the law or speed when they are late.
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Nope I agree. To me, if someone is telling me that I need to eat healthier and exercise, etc, they should be doing the same thing. I'm not a "do as I say, not as I do" type person. If I have to do it, so do you!
how do you know their not eating healthy and exercising? it could be a journey for them just as it is for you0 -
I'm their biggest cheerleader... (though I do look a bit odd in a skirt and pigtails).
... was that your halloween costume??0 -
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.0
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This is exactly why, when my doctor suggested I become a trainer, I laughed in her face. Yeah, I've come a long way, but I'm not *there* yet.0
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Weight is not an indicator of health.
You can be heavier AND in better shape then people who weigh significantly less than you do.
Thinness and hardness are not an accurate measure of how healthy/active a person is.
I think it is important for nutritionists and personal trainers to be healthy and active, of course. But I've seen amazing fitness instructors who have "chubby" bodies, and I've seen hardbodied and skinny personal trainers who are completely useless at their job.
The problem is one of perception of health, and the way the (American) media portrays health.
/rant0 -
No. Bane. I'll have pics shortly.I'm their biggest cheerleader... (though I do look a bit odd in a skirt and pigtails).
... was that your halloween costume??0 -
No. not really bothered.
I remember back when I took a nutrition class in college and had two instructors. One, thin and had previous eating disorder issues (she admitted). The other a little heavy. Who knows what path led her to that job, but she still knew her stuff. I still learned a lot from her.
So, there's also a difference between a trainer and nutritionist.
I've had a trainer who was heavy and I think it was because he'd put on the pounds after years of football, so he naturally looked bigger. My current trainer is female, less than 30 years old and weighs about 140 pounds. Shrug. I had no clue *what* she would look like, I only knew her credetials in writing.0 -
As a heavy person in the process of transformation, I want a trainer and nutritionist that practices what they preach. First impressions are everything and I want to know that what they are selling to me actually works.0
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oh I am so sorry about my terrible typing! The smiley is in the wrong place too, can you tell I am new at posting,, its a little scary to be honest!0
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- "Hey, you're attractive. I would like to propagate my genetic code with you and fondle your naughty bits..."
...or
- "You scare and/or intimidate the *kitten* out of me. I need to flee, fight or pee in every corner of the room..."
...or
- "Holy crap, WTF happened to your face? Did you mother breed with a wildebeest?" ...
I laughed out loud!Let's get right to the important stuff..."mammal", "you're", "your". Muah!
All hail the grammar czar!
As stated above, if it was someone that was working on their own body, I'd be OK with it, especially if they actually were sharing their progress photos and stats as inspiration. I worked at a gym for a short while and a guy that started his journey to get fit and rid himself of his obesity loved fitness so much he decided to become a personal trainer. He was still over weight, but he would smoke you harder than most of the other trainers and if you wanted to come in during the gyms slow hours, he'd work out with you and he wasn't goofing around. Great guy, with great energy, and he literally loved what he was doing and it showed.
On the other hand, I have a problem dealing with people that can't practice what they preach.0 -
For me it makes me question their ability. I mean I am relying on them to help ME be the best I can be and if they aren't at their best how can they help me. I had a nutritionist that was on the chubbier side a while ago and she was the one that brought up why... turns out she had just had a baby and was in the midst of losing her baby weight - so I forgave her gave her a shot. But in general I have a hard time listening to someone tell me what to do when they don't appear to follow the same thing.
I feel the same about Dr's though. I had an extremely over weight Dr. tell me I was fat and that I needed to lose weight (something I was working on at the time) and I looked at him and said "Yup, as soon as you do." he didn't know how to answer me.0 -
I believe in first impressions - especially when it comes to fitness, but like it's been said before - I don't know where they've come from in their fitness journey. If they can teach me what I need to know & how to do it correctly - I'm all ears!!! And, yes, I'd feel much less self-conscious around them :blushing:0
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