Heavy Fitness Instructors? Perceptions?

MellyGibson
MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
edited January 10 in Chit-Chat
I know I'm going to get a bunch of flack for this post, and I'm good with it!

I'm a fitness instructor, and I've worked very hard for over a year now to get closer to my personal ideal body image (that I can achieve with my genetics). I teach Zumba as well as a full-body circuit course 3 days/week, and I get my personal trainer certification this weekend.

My husband is honest to a fault and any time he sees a heavier fitness instructor he makes negative comments. He feels that if your promoting your program you should be in good shape. I can admit that a few times I've taken other people's classes and my first impression of a heavier instructor went something like, "How good can this really be if she looks like that?". Usually I'm halfway through the class when I end up trying desperately to remember the number to 9-1-1 because I feel like I'm going to drop!

Having gone through my own struggles with weight I have a MUCH different opinion. I know women who are quite heavy that can out-lift me and do more situps than I can! You don't know if that instructor has lost 100 lbs. and is still on their own journey. I also understand you can't out train a bad diet!

What are other people's opinion on heavy instructors?

Replies

  • Saaaam42
    Saaaam42 Posts: 154 Member
    Not gonna lie...when I went to my FIRST Zumba class and the instructor was a heavy lady and could barely make it through the routine, I was like....whaaatt. But at the end she mentioned she lost over 100 pounds and that kind of changed my mind...
  • kardsharp
    kardsharp Posts: 516 Member
    I guess it would depend on how "heavey" they appeared. I know that they must be in good shape to be hired by the company but, I do have this thought "How can they help me get what I want to acheive" if they don't seem to be practicing what they teach.

    I may be way off but, that is my very first impression and I probably wouldn't hire them as my PT.

    Namaste, Kristine
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    I'm more interested in what they can get me to do than what they can do themselves, if that makes sense. If for whatever reason this person can get me revved up to 90%, 95%, then they're a lot better than a hardbody who can't. And thus, if the body is not the determinate, the skill must be.
  • MellyGibson
    MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
    Thanks for the replies so far!

    Even after working in the "industry", I still find myself thinking those same thoughts at times. Since I'm going to be a PT, I'm really happy that I was able to achieve my first weight-loss goal before getting my certification. I now feel I have to work even harder in order to show that I can practice what I preach.

    I also think it's more acceptable for male fitness instructors to have a few extra pounds than women instructors, although I don't necessarily think it's fair.
  • MellyGibson
    MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
    I guess nobody else has an opinion.

    Or, by giving people permission to give me *kitten*, they just don't want to.

    Hmmm....
  • cad39too
    cad39too Posts: 874 Member
    Not sure on this one; I don't automatically see slim and think healthy but I guess it is expected when it comes to fitness personnel.

    My old spin instructor was twice my size, but one of the fittest people I know.
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    I did Body Pump classes last winter and the instructor was on the heavier side... At first I wondered "Why doesn't she lose weight if she teaches this class?" But then I started thinking about it, and
    a) I don't know where she started. Maybe she HAS lost tons of weight
    b) Maybe she is a single mom or has some other obstacles in life that holding her back at the moment
    c) Maybe she isn't trying to lose weight. Perhaps she's happy with herself and just enjoys teaching the class
    d) O *kitten* I just screwed that whole bicep routine up because I'm not paying attention.....................................
  • Rehobobound
    Rehobobound Posts: 143 Member
    Ditto on what the instructor can get me to do. I've had both extremely fit and somewhat large instructors and it's all about the knowledge and motivation. The best Body Jam class I ever took was from an instructor who was heavy. She was graceful, energetic and funny. Loved her! I wanted to follow her from gym to gym.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories