Overweight fitness instructors

Nope, don't worry or give 1 thought if the in instructor is not your typical low body fat/ ripped body type of person.

This topic has been discussed a lot here. Being a trainer/instructor myself, I live and love the "lifestyle" and look the part. The thing that makes a good trainer IMO is how passionate they are about what they do. If you're passionate and practice what you preach, you will want to be not only the best trainer for your clients, but one who continually works to make themselves better - through obtaining more and more knowledge that you can pass on to your clients (through reading, research, courses, etc.). I've worked with ripped trainers with <10% body fat who are clueless idiots as well as not so fit looking trainers that are brilliant. Who would you rather have train you?

I think it really depends on what you are going for...

My husband went to a trainer at our gym (honestly, the guy is probably 50lbs overweight). The trainer used to compete in power lifting competitions. My husband wanted advice in that area, not nutrition or weight loss. So in this situation, an overweight trainer was fine.

The female instructors for the classes at my gym are all overweight (some more than others); and all lift less weight than I do. I'm not saying that maybe they don't have some knowledge that I don't have...but for me, I don't see the point in taking these classes if I weigh less and lift more than the instructors.

Kinda like going to a dentist that has bad teeth? Maybe like asking a fat doctor about weight loss?

You live in a town with two dentists.
One has good teeth, the other has bad teeth. Which one do you go to?

Lol, the one my insurance covers.:laugh: :laugh:

Truth. :grumble:

Depends what the instructor is teaching. Lifting techniques? I'm game. Cardio? I'd sit in a few classes. If it gets my heart rate up and makes me sore THE RIGHT WAY, I'm in for a try. Eyebrow might raise, but I'll try it.

I've had several heavy bellydance dance teachers who were truly gifted dancers and had more endurance and cardio fitness than most of their slender students, and a friend who's on the plump side who climbs mountains and does triathalons. So yeah, I'd give a heavy instructor a chance. You can be "fit" in some ways and still heavy.

There are many factors to consider. A person may appear to be overweight but may actually have be healthier and fitter than someone as we like to call "skinny fat." I know how easy it is to come to the conclusion, but we need to really look at the whole picture. I am a lot "bigger" than most of the women I work with. And outwardly it may appear that these women are in better shape than me. The view quickly changes when they see me in fitness clothing and see that my legs are bigger due to muscles quads and calves. I get what you are saying but looks can be deceiving somewhat. I have a aquaintance that is far thinner that me and she constantly wonders how it is that my race times are significantly faster. Yes, my body is bigger but my training is where the work is at. Having said that, I do understand what you are saying and yes it lends to credibility for sure. I think that I would also naturally question things as well, but really the only way to know what that person is about is to take the challenge and test them on it. Because that instructor may be a beast and the skinny super model looking chic in the corner may be deceptively unfit. I for one would not trade my body and what it can do for a much thinner weaker one.

This thread is pretty discouraging. I'm getting ready to start studying for my ACE test (personal training) and I'm currently still overweight. However, I was once 80 lbs heavier, I've committed to a healthier lifestyle and my habits and coping skills are BY FAR better than they were 5 years ago. I've run a marathon, 4 half marathons and I can lift.

It makes me really sad that I feel like I'd have to give my entire history in order for someone to give me a chance. I'm human just like everyone else. I'm not perfect. I deal with binge and emotional eating and depression. If anything, I think it makes be BETTER equipped to work with certain types of people. I believe in people feeling strong and capable -- no matter where they are starting.

I'd sit in with you. As long as you're not full of *kitten* from the start of the course, I'd give ya a shot. :drinker: :flowerforyou:

But if you start telling me about gluten being my worst enemy or sucking toxins out through foot pads, I'm bouncin'. :laugh:

I went to yoga fairly regularly over a summer, and on my last class ( didn't know it would be my last) the gym had a new instructor. When she walked in I thought she was just another student new to yoga, but nope instructor. And she was most definitely obese. I didn't expect much, but she was the most flexible person I had ever seen. She was kind, she was encouraging to everyone, and the had just the right touch to get everyone into proper form, and she moved so quickly into new positions that I was sweating within minutes. I wish I had been able to take her class again, but health issues kept me out of class.

But I can definitely understand how it would be difficult for overweight instructors to get work, people don't expect a whole lot from them

I "teach" a Zumba class now and then and I'm a good 30 pounds over my goal weight. I also have lost over 40 and kept it off for about 6 years. I live in a teeny town and my class is offered for free through the school district's Adult Education program. There is no one coming to my class that expects to see a stick girl teaching my class. We are all just there to shake our hineys and have some fun.

BUT, if I had to charge for my class or depend on teaching for my income, I would definitely feel the pressure to be in better shape and at a smaller size. "For fun" and "for pay" are big differences. I am paying my $30/mth for my Zumba membership and choreo DVDs and I would probably feel a little ripped off if the instructors on my videos were lardbutts and not dancing at full-on intensity.

To each their own.

This thread is pretty discouraging. I'm getting ready to start studying for my ACE test (personal training) and I'm currently still overweight. However, I was once 80 lbs heavier, I've committed to a healthier lifestyle and my habits and coping skills are BY FAR better than they were 5 years ago. I've run a marathon, 4 half marathons and I can lift.

It makes me really sad that I feel like I'd have to give my entire history in order for someone to give me a chance. I'm human just like everyone else. I'm not perfect. I deal with binge and emotional eating and depression. If anything, I think it makes be BETTER equipped to work with certain types of people. I believe in people feeling strong and capable -- no matter where they are starting.

I'd sit in with you. As long as you're not full of *kitten* from the start of the course, I'd give ya a shot. :drinker: :flowerforyou:

But if you start telling me about gluten being my worst enemy or sucking toxins out through foot pads, I'm bouncin'. :laugh:

Thanks

And no crazy fads here. However, I have heard about these wraps....:laugh: (j/k)