You should never use TRX if you're over-weight!

HarveysBud
HarveysBud Posts: 421 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
This is what a fitness trainer 'buddy' of mine told me. I got the TRX Suspension Trainer for Christmas and was telling him about it. Obviously I know he is motivated to say as much to entice me to go to his gym, BUT, is he right?

I am admittedly overweight. Pushing close to 250lbs right now. How I let myself get back to this is beyond me.

Really curious to hear your option. 

Thanks in advance and happy new year. 

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    IMO, it's fine. One of my best friends and his wife are both trainers and co-own their own gym. They use TRX with their overweight clients all the time. The great thing about TRX is that all you have to do is adjust the angle of the exercise to make it easier or harder so it's pretty easy to adjust the exercise for an overweight person to get them comfortable with a particular movement.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,224 Member
    Silly advice, on two fronts, IMO.

    First, "overweight" and "unfit" are two different things. They often occur together for obvious reasons, but there are fitter and less-fit fat people. Any trainer who doesn't know that has missed the bus.

    Second, it's a piece of equipment that can be used in various ways. Specifically, many TRX exercises can be adapted to be more difficult or easier, tuned to the user's fitness level. Of course it's important to be smart about that.

    TRX exercises generally are using bodyweight for resistance, and an overweight body represents more resistance. The implication is that if an overweight person and a thin person of identical fitness are doing the same bodyweight exercise, the two may need to use different angles to keep the exercise in the right safe and manageably challenging range.

    I've never done TRX consistently (though it seems fun and useful). I did an in-person intro some years back that included performing reps of a variety of exercises. I was class 1 obese at the time (not to mention over 50 and female), though quite active and fairly strong. It was fine, didn't feel unsafe, and I kept up fine with other thinner people in the session.

    You'll do fine. As with any new thing for anyone, work your way into doing the more-difficult-for-you things gradually, to find that safe but challenging zone.

    Also, don't hire that guy as a trainer. 😉
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Pretty silly of your friend to make such a universal declaration about two thirds of some country's populations!

    It will be good for some overweight people and unsuitable for others.
    They aren't all overweight to the same degree or have the same training capabilities.

    Most people could use TRX to some degree. But that degree will be highly variable.
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    HarveysBud wrote: »
    This is what a fitness trainer 'buddy' of mine told me.. 

    I'd say don't listen to that "fitness trainer" buddy of yours.

    Many years ago, I did a TRX class at the Y with a co-worker. Plenty of overweight people in that class. One of the gyms where I'm a member uses TRX with a variety of its clients...including those who are overweight. It is safe and beneficial for a wide variety of people (although for some individuals it may not be appropriate at a given point in time) when utilized properly.



  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    HarveysBud wrote: »
    But with weight gain, like I've experienced lately, comes with some lack of confidence. Hope you all have a great weeeknd.

    -Dustin

    You'll get your mojo back soon :) Don't let anyone bring ya down!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,224 Member
    HarveysBud wrote: »
    Thanks very much everyone for taking the time to reply. I knew buddy was a bit of a goof. But with weight gain, like I've experienced lately, comes with some lack of confidence. Hope you all have a great weeeknd.

    -Dustin

    Maybe it's just me, but I thought being kinda fit was more fun when I was obese, because people would underestimate me more, when I walked in to a new group-activity setting. It was entertaining, sometimes, to see them need to re-think preconceptions/stereotypes. I'm about the same level of fitness now, but it's like it seems more plausible to some, in a thin person.

    Put the work in, maybe you can have some of that "surprise factor" fun, even before the weight loss kicks in alongside.

    Yes, I know that this is a sign that I have poor character. 🤷‍♀️
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    Lol, must not be much of a fitness trainer if he doesn't know how actual resistance works on a suspension training system. It's actually one of the BETTER ways to learn because unlike machines, you do have to keep your active throughout the majority of movements.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • HarveysBud
    HarveysBud Posts: 421 Member
    JBanx256 wrote: »
    HarveysBud wrote: »
    But with weight gain, like I've experienced lately, comes with some lack of confidence. Hope you all have a great weeeknd.

    -Dustin

    You'll get your mojo back soon :) Don't let anyone bring ya down!

    I appreciate this! Thanks very much.
  • HarveysBud
    HarveysBud Posts: 421 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    HarveysBud wrote: »
    Thanks very much everyone for taking the time to reply. I knew buddy was a bit of a goof. But with weight gain, like I've experienced lately, comes with some lack of confidence. Hope you all have a great weeeknd.

    -Dustin

    Maybe it's just me, but I thought being kinda fit was more fun when I was obese, because people would underestimate me more, when I walked in to a new group-activity setting. It was entertaining, sometimes, to see them need to re-think preconceptions/stereotypes. I'm about the same level of fitness now, but it's like it seems more plausible to some, in a thin person.

    Put the work in, maybe you can have some of that "surprise factor" fun, even before the weight loss kicks in alongside.

    Yes, I know that this is a sign that I have poor character. 🤷‍♀️

    Nah, I would not say that! I like the way you think. I've always been that unsuspecting chubby kid on the hockey team. Thanks for taking the time. Have a great week.
  • HarveysBud
    HarveysBud Posts: 421 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Lol, must not be much of a fitness trainer if he doesn't know how actual resistance works on a suspension training system. It's actually one of the BETTER ways to learn because unlike machines, you do have to keep your active throughout the majority of movements.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    I was very rattled at the comment. But it really shows that so many people who work in these roles truly are just in it for themselves. I was almost hopeful he was going to offer to show me how to use the system, tossing him a few $ of course.

    Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.
  • jhanleybrown
    jhanleybrown Posts: 240 Member
    If TRX exercises use bodyweight...just be smart about knees and shoulders. Joints/soft tissues are the potential issue not so much fitness.

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