I’m working as a personal trainer, and I just got two clients who are incredibly overweight, and one doesn’t seem to want to push herself past discomfort. To give you an idea, she gave up on the YMCA 3 minute step test after 30 seconds. Do you have any suggestions of how I can help them get past the initial discomfort?
This has to be something they decide themselves.
This is why I couldnt be a personal trainer.
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[quote]Dieselengine wrote:
I’m working as a personal trainer, and I just got two clients who are incredibly overweight, and one doesn’t seem to want to push herself past discomfort. To give you an idea, she gave up on the YMCA 3 minute step test after 30 seconds. Do you have any suggestions of how I can help them get past the initial discomfort?[/quote]
Is she at least on (and sticking to)some type of nutritional plan? I somehow doubt it. As a formerly morbidly obese person (still pretty obese according to BMI lol) I can tell ya that the #1 thing your client needs to do is get the diet in check. Anything done in the gym is barely going to do anything.
At that level exercise supplements diet. Meaning exercise should support fat loss by increasing caloric deficit and by assisting in adding/retaining muscle to keep the resting metabolic rate as high as possible. Without the caloric deficit from diet, exercise is not going to facilitate any fat loss what so ever. A lot of tubs think they can just workout and eat what they want, like they are going to raise their BMR to Olympic athlete levels… Anyway…
What I would do is just have her focus mainly on walking and maybe some really light DB circuits with whatever exercises she can or wants to do. If she does have the diet in check, she really doesn’t need to push herself to the point of discomfort, the weight will come off, you really just need to help her burn some extra calories. Any type of movement is going to be helpful for her. You have to be careful with fat people too because the leverage on their joints can get out of hand pretty easily with seemingly simple movements.
Really what it comes down to, her health and weight loss isn’t really your responsibility, you can only encourage her to move in the right direction. She’s going to get out of it what she puts in and if all she puts in is some money to a trainer, take that money. Give her really easy goals and a lot of positive feedback (whether she deserves it or not)so that she can keep a positive attitude and keep moving.
[quote]BD123 wrote:Really what it comes down to, her health and weight loss isn’t really your responsibility, you can only encourage her to move in the right direction. She’s going to get out of it what she puts in and if all she puts in is some money to a trainer, take that money. Give her really easy goals and a lot of positive feedback (whether she deserves it or not)so that she can keep a positive attitude and keep moving.
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This. It’s simple, either she wants it or she doesn’t. But in case you’re a H/C trainee yourself (which wouldn’t be unlikely since we’re talking on tnation), keep in mind that she does not have your goals and, as a result, not a fighter mentality. Go easy on her and make her stick (!) to her diet. The latter will be more important - and harder.
I’m not a trainer, but I would echo the above sentiments about diet/nutrition. That’s where this fight will be won or lost. I would say that an honest food log that you review together at your sessions would have value.
Regarding activity, Get them to commit to 30 minutes of brisk walking every day. They can break it into 3 x 10 minute sets. I have read a few different places that that amount of consistent activity will yield 70% of the health benefits of exercise. Not fitness but health. It will also help make some form of activity a habit. If they can’t/won’t consistently do that I don’t really see what you can do for them. Nobody ever made anybody do anything they didn’t already want to do, so don’t sweat it. You’re all grown ups.
I use to be morbidly obese (350lbs, easily 60% +), and started my weight training and physical activity career as such. I was lucky in the fact that I was always pretty able-bodied compared to many obese people and was able to push myself better than most.
But, the sad and ultimately fact of the matter is, it is much more difficult to move and operate in any way, shape, or form than compared to others.
First, you need to be patient. There are many deep-seeded issues that come from being morbidly obese stemming out much further than simply physical inactivity. Not only is moving incredibly hard, but they’re probably also battling a myriad of personal demons and MANY other limits they’ve already put on themselves. You’ve also got to realize that they more likely have been told their whole lives that they’re not good enough for something, that they can’t do ‘X,’ and so on and so forth. When something like that is reinforced on an almost everyday basis, and you have no real feeling of self-worth, this flows throughout a person’s belief system and manifests itself as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I realize it’s a silly show without (much) redeeming value, but honestly, The Biggest Loser is a show where the trainers have REAL know-how on motivational strategies for these people. It sounds corny, but it’s true that, if they’re having difficulty completing something, they’re operating in a psychological deficiency far worse off than you likely realize. By that same token, some people are able to get positive or negative reinforcement and do fine with that. Others need old fashioned TLC, etc.
If any of this sounds too labor-intensive for you, then you are failing as a personal trainer. This would be the equivalent of a detective actually having to use context clues and intimate interrogation tactics to solve something, rather than essentially being handed the clues so they can handcuff the criminals themselves. Personal training needs to be about being successful and leading others down the same path. I know I’m sounding high and mighty here, but through my own weight loss successes I have led other morbidly obese people down the correct path with guidance, my time and help, and for free. Almost all of them required different tactics and methods to accomplish this.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them. ^ This is actually me keeping it brief and quick.
[quote]SSC wrote:
If any of this sounds too labor-intensive for you, then you are failing as a personal trainer. This would be the equivalent of a detective actually having to use context clues and intimate interrogation tactics to solve something, rather than essentially being handed the clues so they can handcuff the criminals themselves. [/quote]
I guess I should have said I am a new personal trainer, but I’ve been working with athletes, have a degree and a CSCS and ACSM cert, but this is a whole new game for me. I appreciate all of the advice you guys have given me.
Basically, it’s two sisters, one seems more interested than the other, but since they are training together I am hoping that she can help the other to push herself a bit.
I’ve talked to them about nutrition, stating that the most important thing is to burn more calories than they take in, but that they should also focus on getting a good balance of carbs/protein/fat and all of their vitamins. I told them they should write down everything they eat and they can use an online calorie counter to help with that.
My exercise plan for them was going to be mostly hypertrophy like weights, except all lower body work would be unweighted. Part of the reason for this is to try to raise BMR, but also I want everything I’m doing to seem nothing like PE, or running, which they both say they hated, and I think they will probably be able to move decent weight, which I hope will get them more excited. I was also going to write a cardio program, consisting mostly stationary biking during the off days.
If any body has any other suggestions, particularly on helping them overcome their psychological barriers that would be much appreciated
I am also a personal trainer at a gym, and I also have several obese clients. Each one is different and requires a different approach. Some will respond to taking a hard line with them, and others will need a soft touch. I have sat down with each one and tried to find out the underlying reasons why they are there in the first place. Ususally when you hit on it, there will be some pain associated. Thats a good thing. There are different strategies that I will be happy to share with you, but I can say (with some margin of error) there are some that are ready, and they will struglle, but will honestly try. These people you can work with, and ultimately learn a lot from. Other people are not ready. And they will be a source of frustration for you. If they do not make progress over time, I let them go. Not because they are bad people, but because I may not be the one to help them. And it is my responsibility to help, so I move them on so that they can find the right help. Also, being an inspiration to those you train takes a certain mindset, which will be eroded by continuosly trying to change people who do not really want to change. You cannot help everyone, so you must find those who are willing and focus your time and effort on them. Now, when they do try and make the effort, shower them with praise. If you continuosly track and show them their results, they will build enthusiasm. Good luck to you and your clients.
As a formerly morbidly obese person (Hell, I’m still pretty chubby), I have to second the diet. What opened my log onto how bad my diet was was keeping a food log for a week. And the only reason I personally faced up to just how bad I was, was my doctor telling me I’d be dead inside 10 years (I was 26 or 27). I was a semi-active fat guy, regularly taking hikes and and walks (short ones yeah but still) and kept telling myself that it was OK because I was still moving and fairly active, but when it came down to “well, the excess weight is screwing you up here here and here, and it’s killing you quickly due to these reasons”…
But it was still damn hard to START exercising again in earnest and watching what I ate.
It might be a good idea to have a heart to heart with her about if she is ready to change (and hell, talk to her and see if she’s talked to her doctor about the state of her health). If she isn’t I don’t know if there’s anything YOU can do. If she’s ready to change, understand it’ll be slow going.
[quote]Dieselengine wrote:
I’m working as a personal trainer, and I just got two clients who are incredibly overweight, and one doesn’t seem to want to push herself past discomfort.[/quote]
Do you work for a gym or are you an independent trainer working out of a gym? Firing a client, or telling them (politely and professionally) that you may not be able to continue working with them, may strengthen their motivation. Maybe.
Is there a pool onsite or nearby? Just a suggestion. Find out when it’s ileast busy there and suggest she do some water-based workouts during those times.
If she’s morbidly obese, why was she put through the test in the first place? I understand putting clients through a basic fitness assessment, but in extreme cases, you’re more than welcome to use common sense. Look at it objectively: You took a lady with zero exercise experience and told her to do step-ups for three minutes straight. That’s hard and, obviously, overwhelming!
It’s 97% up to her - if she’s wants to quit more than she wants results, that’s an internal issue that you two might try discussing - but you’ve got to be smart about your programming.
Cosgrove talked a bit about this through these articles:
You cut them loose and fill the slot with a quality client if I may hazard a guess.
[quote]CargoCapable wrote:
You cut them loose and fill the slot with a quality client if I may hazard a guess.[/quote]
Please stop posting or GTFO if you aren’t going to seriously answer the thread’s question at hand.