Would You Hire an Overweight Personal Trainer?

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Would You Hire an Overweight Personal Trainer?

May 8, 2007

I read an article in the Washington Post recently that touches upon the issue of overweight trainers and its implications, inside and outside the gym. It seems that overweight trainers are faced with major criticism and have a harder time getting hired at gyms. The whole thing got me thinking about my gym and the fact that I have seen several overweight employees there. The visual skepticism of their ability as a trainer has definitely crossed my mind, good or bad, I have yet to decide.

I am curious how you guys feel about it -- Would you hire an overweight personal trainer?

52 Comments

2 years 9 weeks

After the last few months. I would mostly definately work out with an over weight trainer. I am obese...I have been looking for a trainer that could help me. I have worked with two trainers and have gained 15 lbs. I lost my job and am able to have more control over my food and exercise regimen. However, following their advice I gained 5lbs in a week. I have been discouraged and ready to quite a few times. However, I have decided to become a personal trainer. The problem is that most, not all, but most trainers are not coming from an obese background. They don't have any idea what it takes to get such a person motivated and in shape. So I have decided to teach myself how to do it. When my friend and I walk into the gym every one there stares at us. Its insane. We have been working out in the same gym 5 to 6 days a week for 7 months and we still get stares. We are there earlier and stay longer than most of the people staring at us. So yeah I would love someone who has come from where I am now.

2 years 23 weeks

I am a certified Pilates instructor. I am also 40 lbs overweight. I searched this question to see how people feel about a trainer like me. It's interesting to note the above comments fall equally. That being said, I completely understand the motivation behind a fit/thin trainer. Afterall, it is what I look for personally. But I have also had clients come up to me after class and say they did not have high expectations when they saw I was overweight...however, after my class, they found I was completely capable to train them well. Give trainers a chance. Then make your decision if they are a "right fit" for you. This blog has given me motivation to drop a few...for myself and for my training.

2 years 47 weeks

overweight is in the eye of the beholder. I would definetly hire a woman who maybe overweight in the eyes of society but it actually curvy and thick,

3 years 8 weeks

Personally thin looks different to each person. I would want an in shape trainer but have been impressed by really thin ones as well as those with a few extra lbs. I remember one instructor (had a little pooch) she was very motivating to me when I was really overweight because I did not feel so out of place and I felt hers was a body I could realistically have. Additionally, as i continued to take her class, I noticed her pooch leave and this was truly motivating for me. I have been working out really hard for about a year now and have lost 45lbs. I am still not a think girl but I can run circles around most of my friends who are much smaller than me. I am strong and have a lot of muscle and don't think I will ever be what one considers to be thin. I have been motivating other women to change their health habits to adopt ones they can keep up for long term. Many of these ladies appreciate the fact that I was where they were and can understand where they are coming from.

tezcatbus 4 years 44 weeks

of course I would! thin people don't have a monopoly on sense, and just because someone isn't in peak lifting condition anymore doesn't mean they have nothing to teach me. look at trainers for any other kind of sport - they tend to be older and more experienced, and now they train other people. the fact that they aren't in peak competition condition doesn't somehow magically mean their brains got erased.do i want a trainer strong enough to spot for me? yes. do i care if she has fat tits or chubby cheeks? nope. some of you need to get your heads out of your tiny asses.

tezcatbus 4 years 44 weeks

of course I would! thin people don't have a monopoly on sense, and just because someone isn't in peak lifting condition anymore doesn't mean they have nothing to teach me. look at trainers for any other kind of sport - they tend to be older and more experienced, and now they train other people. the fact that they aren't in peak competition condition doesn't somehow magically mean their brains got erased. do i want a trainer strong enough to spot for me? yes. do i care if she has fat tits or chubby cheeks? nope. some of you need to get your heads out of your tiny asses.

Wannabetrainer 4 years 47 weeks

I am overweight, and I would like to be a personal trainer. I exercise every day when I'm not working, but my career keeps me tied behind a desk for 12 hours a day, and I commute for another 2 hours. I'm a stress eater and have ADD as well, so to keep going and keep focused I overeat all the wrong foods all day long. I think that by becoming a personal trainer and giving up my Accounting career, I will eventually shed my excess weight. Why can't someone be training someone else at the same time they are getting into shape themselves? I have a 4.0 in school, a higher than normal IQ and the will to succeed despite my stress and ADD problems. I am good at motivating others! I don't have to have a flat stomache in order to recognize good or bad form in whomever I am training. I don't have to have visible biceps in order to teach someone how to lift weights. And as for setting an example, isn't that exactly what I would be doing? "If the fat lady trainer can do it, so can I!"

behemoth_the_cat 5 years 15 weeks

I want to say "yes", but if he's a personal trainer, then why is he overweight? Sports is what he does for a living! There really is no excuse for him to be overweight...

Dean 5 years 15 weeks

There are some magnificent sport coaches out there that are overweight or obese. Just the same there could be some excellent personal trainers that have their own issues and weaknesses for food, but are excellent at what they preach. Its just like an overweight doctor who smokes, he could be a much better physician than another doctor who isn't overweight and doesn't smoke. You shouldn't judge people by their outward appearance. You can have a personal trainer who is in good shape but isn't good at what they do and an overweight or obese trainer who is great at what they do. Who says you have to practice what you preach? It doesn’t mean you cant do you job, and do a great job of it too.

Posh Vee 5 years 50 weeks

hahahaa ! Hell no ;P I feel that a personal trainer should be there to motivate you . Seeing someone who is overweight probably won't motivate me to go to the gym.

SU3 6 years 2 weeks

I agree with what Oread said - 'I wouldn't have any belief that their method of training would work for me if it didn't look like it was working for them.' If they can't do what they are telling/teaching me to do... then absolutely NO.

geekygirl 6 years 2 weeks

Well, I live in a small, small town and there is only one gym and the chick that runs the aerobics classes is overweight (like, not just a bit overweight, i would guess needs to lose about 30 kilos to be healthy). she is a good instructor in that she comes up with good routines and is good about monitoring form and effort. it annoys me she can't do the whole routines (she goes for a walk around the room and sometimes i catch her 'hiding' up the back having a little rest). however, at the end of the day, i don't care, i'd rather have a fat aerobics instructor than none. but given the choice i'd prefer someone who practiced what they preached. anna ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find something good in every day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

geekygirl 6 years 2 weeks

Well, I live in a small, small town and there is only one gym and the chick that runs the aerobics classes is overweight (like, not just a bit overweight, i would guess needs to lose about 30 kilos to be healthy). she is a good instructor in that she comes up with good routines and is good about monitoring form and effort. it annoys me she can't do the whole routines (she goes for a walk around the room and sometimes i catch her 'hiding' up the back having a little rest). however, at the end of the day, i don't care, i'd rather have a fat aerobics instructor than none. but given the choice i'd prefer someone who practiced what they preached.anna~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Find something good in every day.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

krisua 6 years 2 weeks

This question made me laugh. The answer is a definite NO though... :)

aras8218 6 years 2 weeks

To train me? no the person should be in shape, not super thin but in good shape.For other positions, like receptionist or something, then it shouldn't matter.

wackdoodle 6 years 2 weeks

I would hire the best person for the job. If that trainer happened to be overweight but knew how to help me achieve what I want than excellent. as someone else wrote skinny/thin does not equal healthy or phyiscally fit.Reading through the other posts I see fat bias rearing its ulgy head. Fat people are lazy, lack self-control, self-respect etc. Yeah right if that were the case you'd never see a fat person in public cause they'd never leave their bed. Every skinny person or not so skinny person who has ever said a mean degrading thing to a fat person would be dead if fat people lack self-control. And self-respect knocking other people for their visable flaw to me shows that the lack of self-respect is coming from the skinny person toward the fat person.These fat bias are also applied in the work place. Employers deem that a fat employee who works hard is lack displine and shouldn't be promoted. Fat employees are put in behind the scenes, low paying, depressing positions, again because they have an issue that others can see and feel free to judge them for.

wackdoodle 6 years 2 weeks

I would hire the best person for the job. If that trainer happened to be overweight but knew how to help me achieve what I want than excellent. as someone else wrote skinny/thin does not equal healthy or phyiscally fit. Reading through the other posts I see fat bias rearing its ulgy head. Fat people are lazy, lack self-control, self-respect etc. Yeah right if that were the case you'd never see a fat person in public cause they'd never leave their bed. Every skinny person or not so skinny person who has ever said a mean degrading thing to a fat person would be dead if fat people lack self-control. And self-respect knocking other people for their visable flaw to me shows that the lack of self-respect is coming from the skinny person toward the fat person. These fat bias are also applied in the work place. Employers deem that a fat employee who works hard is lack displine and shouldn't be promoted. Fat employees are put in behind the scenes, low paying, depressing positions, again because they have an issue that others can see and feel free to judge them for.

inertia 6 years 2 weeks

My gym has no overweight instructors (it's in Tokyo, there's no way it would fly here), but I don't think I'd care if they did. I'm one of those weak and naturally thin people so I know well that being slim doesn't have anything to do with fitness. What I'm looking for in instructors is someone who can teach me how to improve my strength and endurance, and it's blatantly obvious to me that many of the overweight people at my gym are a million times better at that than I am. If the instructor is qualified, knowledgeable, and can do the routines, I don't care what they look like.

brennerj 6 years 2 weeks

i am a personal trainer myself and remember you can be thin and be out of shape also! Some people are not meant to be a size 6 or a size 2! Some people are not meant to have ripped abs it is all about what you inherit from your genes! lets face it some of us are just not meant to have great bodys no matter how hard you work you can make improvements but never have that perfect set of abs unless you are that one lucky person with genetics! I myself got 3-4 percent body fat and am a skinny little guy and yet dont have a ripped six pack but when it comes to comparing the endurance and strength of my abs not one person in my gym can last!

brennerj 6 years 2 weeks

sparklestar 6 years 2 weeks

I only hire trainers who look hot.=P

sparklestar 6 years 2 weeks

I only hire trainers who look hot. =P

Megg21 6 years 2 weeks

There are a lot of reasons people are overweight and a lot of people don't practice what they preach (including ministers). Ultimately what i look for in a trainer in someone who pushes me and who I feel comfortable working out in front of. In fact, it may put me more at ease to know a trainer has battled weight issues as well and understands food addictions and things.

kungfubunni 6 years 2 weeks

i have a yoga teacher who is pretty chubby and she is awesome. but i hear people after class mumbling about how they wouldn't want to take class with her b/c she isn't thin. yoga is a bit different though. i am not very flexible through my hips b/c of so many years of running, and some people who have never worked out have a much easier time getting into pigeon, or butterfly or split! also the sculpting teacher is not what i would call thin, but she's great and knows what she's doing... so I think everyone should be given a chance!

kungfubunni 6 years 2 weeks

Link Love

52 Comments

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