I posed this question on Instagram because there are many misconceptions when it comes to Personal Trainers and fitness coaches. This being, in order to be a Personal Trainer or Coach, you need to be ripped, big and muscly, and super lean. This is mostly due to the fact that we have social media now, compared to years ago when we didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, we have always thought and judged people on their looks. Personal Trainers are no exception. Many times I was hired specifically because I was extremely fit and lean. It wasn’t until after the fact that they learned of my qualifications. And even then, they honestly didn’t care. Bring in social media and it’s even worse!
There are cases made for and against hiring an overweight Personal Trainer. And then there are certain stipulations or exceptions like if the Trainer was fit before and is working themselves to be fit again. This seems to be an acceptable exception. The judgement comes in when they have never been fit and don’t seem to know their way around the gym. Another red flag is only working with clients that have never been fit, never worked out and don’t really know anything about working out. This makes it easy.
The Case Against Hiring A Personal Trainer That Is Overweight
This is a sensitive topic and one people don’t really like to talk about because they don’t want to seem fat phobic. But it isn’t always about that or being body positive. This has more to do with credibility. Fitness as an industry looks to a persons lifestyle and appearance as proof. And if they see a trainer or fitness coach that doesn’t seem to match up to the typical fitness lifestyle, then their eyebrows are raised and may question consistency and discipline. In essence is the Personal Trainer walking the talk. Are they practicing what they preach.
Practicing What They Preach
A Personal Trainer doesn’t need to be ripped or have a six pack but if you see them out of breath when they’re demonstrating an exercise or struggling with energy, stamina, and mobility, you will question how much they can actually help you.
Knowledge And Expertise Matter
Personal Trainers don’t have to look like athletes but they do need to know how to demonstrate and correct exercise form and function. They need to know how many reps, sets and rest needed for certain exercise goals. They need to know how to devise proper programming in order to get you results.
Health Isn’t Always Obvious
If a Personal Trainer’s lifestyle isn’t consistent to what they are teaching you about fitness and health, people namely clients will notice. This isn’t about how fat they are, it’s more to the point of are they authentic? How can they assure you of goal achievement when they can’t reach the goal themselves. This is how people are going to perceive this.
The Case For An Overweight Personal Trainer
Let’s first ask why this question even exists? What does looks have to do with being a competent Trainer? Most people have been conditioned by society that being a qualified Personal Trainer is a look and not a skill or being educated. A flat stomach equals qualified, a fat body equals unqualified. A six pack equals expert and no abs equals “I don’t know anything about fitness”. These ideas can’t be further from the truth but the fitness industry has pushed this message for decades! First it started with fitness magazines and has since moved on to social media. You’ve seen it. 6 weeks to a shredded you with someone on the front cover that looks exactly the part. This isn’t accidental, it’s to push fitness products and services and they don’t care whether it’s true or not, just that you buy.
What Does Having a Six Pack Tell You?
Having a six pack tells you that this person knows how to diet down to a body fat percentage that reveals muscle underneath adipose(fat). It doesn’t tell you if he or she can teach exercise technique, understand training principles, train you through injuries and correct your weaknesses, if they can listen and communicate, if they can pivot and adapt or motivate you to train longer than a few weeks. In other words you can be completely shredded and be absolutely terrible at Personal Training. Body fat percentage is not a credential.
So What Makes A Good Personal Trainer?
Whether the trainer is overweight or not, there are qualities that make a good Personal Trainer, the qualifications that you know as a client will get you results. These qualities are:
- They can program properly, not give out random exercises or exercises that are given out to everyone such as cookie cutter programs. The programs will be tailored to you and planned in advance of 6 weeks or so. There will be progressive overload with reps, sets, and rest.
- They will understand mindset, behavioural patterns and lifestyle so that they can keep you on track.
- They understand biomechanics, physiology, and injury management and prevention.
- They can empathize and understand you own unique challenges such as life and limitations and then work with them so that you achieve your fitness goals.
The Bias Runs Deep
If you’re asking yourself whether you want to hire someone who’s overweight, you already are placing looks above actual credentials. Instead of focusing on whether they look the part, focus on qualifications and credentials instead.
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