Let's drum up business by insulting potential clients!

[fireheart17]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/fat-pe...-1226615873404

So a couple of personal trainers who cater to "already fit" clients, are now stating that fat people are like welfare cheats...

If you were trying to drum up business, you clearly failed on that front.

[HYHYBT]

Take *what* for free? Certainly, we pay for the extra food...

[Akasa]

That kind of attitude pisses me off. I'm not fit because I have injuries that make exercise difficult AND hypothyroidism. Try loosing weight when you can only do water aerobics and are fighting against your thyroid.

[Greenday]

That kind of attitude pisses me off. I'm not fit because I have injuries that make exercise difficult AND hypothyroidism. Try loosing weight when you can only do water aerobics and are fighting against your thyroid.

Would you say the majority of people who are overweight are like that because of injuries/sickness? If you were to put a percentage on it, how high would it be? Everyone else, feel free to chime in. Because I really do feel bad for people who are overweight and there is NOTHING they can do about it. That's a pretty shitty roll of the dice. But I feel like that's everybody's excuse as to why so many people are overweight these days. (I'm not saying you are just making excuses, I'm talking about people in general)

[Pixilated]

I'd like to blame middle age for my extra weight, and that may be accurate UP TO A POINT (e.g. I will never in this lifetime get back to 125 pounds ) but in my case no, it's not because I can't exercise. It's because I've grown accustomed to my car. When I was younger I would walk 30-40 minutes to get to the nearest convenience store (where I would promptly fill up on penny candy, but nevertheless ... and hey, I still had to walk home ). The nearest convenience store now is half that distance, but I don't walk -- I take my car. I have "reasons" for this, of course I do, but they are in reality excuses.

As for these 'trainers,' I sure wouldn't go to them to get fit. I have a distinct feeling I'd be at least a second-class citizen there.

[protege]

I blame my job and some health issues for my weight gain. Yep, I sit on my ass 9-10 hours a day and stare at computer screens. I try to get outside during my lunch hour--walk down to the railroad tracks, watch the local come through, etc. Probably about a dozen blocks in a circle. I've also been trying to hit up the local gym more often. But, with the weather screwing with my sinuses, the last thing I want to do...is attempt to work out while seeing stars!

Another thing that's taking its toll, is that my metabolism started slowing down a few years before I turned 30

[LewisLegion]

Yeah, article really doesn't say what, exactly, these overweight people are supposedly getting for free? If they hire this couple as personal trainers, they are paying for them to help them...just like everyone else.

Why do I get the feeling this is all so the trainers can point at their clientele and say, 'see? They all look fabulous! This is how good we are!' when in reality, they're simply working with people that are already fit and therefore, taking credit for something they're really not doing, only helping to maintain.

Does that make sense?

[Greenday]

I blame my overweightness on being in America. The nearest convenience store is 0.8 miles. Sure I could walk that. OR I could take my car, do my shopping, and get home before I'd even get there in the first place.

When I was in Afghanistan, I pretty much walked EVERYWHERE (Except when I had to go to the other side of the base, which was a 30 minute drive). Going to the bazaar? Ok, one mile each way. Going to visit my friends for dinner at another DFAC, one mile each way. No problem. Lost 25 pounds in a year. Only took me about three months to gain it all back in America.

[crashhelmet]

In countries with free healthcare, these people are getting more paid for on their behalf as they deal with all of the issues caused by their weight. Bypass surgery, joint replacement, whatever. Outside of that, I don't know what they're getting for free.

There are people who have valid medical reasons for why they carry the weight that they do. As we get older, our bodies change and it makes it difficult to lose weight or keep it off. Men produce less testosterone and go into Andropause, while women go through Menopause.

You also have people that make excuses.

A former roommate's ex-wife would swear up and down that she had a thyroid problem and would quickly lose weight once her insurance paid for the medication, as she ate 2 whole boxes of macaroni & cheese herself.

Other people pound on the pounds because they're completely sedentary. They stay glued to their TVs or monitors and consume the wrong things at the wrong portions and at the wrong times.

"I don't have time to exercise!" But they have time to play video games
"I exercise and can't lose the weight" and then they inhale a super-sized Big Mac "value" meal.

Greenday is right. American Society is equally to blame for our obesity epidemic. We're lazy and gluttonous. We'd rather drive than walk or ride a bike. We want the most for our dollar, so we buy the supersized extra value meals and the large sodas and the jumbo popcorn.

It's amazing how much we can change in our health, as well as our bank accounts, by being more self-controlling and self-disciplined

[Pixilated]

*snip*
Why do I get the feeling this is all so the trainers can point at their clientele and say, 'see? They all look fabulous! This is how good we are!' when in reality, they're simply working with people that are already fit and therefore, taking credit for something they're really not doing, only helping to maintain.

Does that make sense?

It makes perfectly good sense and sounds exactly like what they're doing. Would be interesting if they'd be willing to "show off" a client who started off badly overweight and is now down to a proper weight ... but doesn't look like a model.

[Andara Bledin]

I blame my overweightness on being in America. The nearest convenience store is 0.8 miles.

It's not like your location is forcing you to choose your car over walking or biking or whatever.

Me? I'm fat due to a combination of hypothyroidism and the fact that I'm lazy. And until a doctor tells me that it's affecting my health in a significant way, I can't be arsed to make the effort to do something about it that involves more than not eating too much, and making what I do eat as healthy as possible.

Honestly, I agree with the majority of the comments that they wanted a little notoriety to drum up business.

Otherwise, they need to shut the hell up about how overweight people "should be ashamed" and that it's ok to choose working out over family. Because, in the case of the latter, if that's the only choice you think you have, you need to take a long hard look at your priorities and scheduling more than you need to be working out.

[Panacea]

Shame isn't a good motivator. It creates anxiety and depression.

Yes, people need motivation to change. Looking in the mirror one day gave me a lot of motivation to lose weight. I started Tae Kwon Do, I go 3-4x/week and lost 30 lbs in six months.

Then I plateaued. Why? Because I didn't make enough dietary changes. Even when you try to eat healthy it is hard because healthy foods are very expensive. Sodium is added to everything except fresh vegetables and fruits in an effort to preserve them; well guess what? I retain sodium. I'm finding it next to impossible to control my sodium intake even when I do my own cooking, and I don't even add salt.

I could make more changes, and I could lose more weight. But it's very, very difficult and these trainers aren't doing a service to those who are really trying and unsuccessful for a myriad of reasons. Weight loss is not easy.

However, I doubt they'll go out of business. Their attitudes will reinforce the attitudes of their clients, who will smugly sign up in droves.