training obese clients - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[fitnessqueen28]

I need some ideas on how to train an very obese client. She's in her 30s, and 200 lbs overweight. No health problems or limitations. I know I should use low weights and high reps and do cardio drills with her, any other suggestions? Thanks!

[mikeperryfitness]

I take it you are looking into her diet, she got that big for a reason and no matter what you throw at her if she is still eating too much she ain't going to change much. Not trying to teach you to suck eggs but thought I'd state the obivious.

As for training I encourage her to do a hell of a lot of walking in between your sessions with her.

I normally suggest that a client of that size/weight would get out and walk every day for 15 minutes and build up to a 25 minute walk. That should really kick start her in the right direction.

[Christina]

I agree with Mike. You are not going to get anywhere unless you address her eating habits. Since she is so overweight I would find the phone numbers/websites for a few different dietitians in your area and give them to her. Explain to her that her eating habits is the most important thing that needs to be addressed.

Your goal is to get this woman moving and walking is one of the easiest things for her to do. If she is embarrassed to walk outside during the daytime tell her to wait until dark.

Modify exercises for her. Have her do wall pushups, quarter squats, etc. You could have her get up and down out of a chair for so many repetitions. She most likely carries a lot of excess abdominal fat so you have to plan exercises around this. Also, do not do things that require her to get on the floor because it will be hard for her to get up and down.

Hope this helps.

Christina

[wesuhlee]

start them off basic by going through form and technique...single set, moderate reps...weight bearing activities, unless greatly modified, appear to have lower success rates because of frustration due to failure to perform exercise to 100%...it also increases risk of injury

just ensure that she stays active everyday...even though continuous cardiorespiratory activity beyond 20 mins shows a greater expenditure of fat calories, a split routine in the beginning might help the client to just stay regularly active

send the client to a registered dietitian or a qualified nutritionist to help with controlling eating habits (networking is always a plus: i scratch your back, you scratch mine)