The Biggest Loser - Opinions?

[channlluv]

I've had two experiences myself with personal trainers. One through a gym where I was a member - it was a short-term promo thing trying to attract new clients. They rotated trainers depending on who was next in line, not who would be a good fit for me. I got a 23-year-old, 6'4", former pro-baseball player who'd blown out a knee or something, and was now doing personal training since he couldn't play ball anymore. Lovely guy. Literally. He was really handsome. And he had me doing some stuff that I wouldn't have tried on my own, and was amazed at my ease with the yoga moves, how strong I already was (I'd been taking yoga for a while, so the planks, warrior lunges, and such were a piece of cake), but his nutrition advice for me? Calories in, calories out. I could eat anything I wanted. He actually recommended, yes, recommended, Chik Fil-A because they use a healthy oil or something. Didn't last long after that. Maybe he can eat whatever he wants, but not me.

The next was that older woman trainer at the Y who took one look at me and advised me to stop eating potatoes and chips and things, because you know that's what every heavy person's problem is, all those bags of chips and cheesecakes we scarf down when no one's looking. Sheesh. We did not connect, needles to say.

Now I've getting great results working out with DH, who is doing the Core Performance workout that Lance Armstrong's trainer recommended. I'm feeling really strong - muscles I didn't know I had and all that. I still haven't lost any weight, but I've been laying off the aerobic stuff for over a month. Not on purpose. I just had an emergency trip to Florida, and then another a week later, and I got out of my every-day Y/cycling habit. And Daylight Savings happened, and I don't have lights on my bike.

Alas.

I don't watch the Biggest Loser. When I read about how those people game the system, it's not about getting in shape. I'm not learning anything new there that I can't learn here, and with a lot more love and support. And nobody here is going to vote me off the island, you know?

Roxy

[Catrin]

My current fitness club requires that all personal trainers have at least a B.S. degree (almost all of them have a Masters) in fitness/exercise science, and have ASCM certification (at least, most of them have multiple certifications). Our spinning instructor has all of the above, as well as certification in spinning and is a life-long avid cyclist.

I've never seen such a high level of qualification required by a fitness club for their training staff - but my club IS medically based and is part of an Osteopathic hospital (the fitness club is a massive facility). Their primary focus is wellness, and they will even waive the initiation fee if your doctor officially prescribes exercise.

My last fitness club did not seem to really have any requirements, at all, for their training staff other than a willingness to work for X amount an hour. I am taking full advantage of the trainers, there are two I work with, but I doubt that I would have ever done that if they were less qualified. From what I can tell, there seems little consistency between club to club regarding this.