Australian fitness trainer Paul “PJ” James is gaining weight. On purpose. So far, he’s put on more than 40 pounds eating junk foods he’s spent years warning clients away from, and by not exercising.
In a Herald Sun article, James says he’s packing on the pounds to better understand why his clients have such trouble losing weight.
I think he’s full of it.
People who have difficulty losing weight struggle with more than just sweating off an excess of body fat. They usually have other challenges to overcome, such as food addictions, lack of fitness expertise, psychological issues like guilt and anxiety, or physical limitations that make traditional exercise difficult.
James has none of these obstacles. He not only knows exactly how to lose weight, but also how to be fit enough to model underwear.
Let’s call this what it is: a gimmick. Whether or not he convinces any potential clients that he’s walked a mile in their shoes, he’s already a PR success both here and Down Under.
James obviously hasn’t convinced me that he’s throwing away his health in a selfless quest for empathy, but I’m not his target market. Has he convinced you? Is this something you or other personal trainers think is worth your time — and your waistline?
5 comments:
Nope, I'm not convinced. And I'm coming from the people-who-HAVE-struggled-with-weight side of things. It's much more a mental thing than a physical one.
Until he can also adapt the mindset of someone struggling with overweight and obesity--someone who may have been struggling for most of their life with such problems--how can he say he's truly walked a mile in their shoes? Actors and actresses have repeatedly shown us that putting on and taking off weight is not such a hard thing when you have/are/know a professional trainer and have a good idea of portion control and what to eat. For the average Joe or Jill, who can't necessarily hire a slew of professionals and doesn't have the knowledge themselves, it's a different story.
I think you're right. This is a gimmick.
If it was marketing that PJ was after, he has been successful. this blog alone proves that.
Sadly, he has taken an approach to the overweight/obese that many trainers seem to have cemented in their heads - that the overweight got that way from overeating and from putting poor quality foods into their bodies.
Perhaps once he is finished with this experiment he will try to become overweight by not eating enough, by injecting himself with high doses of cortisol to simulate a high stress level, or by becoming a sedentary vegan who eats only organic foods, etc.
First off, I think this is a crazy idea to gain the weight intentially, but I can see the point and connection he is trying to make with clients. I hope he is making a documentray because if he ever has to do anything like this again he is going to be sorry. We all know it is hard to lose the weight and keep it off. Best of luck and thought that I could recommend something for when he starts his workouts again and starting slow to not reck his joints and everything. I have found that many people are frustrated with cardio because theya re too heavy and the weight they carry makes it much more difficult. So there is a new seated elliptical out there that is perfect for this market. You can find out more about the products at the following site http://www.seatedelliptical.com/. Check it out and review the companies. This will help you gain strength and get a great cardio workout.
I think he is full of it as in using it as an excuse or he's just nuts. We all know how hard it is to lose just a couple of pounds and we all know how easy it is to eat bad and hard it is to eat right. So what would be the point?
That is foolish, unwise and unhealthy! As a trainer, you don't need to become your overweight client to better serve them. Furthermore, others who may be looking at you training your clients may think, "What a fat, out-of-shape slob!" A trainer should walk their talk, not look like the people they are trying to help. You also risk acquiring health problems by gaining 40 pounds of fat on purpose!
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