steps used to design a training program for an overweight person
Well Phylist,
The fact that you say the person is overweight gives me an indication that his/her goal is a goal related to a health outcome as opposed to a fitness outcome.
You haven’t mentioned whether this individual has any medical conditions which might have an effect on how one approaches program design.
Having said that I would say follow the guidelines for exercise programming for health outcome making sure you tailor it towards your individual.
Best to you!
Hi Phylist. The steps necessary to design a program for an overweight person (or any person for that matter) require certain information and considerations. Before you start trying to design a program, in my opinion you need to take such steps as: making sure that the client has been medically cleared to exercise; conducting an initial fitness assessment; discuss the client’s goals; discuss and determine any physical, health, emotional or other limitations to exercise that your client may be facing …
Once you’ve taken these initial steps, then you will/should base your program design on what is appropriate based on your findings.
I hope that this helps.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
[email protected]
Hello Phylist,
I want to add a few comments to LaRue’s recommendations. The first steps towards the program design are always the same in that you get clearance to exercise, perform an assessment and otherwise gather as much information as you possible can about the client’s health status and goals.
The program itself will depend also on other criteria: overweight clients often have limitations that make certain exercises almost impossible to do. Many overweight clients cannot get off the floor or could not safely get off a flat bench, for example. That eliminates a fair number of exercises. Knees and the power back are often painful. It is here where the creativity of a trainer comes in. If an overweight client has seen a physical therapist, those exercises can be a good starting point.
There is no one set of recommendations because every client present himself with unique challenges.
I wish you good luck.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com
