Hello everyone.

I am currently studying with ISSA to become a trainer...

I've gotten myself a potential client...he is my co-worker...and I need advice from an experienced trainer or guru of the sort.

He wants to sign up to the gym with me and I want to help him with his nutrition and exercise program.

Thing is...I'm unsure how to approach this. Being his size I don't want to get his back or joints injured.

Two things I want to do with him before we hit the gym.

1) Get him to walk 2-3 times a week for half an hour for a couple of weeks
2) Get his core in shape.

#1 is easy...but #2 is tricky for me as I've never helped anyone this big before...how do I get his core in decent shape without destroying his back or joints? And how do I proceed with stretching with a person this big?

He is in the 305-310 lbs range. He is about 6' 2".

For the first two weeks I will have him do 3 cardio sessions per week to get his heart used to exercise after which I will switch his routine to a 5-10 min light cardio warm-up followed by high rep/endurance circuit training. I will be switching his routines every 4 weeks in order to eliminate any chance of his body reaching a plateau in development. After 1 month I will get him to go to the gym 4 times a weeks and will gradually get him to get 5 times per week. I will make him a solid nutritional plan that will also help him in his goals.

I have a good 3 weeks ahead of me before we start...it will give me time to develop a solid exercise/eating plan for him.

I am excited...I can't wait to start.

Any comments are very VERY appreciated. I am not finished going through my studies with ISSA yet so I understand that some of my questions might seem odd.

Thanks!

Eric

I bet you can't wait to start, they sound like a good challenge.

To get straight to your question to train their core you will need to start straight at basics, before you even consider taking him into any ab exercises.

Get them practicing activating their transverse abdominals by sucking their belly button in and up and holding it there. They can do this in their own time as often as they possibly can. Of course it will be easier for them to start lying on their back and trying it, but practice practice will make them perfect at it as I am sure you know. After a few weeks of constant practice they should have some sort of basis of core strength. From this point I would probably advance it to activating their transverse abdominals whilst seated with perfect posture on a fit ball. Starting with feet apart for the most stability, then feet together, then feet together and eyes closed, then one foot in the air and finally one foot in the air and eyes closed.

After all that I would then start introducing them to some harder core exercises.

As for stretching I would get them to stretch themselves under your instruction if you are worried that they are just too big for you to give an effective stretch. Whilst it may seem that they are not getting a full service it is important for your own safety and their stretching.

As a side note I would say for someone this size that you try and make the stretching a slow process. As you are aware their hamstrings, piriformis muscles, illiopsoas and lower back muscles are all likely to be shortened but very strong. If you progress the stretching too quickly you will of course make the muscles longer but of course they will also be much weaker which could result in an injury.

Anyway I wish you all the best and I hope I have been of some help. Good luck and enjoy being a trainer.

Thank you very much.