I have an interesting dilemma. I'm a Community Support Worker who has a client that wants to loose weight (384 pounds, size 54 waist). I've been working with him for a year and have only finally managed to convince him to try working out. His primary issue with weight gain is the amount of pop he drinks, we've been trying to get him to drink diet pop, but he doesn't like the taste.
I'm just trying to workout what the best strategy would be for a workout program, I'm thinking of getting him to focus on callories being burnt on the cycling machine because the cognitive disability means everything has to be incredibly simple.

Has anyone ever worked with a person with a cognitive disability to try to lose weight? Any advice?

At 384 lbs, any physical activity you can get him to do is a step in the right direction. Focus on activities that get him moving and working up a sweat, but are also fun. This way he will do them for longer, and end up burning more calories in the long run, rather than trying to convince him that he needs to do exercises that are probably boring to him, and frustrating for you.

He doesen't even need to be in the gym for this. I would get him outside and kick a soccer ball around with him, go for walks, and that sort of thing. Activities that require coordination as well as physical effort are ideal for people with his abilities.

I have no clue if you are certified or not, but at 384 pounds this person should be under the direction of a doctor or very professional and knowledgable trainer and nutritionist.

Doing anything above walking is probably too much at this point. I am not sure what sort of responsibility you have for this client... but if you have control to take away the soda...

My thought is to get a professional involved. You may be one. If not, it could be a big liability.

About the soda, have you tried giving him something with Splenda rather than nutrasweet? I personally think the taste is much more tolerable.