In a dazzling, welcome and somewhat out of character for Brazil, display of efficiency, the results of our introductory physical evaluation were sent by email the evening of the exam. Having run on a treadmill wearing a mask most commonly seen on fighter pilots, I was expecting the results to be somewhat technical. The myriad of pie charts and bar graphs didn’t disappoint. My husband and I met with a trainer the next morning to have our results explained.
I was all set to hear a trainer explain my good results and tell me I had passed my evaluation with flying colors. I’m certainly no Olympian but I’ve been going to the gym pretty regularly and I watch what I eat. I anticipated good results.
A red-shirted trainer pulled up my results on a computer in weight room. He took a second to skim the brightly colored charts.
“Ok, your goal is to drop your body fat percentage by 4%. You also need to increase your percentage of lean body mass. Your right shoulder hangs slightly lower than your left which makes your pelvis tilt up on your left side. We’re going to have to work on that. You really need to improve your cardio. The evaluator recommends at least 30 minutes on the treadmill a few times a week. We’ll give you some ab exercises to reduce your waist circumference and of course we’ll concentrate heavily on your glutes and thighs.”
I was waiting for him to tell me I had a brain tumor to go along with my fat, scoliosis, and weak heart. Then he scrolled farther down into the report, and my butt mugshots came into view.
These were the most unflattering, complex-inducing, fat-roll highlighting pictures any human being has ever had taken. With the helpful grid on the wall behind me, I could measure just how far out my butt protruded from my body. My profile shot provided a wonderful comparison between the horizontal extension of my butt and boobs, which, being under a sports bra, were non-existent according to the grid.
Never once did he say to me “This is really good,” or “You’re doing great in this area.” I heard nothing except my current measurements and goals to work toward. By the end of the review I was convinced I had some serious work to do and guilty of assault every time I put on a bikini.
What exactly were my results? Currently, I weigh 62.8 kg (138.45 lbs) and my body fat percentage is 18.35. My recommended goal is to reduce my body fat percentage to 14 and lose 2 kg (4.4lbs). To do this I will need to increase my lean body mass (muscle) by 1 kg.
When the trainer gave me those numbers, I had no idea how they compared to other people. I’m not a nutritionist or a doctor. The trainer just told how much fat I should work on losing. I was genuinely dismayed and believed I was in fact slightly over weight. Never once did he say “Wow, Brynn you’re actually in really great shape.”
Which is exactly what I am!! I am in awesome shape as two hours worth of internet research told me. Oh my god! I realize I look like an ass for being upset about discovering I’m in good shape but the trainer really made me believe I NEEDED to loose the fat. After visiting a dozen health sites, I learned that 14% body fat, my goal, is the lowest amount of fat an athletic woman my age should have. I need 12% body fat just for my organs to function well.
Trainers, a word of advice. If your client is already in good shape at the beginning of her training, lead with that! Rather than say “Your goal is to lose 4% body fat,” say “4% body fat is all you can lose and still be healthy.” It’s all in the presentation of the information. As a trainer you have the power to make a person feel like she’s got a great body or like she’s that “before” picture in all the diet pill ads.
Trust me, it’s not a hard sell to convince most women they need to lose weight. It’s more difficult to convince most of us that we’re perfectly healthy and can afford to enjoy a side a french fries.
Although, if the abundance of six packs and unitards is any indication, I bet most of the women at this gym haven’t eaten any kind of carb in the last decade.
Up next…
Part III: Dress Code
