PT Is Not About Fat Shaming

A Sydney-based personal trainer wants to let new mums and anyone who is struggling with their health that not all personal trainers are insensitive and out to make them feel shame.

Luke Heath, from Luke Heath Dynamic Fitness, said it seems every few months a personal trainer comes out with outlandish statements about the people they are meant to be helping.  “All it does it makes people feel bad and less inclined to seek help, and makes personal trainers look like jerks,” he said. “I want to put it out there that we are not all the same.”

Luke has been working in the industry for over 10 years. In this time he has seen fads come and go. “The most important element of getting fit and healthy is dedicating time to it, but it does not have to be hours to be great results,” he said.

“Unfortunately the trainers making sweeping statements miss the obvious – personal training is about caring for your client.

“When you are overweight, or had a new bub and want to get back into shape, you do want someone to hold your hand…to mentor and inspire you.”

Luke said sometimes to make a start on creating a new lifestyle all it takes is someone to show you how. “Another big problem with our industry trainer slamming clients so hard it causes injury because the thought process is go hard or go home,” he said.

“The client goes to training once or twice, gets so sore they cannot sit on the loo and never go back.”

The key, according to Luke, is a balance of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and functional fitness.

Luke said he has found a five minute HIIT session can make the world of difference to fitness levels, well-being, life, and sleep patterns.

“Research shows one session of HIIT can burn calories for 1.5 - 24 hours after exercise,” he said.

“It also increases endorphin flow, which makes you feel fantastic and on-top of the world during and post exercise; it can last for hours.

“It also decreases stress levels…and let’s face it when mum is happy, baby is happy and when the baby is happy, mum is happy.

Coupled with functional fitness, you have a recipe for an effective and injury-free workout.

Luke said functional fitness may be the latest buzzword but it is based on logic. “It's about training your body to handle real-life situations,” he said. “And on integration. By teaching all the muscles to work together rather than isolating them to work independently.”

In a few weeks, Luke will be launching his new iPhone app – Luke Heath Fitness App, which contains workout walk through, complete workouts packs, equipment lists, audio motivation, hints and tip videos, and workout and compete with friends.

Luke said he is running a competition from October, using the app, to help mums back to their pre-pregnancy body. “All you need is five minutes a day. Take before and after shots and enter them into the App Competition for a chance to win,” he said.

www.lukeheathfitness.com.au

ENDS