Personal trainer becomes obese on purpose to experience what clients go through
Here’s something you don’t see every day: In the battle of the bulge, one man is trying to gain weight rather than lose it. And what makes this even more interesting is that the man in question just so happens to be a personal trainer.
Why would someone whose job is to help people lose weight and get healthy, subject themselves to eating garbage foods and not exercising, you ask? Well, 30-year old Drew Manning from Eagle Mountain, Utah wanted to experience firsthand what his clients went through when struggling to get their fitness on track. Since May, Manning has gained about 70 pounds as part of his 6-month challenge of letting himself go. He’ll spend the following six months getting back into shape.
On his website, Manning says that his goal is to “Inspire people to get fit, teach them how to do it and give them hope that it IS possible to get fit and stay fit.”
In an interview with FatFighterTV, Manning says he now understand how intense and real food cravings and addiction are for overweight and obese people, and shares how he feels about the process so far.
“I’m to the point where I feel lethargic and uncomfortable. I definitely feel “addicted” to these foods," he says. "In the beginning, I did not like soda, but now I can’t go a day without, otherwise I’ll get the headaches, bad mood, etc. Emotionally, it’s taken a toll on my confidence level, even in my marriage. I don’t like the way I look in public; nothing fits right; bending over to tie my shoes or clip my toe nails has become so difficult. I’ve definitely taken those things for granted.”
Gaining weight intentionally doesn’t seem like a very healthy thing to do, with the risk of illnesses increasing the higher your BMI climbs, and doctors agree. Gaining a lot of weight quickly can result in high blood pressure, back aches, diabetes and heart disease, not to mention the stress it places on your joints and emotional health.
Manning has been monitored by doctors since he began his experiment. His wife Lynn tells the Daily Mail, “They're worried about his blood pressure, which has gone through the roof. They want to put him on medication.”
When it comes to taking off the weight, Dietitians of Canada recommends a weight loss goal of no more than two pounds per week.
We hope that Manning’s health doesn’t suffer from any permanent damage and he meets his goal of being better able to understand his clients’ struggles. You can follow Manning’s journey at fit2fat2fit.com.
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