Beyond the physical

When Renata's doctor referred her to me, Renata was exhausted and discouraged. It was her third experience with a personal trainer and, although she had physically shown up for the appointment, in her eyes I could see she hadn't quite arrived. Who could blame Renata for her lack of enthusiasm? Two years prior, she laid down her hard-earned money on personal trainer #1 and #2. A library of diet plans had already failed her. Just looking at those cardboard-boxed, pre-packed meals made her stomach rumble for anything fried, flaky or alfredo-ed. She lost count of the number of times she had fallen off the latest fitness bandwagon. Spiritually hungry and emotionally bruised, Renata was convinced she was a lazy, will-lacking, unmotivated person who would simply have to pay someone to force her to eat well and exercise.

Renata's first trainer accepted the aforementioned theory as the reason she needed assistance. Technically, P.T. #1 did everything right. A basic fitness evaluation was followed by some dietary suggestions. Written fitness goals were sealed with appointment bookings--three times per week for the next three months--which Renata wrote a $1,800 check for. Renata showed up, exercised and attempted to "be good" with her eating. She even experienced moments of inspiration, just like the first few days she maintained a new diet.

However, as time passed she often found herself rescheduling or arriving late to appointments. When asked about her diet progress, she felt guilty for not doing better. Although P.T. #1 was supportive, Renata began to feel dependent on her trainer for success. The pay-to-be-forced-to-exercise plan did not help her the 23 hours of the day she was not with her trainer. Renata knew her weight loss equation lacked something. She just didn't know what "it" was.

Leaving her first trainer for P.T. #2, Renata continued her search for "the magic cure." She experienced the same initial enthusiasm followed by an even lower drop in motivation. P.T. #2 suggested Renata wait until she was "really" ready to lose weight. Ashamed at her lack of progress, not to mention money, she agreed.

"Not ready to lose weight?" she repeated to herself. To Renata, her readiness was obnoxiously evident by the 22 years spent constantly consumed by food, dieting and the size of her body! She doubted she would ever experience balance, peace of mind or the joy of living in a healthy, fit body. At age 42, Renata felt a deep sense of failure and desperation. She requested a prescription for anti-depressants from her doctor. Instead, her physician suggested she speak to a trainer with a different approach to losing weight. Fortunately, Renata agreed and we met simply to talk.

Renata's story strikes a cord with many fitness professionals. After years of battling her body, Renata believed her appearance would always dissatisfy her. As a trainer, improving a client's negative body image can be extremely challenging. How can fitness professionals inspire clients to adopt healthier attitudes toward themselves--in body, mind and spirit?

With Renata, we started by examining her beliefs on weight loss. For example, I asked:

* Why do you want to lose weight?

* Are overweight people less lovable?

* How do you think losing weight would make you feel?

* Are your beliefs regarding weight loss really yours or simply ones accepted, ingrained and reinforced years ago?

* What do health and happiness feel like?

* How can you create those feelings more often in your life today, prior to losing weight?

* Why do you quit your routine when you begin to make progress?

* What are you willing to do in order to reach your goals?

* What are you not willing to do?

* What messages does the media force-feed you?

* What do you want to do with these messages?

Question after question, we both became excited as we peeled away the layers of Renata's accepted ideas, notions and belief about weight loss and body image. As she identified the emotions she wanted to experience, she began to recognize how lost she had become.

Many trainers skip this crucial first step with their clients and focus solely on the physical, external factors regarding weight loss--calories in, calories out, the proper diet, frequency and intensity of exercise. This is what Renata had always done, yet time and time again she dropped out of her fitness regimen. Why? Because she failed to identify her true source of inspiration. Diets became punishing and exercise a chore. Feelings of failure overpowered her goals and, ultimately, trying to lose weight became a greater source of pain--losing her self-esteem.

By having Renata challenge her body image and weight loss beliefs, she could recognize why she failed to reach her fitness goals. Her unhappiness did not derive from her inability to lose weight. Instead, her desperation came from the spiritual and creative void produced by 22 years spent measuring her worth by the size of her waist. Renata had empowered the scale to determine her value as a human being. Yet, one's spirit is unweighable.