Having had to take 2 1/2 months out of my normal walking and exercise routine, topped off with getting a heavy cold* a week after I started back at the gym, which laid me up for another fortnight, I'm begging to understand how difficult it must be for some. I've been active and relatively fit and strong, despite my fondness for beer/Scotch/red wine, all my adult life, I cannot imagine, but have had a glimpse at, how hard it must be to start a healthy lifestyle later in life.With summer fast approaching many of us are busy trying to shed a few kilos before hitting the beach, but it's a different story for personal trainer Drew Manning who has deliberately gained over a quarter of his body weight in fat.
After being fit for his entire life, Manning decided he wanted to gain insight into the struggles faced by some of his overweight clients by quitting his gym routine and consuming a diet high in processed foods – gaining over 30 kilos in the process.
Hailing from Utah, Manning gave himself six months to stack it on before attempting to reverse the weight gain, and is now just days away from embarking on a gruelling fitness kick.
“I had clients who would say I didn't know what it was like to be overweight or have cravings and addictions, and truth is I didn't,” he said. “So I decided to walk a mile in their shoes to try and get a better understanding of how to help them and others get back into shape.”
Gorging on an unrestricted “typical American diet” of pizza, pasta and soft drinks since May, in addition to zero exercise, he initially planned on gaining 25 kilos but has already exceeded that benchmark. And though he realises his experience differs greatly from those who've had weight issues all their lives he believes he can now better relate.
“I will never know what it's like for everyone that struggles being overweight,” he said. “I don't think a 300lb (136kg) person can say they know what it's like for a 400lb (182kg) person, or an overweight man to know exactly how an overweight woman feels. But I now have a better understanding of some of their trials both physically and emotionally, which will help me to assist them.”
The endeavour was clearly not without its risks. Manning admitted that while the freedom to eat whatever he wanted was fun at first, the novelty soon wore off. From being too tired to run around after his two-year-old daughter to sleep problems and uncomfortable chaffing, he said the side effects had been unpleasant and his personal physician has begged him to quit.
“If he continued on this path he faces diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and all the other lifestyle diseases we are unfortunately so familiar with,” said Dr Warren Willey. “His liver is being affected similar to that of an alcoholic and he doesn't even drink. He can barely climb stairs anymore and his strength is decreasing.”
But it's not solely the physical implications that are of concern to his wife, Lynn, who said she'd noticed her husband's moods fluctuate and found it difficult to adjust to his lack of self-confidence and increasing depression.
“I'm proud that he wants to help so many people but I didn't realise all the emotional ramifications and how it would change our family dynamic and marriage,” she says. “It's been hard to have him be depressed about his looks and tired and sore all the time. And, if I'm to be honest, I find him less attractive. It's not because of him being overweight. It's his attitude and confidence.”
With just over a week to go before he begins the second phase of the experiment – documenting his eating and exercise plans for free on his website from November 5 – Manning said he was looking forward to getting back on the treadmill, if not slightly apprehensive about the daunting task ahead.
“It's been harder then I thought but I have thousands of followers that are going to start the journey back with me and it makes it all worth it to know so many people are going to make changes and improve their lives,” he said. “I hope I can fight the cravings and stay committed to eating healthy. I definitely like things I didn't before.”
Michael Jarosky, a Sydney-based personal trainer and Fairfax fitness blogger, was critical of Manning's approach, describing it as "fat tourism".
“An obese person is so embarrassed they don’t know what to do. They don’t have the motivation, and their journey is completely different. He’s making a quick stop-off but he can’t wait to come home,” said Jarosky, who is a self-described former "chubby" strategy consultant and creator of Australia’s weight-loss-month initiative 'Droptober'.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/f ... z1c1tzQJKH
*Hen's had it worse and it's developed into Bronchitis.
