Many people are posting on this thread that "you can be many body shapes and be fit." I agree, but I think what's good for you in a coach/trainer depends on your definition of "fit" and your goals.

My immediate goals right now are mostly related to strength. Lots of guys who hit the kinds of numbers have a lot more body fat than me. I know that they can teach me a lot about technique and load management, but I'm not comfortable eating like they do even if it would help me get to my strength goals faster. And those guys' answer to questions about gaining strength from guys who are thin is usually some variant of "just eat more" which isn't helpful. So I'd likely do better with a strength coach who has hit my strength goals while maintaining bodyfat in a similar range as my goal.

When I was a runner, my goals were a sub-3 hour marathon and a sub 19 5K. I could have gotten good coaching from somebody heavier than me (lots of great track coaches are), but it's hard to know which of those people really know there stuff. On the other hand, a coach who is running 15:XX 5Ks is likely somewhat genetically blessed but also likely knows a bit about training, so that's the kind of person I'd seek out. None of those people are heavy.

If someone's goal from barre is good posture or being good at barre, then I agree with PPs. If the person's goals include wanting lower bodyfat, then I agree with OP that a trainer who has accomplished that might be a better fit because the instructor's body composition acts as a proxy for what they know and their experience (as unfair as that may be for a whole variety of reasons).

The thin instructors at my barre studio are younger than me. I had a really toned, fit looking body at their ages. Problem was that I still ate junk then and now, I’m my mid-30s, my diet has a helluva lot more to do with my appearance than it did before. Plenty of people leave the studio and go to brunch or happy hour. I no longer have that option if I want to see visual progress. You could also be enamored with ectomorph body types that struggle to put on weight.

Anonymous wrote:Old thread, but I go to 9 Round and one of the trainers at my location is on the bigger side, but her technique and stamina is awe inspiring. There are all kinds of body types among the trainers and I actually found the diversity inspiring.

+1 have you seen Christine from peloton? One of the bigger women, huge following, professional cyclist.

OP life is passing you by. So sorry for you.

Old thread, but I go to 9 Round and one of the trainers at my location is on the bigger side, but her technique and stamina is awe inspiring. There are all kinds of body types among the trainers and I actually found the diversity inspiring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am on a weight loss journey and belong to a barre studio where there are lots of different and not ideal shapes, myself included. They recently hired an instructor who belongs to that category - not obese but no visible muscle tone and probably 15 lbs overweight. I’m trying to be understanding because I’m not in amazing shape myself, but it is so demotivating working out with an instructor who I have zero interest in looking like. It sucks because she took over several time slots that work best for my schedule. Am I just a horrible person or does anyone else feel like this?

The body image issues in this country make me wary of a statement like this. Maybe you think she has no muscle tone and is overweight, but that might not actually be true. Maybe you need to rethink what overweight looks like.

I totally agree. I could see if it were someone who is morbidly obese and could barely move etc. But this description is flawed in so many ways. Does Serena Williams have a “not ideal body type?” My guess is youd say yes.

OP here. Don’t be patronizing - you know I’m not saying my instructor looks like Serena. Like the PP said, I work out to look fit and toned. That comes in many variations, but soft and fluffy is never it.

You're disgusting.

One of the best instructors I know looks like a couch potato and kills it in class — totally in awe of her and wish I could perform the same.

I say for your money either change your schedule or go somewhere else. You are who you are. DCUM will not change your feelings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..."it is so demotivating working out with an instructor who I have zero interest in looking like."

Why does this matter so much to you? I would start from there.

NP here. It matters to me because I’m working out to improve my physical fitness. If the exercise class I’m taking will only result in a physique that’s 20 pounds overweight, well that’s not very motivating.

Most people take barre, Pilates, whatever class because they’re interested in having a toned fit body. The end goal is not to learn to do the perfect plié. People are doing the plié because it promises the end goal of a toned body. An out of shape instructor sends the message that the class doesn’t work. That no matter how well you master the class, you will not be toned and fit.

I don’t know about you, but it would be super demoralizing for me - especially since time is at a premium.

bar and pilates is not going to give you a fit toned body what matters is having a diet that keeps your body fat low. Anyone can look fit and "toned" with a low enough body fat percentage.

but I guess looking "toned" matters more to you than actually being strong. I can follow Gisele's yoga routine all i want, but i am NEVER going to have her body. Simply not possible giving my genetic build and all the barre in the world isn't going to give you a ballerina's body.

can she perform all the exercises she is instructing you to perform? if she can then she is plenty fit. Stop judging a book by it's cover. There are lot of women who look fit but they are really skinny fat, not strong and not at all fit. On the flip side I know some incredibly strong women who are not cut/have a thin layer of fat, but are in incredible shape and could out lift and out run most of the skinny girls. There is more to health and fitness than how your body looks.

One of the best yoga instructors I ever had was just a wee bit on the chunky side and not visibly toned. She was extremely flexible and a great teacher with a really nice rapport with her students. In contrast, I am very muscular but have the flexibility of a steel beam.

Unclear on why you think she is out of shape. Is she unable to complete the class? Having to take frequent rests?

Anonymous wrote:OP, I say this gently and I hope you take it that way - I honestly think you may be a little warped in your thinking about bodies. Your "weight loss journey" should take you to wherever is right for your body, but the truth is that there's a pretty wide range of healthy bodies and exercise (particularly Barre) does a lot of great things for bodies but is only one factor in weight loss/management.

Also, how about a little generosity towards your fellow man? I think you know that this is coming from a pretty negative place, and that's why you're asking if you're a horrible person. I don't think you're a horrible person - it's much more likely that this is just spillover from a pretty toxic self-image that you're trying to rectify by working out to "look like" someone else. Long run, that's probably not going to work no matter how much you weigh.

Well said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..."it is so demotivating working out with an instructor who I have zero interest in looking like."

Why does this matter so much to you? I would start from there.

NP here. It matters to me because I’m working out to improve my physical fitness. If the exercise class I’m taking will only result in a physique that’s 20 pounds overweight, well that’s not very motivating.

Most people take barre, Pilates, whatever class because they’re interested in having a toned fit body. The end goal is not to learn to do the perfect plié. People are doing the plié because it promises the end goal of a toned body. An out of shape instructor sends the message that the class doesn’t work. That no matter how well you master the class, you will not be toned and fit.

I don’t know about you, but it would be super demoralizing for me - especially since time is at a premium.

Maybe she just had a baby???

Barre isn’t going to make you skinny. A good diet will.

The best yoga teacher I ever had was a tubby male.