Sarah Cottrell has had a complex relationship with movement and her body since her high school days, where she struggled with an eating disorder and unhealthy exercise habits. It wasn’t until she turned 30 and sought therapy that she realized the seriousness of her past experiences, which would have met the clinical definition for anorexia.
During therapy, Sarah, now a lawyer turned career coach, began to explore the idea of reintroducing healthy movement into her life. However, finding a trainer who could help her without triggering her eating disorder was a challenge until she connected with Barb Puzanovova, a certified personal trainer in Nashville who takes a weight-neutral, health-at-any-size approach to training.
Barb and Sarah have been working together for almost two years now, emphasizing strength training without any focus on weight loss. This weight-neutral approach to coaching is gaining popularity among trainers who recognize the harmful effects of diet culture and weight bias in the fitness industry.
This approach prioritizes holistic well-being and rejects the idea that weight is the only indicator of health. Instead, trainers like Barb focus on improving quality of life, such as being able to run a 5K or play with their kids, without any emphasis on weight loss goals.
By removing intentional weight loss from the equation, clients are able to focus on what truly matters to them in terms of improving their overall health and well-being. This approach also shifts the emphasis away from punitive relationships with movement, promoting enjoyment and sustainability in exercise routines.
Overall, a weight-neutral approach to personal training recognizes that all bodies are meant to be in motion and that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise. It emphasizes the importance of joy and enjoyment in movement, rather than focusing solely on appearance or weight loss goals.
