HIIT, Type 2 Diabetes, and Online Trainer Hate

As a personal trainer and a writer for 247Health.com, I research my writings before putting them on the web. I also spend time watching other influencers on Instagram more than I should. 

Some trainers are amazing, and others; I’m unsure if they’re online to help people or criticize other trainers.  

Anyways, most of my training business income is from one-on-one coaching or team coaching. However, it hasn’t always been this way. Once upon a time, I drove around the city doing group classes and at-home personal training.  I spent a lot of time in my vehicle, and more often than not, a client would cancel just before I pulled into their driveway.  Anyone with success has had to pay their dues, but this article is not about paying dues; it is why I offer free HIIT classes online.  

Over time, I have learned a lot about training and even more about human nature.  Most people hire trainers to lose weight, have accountability, get ready for a sports season, fit into a wedding dress, and sometimes because their life depends on it.  

That last one is more common than you might think. 

With 38% of men and 41% of women in the United States suffering from obesity, I’ve seen my share of desperate clients. Obesity has become one of the leading causes of death and is the main risk factor for several non-communicable diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes.  

Often when clients would approach me for help, from their perspective, hiring a trainer was super expensive. Going to the gym was embarrassing; they would admit that they wouldn’t know what to do once there.  This led me to offer group HIIT(high-intensity interval training) classes where I could get as many people to join my classes to charge less and help more. HIIT exercises are easy to modify. In the group setting, everyone performs the same exercise, concentrating on their goal and difficulty level; most people are hyper-focused on themselves, paying little attention to those around them. The classes were small enough to aid in eliminating anxiety in group settings. Not all, but some. HIIT isn’t the end all be all when it comes to exercise, but it’s a great place to find your footing and build strength and confidence. 

I chose HIIT because it gets people in great shape, the sessions are fast and over in less than 40 minutes, and multiple studies show HITT to be one of the best workouts for those with Type 2 diabetes. 

 I knew many of my new clients were suffering from high blood pressure and declining cardiovascular function; their A1C was too high, and some were on insulin.  Finding a workout that would not exclude my more advanced clients was also paramount.  High-intensity interval training was the obvious choice.  If adequately implemented, I could safely start my newer clients on basic bodyweight exercises.  While, at the same time, moving my existing clients to use more resistance as they progressed.  

Not only were my classes a success, but there was an overwhelming improvement in my clients who were once facing life or death health issues.  That was the real payoff. Every person I trained with type 2 diabetes lowered their numbers to a level where they were no longer considered diabetic. This allowed them to stop taking insulin and, in some cases, stop taking blood pressure medication.  These results aren’t always typical, but the possibility of a 100% recovery rate is too good to pass up.  As those clients got stronger and leaner, I could offer extra group strength sessions and maintain my existing clients.

As time has passed and I’ve expanded my business online, I can offer free workouts online.  I do a live HIIT class every day for anyone and everyone to do.  I show modifiers so beginners can do my workouts with advanced athletes.  The classes are free because I never want someone to suffer due to not being able to afford the solution or not knowing how to go about finding the answer. Especially when it’s something as simple as diet and exercise. We have a massive health crisis in this country, and as a health consultant and a trainer,  my job is to help fix it.  Some online influencers take issue with trainers giving away tips and tricks of the trade. I see them blasting people online for posting free HIIT workouts and accusing them of doing it just for clicks and views. Many trainers out there do their research and have paid their dues.  Trainers that can afford to help pay back the community that helped them succeed.  

So those that get mad, it’s not about clicks, it’s not about views, and it’s not about money. It’s about health.  In some cases, life or death. If you have the knowledge and passion for helping people that genuinely need it, then help however you can.  Free classes from a reputable trainer can be a safe, cost-effective way for you or someone you love to get healthy finally. 

So the next time you hear someone,  Keep this article in mind.  Now let’s talk about your diet…..