I have been thinking of what to do next with my days and thought of doing a PT training course and utilise the skills and determination I have and my love of fitness.

I thought that perhaps I would specialise in training those who have serious weight problems and want to do something about it with someone who understands. I would do this with a girlfriend who is a dietician and councillor so that we could help them both mentally and physically. We would push you but with encouragement and not ridicule. We would offer a telephone support service as well for when things get tough.

So my question is, if you are overweight would you be interested in such a service? And if so what else would you like to see offered?

I am not overweight, but if I were, and wanted to lose it then that package would sound interesting. The counselling would play a significant part- each person has their own demons which have caused them to gain the weight in the first place, and until you conquer those, you will not lose the weight permanently. So a helpline/web site which provided out of hours services would be good- it is often in the evening/night that the munchies happen, as willpower is at its weakest.

Good luck.

I am and I would be interested but cost would play a factor (at least at the moment)

I know LOADS of women who would be interested in this....

But for many it depends upon pricing as to whether they take it up

Absolutely. I agree with others it would come down to cost. Also a lot of women, including me, know what to do. After all it isn't rocket science really. The motivation is what is sadly lacking for me and if you can produce a bit of that in women then you will be worth your weight in gold.

Exactly, I weigh 12 stone and need to get to 10 stone so that is a lot of weight to shift and money is a very real consideration in this.

Cost is something that we would have to factor in. The decision would be wether to charge a monthly/weekly fee or a pay as you come service. The trouble with pay as you come is that people tend to drop out and make excuses not to come, especially if they haven't already paid up front.

It would be group training so the fee would be lower than a one on one service and the diet sheets will be one for meat and fish eaters and one for vegetarians . We will also work out a diet plan for those with food allergies. We were thinking of changing the diet sheet on a fortnightly basis and all recipes will feed four.

I have been training a friend who was 85kg and didn't do any exercise. I worked out a diet plan for her and started her training. This morning she ran 11ks with me and now weighs 65kgs - she has also booked in for Run for the Kids 14.2ks and I am trying to get her to enter Run Melbourne Half Marathon (she will!!!) in July.

For me the exercise is always a worry as I have sjogrens which is now affecting my joints, I have discovered swimming is pretty good, I would love to do Pilates but dont think there is anywhere affordable where I live where you dont just get 6 sessions, I would like a pay as you go kind of pilates to fit around work.

Some form of online support, even if its just a facebook group (actually, some kind of forum based support would be better)

I don't know if its feasible for you to also offer one on one - I hate group stuff (although I understand that it works out cheaper for the members and they also get support from each other which can be invaluable)

Shit, that's a lot of weight to lose after just one run!

She was running to the maternity ward, but didn't quite make it.

Sounds like the Food Patrol

It's a great idea... thing is your getting close to people who could push themselves too far or get involved with people that could develop serious image and hence mental health issues. What happens if someone under your care develops anorexia for instance.

Having said that.... I do know someone that would be very interested..... If they are ready.

To be frank... Our oldest Daughter devleoped Anorexia and has always had image and weight issues. Our 3rd oldest daughter is probably obese... has no image issues... is probably in the top 3pct of school performers in the state, certainly at Physics Music and Maths... makes freinds easily...She could well be an anorexic time bomb, seeing as her oldest sister devloped this.

Strange thing is... Daughter no 2 (Nyz) and our son are slim .. with very little if any body fat.... all brought up the same with the same diet. It's definitely a metabolism/predispostion in our two daughters cases.

We are very wary of tackling our 3rd daughters weight issues... especially after the servere 3 year bout and hospitilization of our Oldest Daughter with Anorexia... considering she is doing so well in other aspects of her life... On target for the Melbourne Symphony and will definitely make Melbourne Uni easily... she's got aspirations to Study Nuclear Physics at Cambridge.

She even managed to get a job at Hoyts and loves the Podium work as she relates to people so well. I honestly dont know how she does it so naturally and easily and manages to shrug of any negative comments and turn people around.. She's even got a few boys chasing her. I read somewhere recently that large girls can be popular with boys as long as they are very intelligent... My daughter seems to be living proof of that report.

It would be great to get her sorted... even if she doesn't seem to be ready to face this yet..

If your willing to talk to her... she could well be a great example for any future people that come your way. I must admit at this stage it seems it's more my Wifes and I issue than 17 YO Shonas.

BTW she is already seeing a dietician and they are treating her with hormone tablets... she seems to want to forget the whole issue and regularly doesnt take her tablets.