“Smart Marketing Idea”: Fitness Coach Gains Nearly 30kg to Empathise With Clients, SA Debates

• A local fitness coach undertook a radical experiment, intentionally gaining 30kg to gain a deeper understanding of his clients' struggles
• The remarkable and daring journey, originally posted on a local publication and shared on Facebook, sparked conversations about health and empathy in the fitness industry
• Social media users responded with a mix of worry for his health, curiosity about his methods, and excitement for his upcoming weight loss journey
• Briefly News got in touch with a trusted fitness expert about the influencer's strategy

A fascinating online post highlighted a unique personal experiment undertaken by a Johannesburg-based fitness coach.

The bold initiative was shared on TimesLIVE's Facebook account, garnering a diverse range of responses from social media users.

Kopano Mokhele, a content creator and online fitness coach, embarked on a personal mission: to intentionally gain 30kg. His bold plan is to then lose all the weight by November, in a radical attempt to better understand his clients' weight loss struggles. Speaking to the above-mentioned local publication, the trainer shares that he was inspired by a documentary he watched years ago.

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The documentary featured coaches who put on weight to empathise with their clients. While acknowledging the idea was not original, Kopano believes he is the first person to undertake such a project in Africa, and that it would help him grow as a more impactful coach.

Briefly News journalist Moroba Maepa reached out to fitness expert and certified personal trainer Mothusi Maepa, who weighed in on Mokhele's weight-loss strategy:

"What he is doing now is being in a calorie deficit, which is eating less. When you look at his recent vlogs, on average, he consumes 2000 calories, cutting about 3000 calories from his 'sdudla journey.'

"He's also being active through walking, even though he hasn't gone to the gym yet; it is still effective. Because he has trained before, he is likely to lose the weight due to muscle memory. Even if there wasn't muscle memory, being in a calorie deficit guarantees that you will lose weight."

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A journey of empathy

Throughout the process, Kopano has been consulting with health professionals to monitor the effects of his weight gain on his body, including his cholesterol and potential diabetes risks. He shares that he wants to mimic how most people live, ignoring their health until it is too late to intervene. He found a new level of empathy, stating that his four-month journey could not compare to someone who has battled obesity their whole life.

Kopano explains that this project has made him more disciplined, and he believes that if he can build a business while feeling unhealthy, he can do even greater things once he returns to his healthy self. Out of the 30kg he wanted to gain, he ended up gaining 25 kilograms by the end of his experiment date.

SA voices concerns and support

The post gained significant traction, with social media users expressing a variety of opinions. Many voiced strong concerns about Kopano's well-being, sharing fears that gaining such a significant amount of weight in a short period was putting him at risk of developing numerous diseases.

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Some were intrigued by the physical aspect of the experiment itself, asking for advice on how he managed to gain the weight, as they had struggled to do so for many years. Others expressed their excitement to follow his weight loss journey, with many promising to support him every step of the way.

User @Sibusiso Khumalo said:

"He is taking a huge risk of triggering diabetes. Once that one is activated, it stays for good, even if he loses the weight."

User @Emily Leonie Lutchmanen asked:

"Where do we follow him?"

User @Sepato Stemzo commented:

"One of the smartest marketing ideas I have ever seen on socials in ages. He gained massive followers, and now news outlets are talking about him. One radio station is looking for an interview. He’s about to bag massive product collaborations."

User @Juvy King Monyela asked:

"Can this guy show me how to gain weight? I've been a size 24 since 1995 when I was at Wits Technikon."

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User @Simphiwe Sims Madlala

"This is actually genius."

User @Sibusiso Khumalo warned:

"He is taking a huge risk of triggering diabetes. Once that one is activated, it stays for good, even if he loses the weight."

Watch the Instagram video below:

3 Briefly News articles about weight loss

• A mother proudly shows off her incredible transformation, revealing a toned figure after committing to a calorie-deficit diet, a fitness routine and using an ab wheel.
• A woman shared her inspiring weight loss transformation journey, showing a remarkable before-and-after video of herself and adding that she lost weight with a controlled diet and gym.
• A local woman who used to weigh 95kg flaunted her slim and toned body after losing 11 kg and moving to 84 kg, crediting her dedicated gym routine and calorie-deficit diet.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News