NEW YORK -
Ryan Harbrecht struggled to lose weight on his own for nearly his entire life.
"My knowledge of working out is very limited. But no real guidance, no real goal setting, just that desire to change, but no action behind it," said Harbrecht.
The weight just kept piling on. He got up to 375 pounds.
"There was also a lot of depression going on," Harbrecht explained.
Desperate to get healthy, both physically and emotionally. He hired a personal
trainer.
"It's about the dealing with the personal issues, personal obstacles and setting something up that meets them at their place of need, and then following up over time," said certified personal trainer Cris Dobrosielski.
The demand for personal trainers is growing. The number of fitness instructors is expected to jump almost 25 percent over the next decade.
Doctor Cedric Bryant from the American Council on Exercise believes the spike is directly connected to the nation's obesity epidemic.
"No doubt, personal trainers are seeing more obese individuals and individuals who are suffering from a variety of obesity related conditions," said Bryant.
But sticking with it has been tough for Ryan. He quit his workout program for more than three years before coming back.
"It's not happiness in a pill its not going to a doctor and having something done. It's really sticking for the long haul and getting it done in a healthy fashion," said Ryan
Since March, Ryan has lost two inches from his waist and added healthy muscle. His goal is to lose 50 pounds over the next year but says he's more proud of what he's gained in the process.
Ryan's excessive weight is also taking a toll on his health. He has metabolic syndrome which puts him at risk for heart disease.
Bigad Shaban -- CBS News
