When we think about fitness in general, we are inclined to think about lean, trim and well toned people or we think about people who build their body up. The media also portrays “gym rats” in this way, which makes us believe that all of us should be able to fit into this particular picture. At the end of the day, people go to the gym to achieve the same kind of results. However, how many of us really believe that you can be plus sized as well as athletic at the same time? Advertisements and media make it look like you can only be fit if you’re lean and skinny or have a lot of muscle, but this isn’t true. You can be plus sized and be more fit and healthy than a person who is skinny and does not work out. The gym if filled with people of all shapes and sizes, and all of them are trying to become healthier through better fitness. If you’re a plus sized person looking to make fitness a big part of your life, here are some pointers:
1. Go For It
Society makes you feel like you’re just “wrong” if you’re plus sized, and even the most resilient person can feel uncomfortable by all the unfair negative attention they might get at the gym. This might make people think that they’ll only go to the gym once they lose a bit of weight, or once they feel more fit or have more stamina so that they don’t feel out of place. However, this does not help anyone to become healthy and might even stall fitness goals. Don’t put conditions on how you’re supposed to look when want to make fitness a part of your life. After all, the gym is made to help people reach their fitness goals, and once you get into the groove, you will start seeing the changes you want.
2. Get The Right Gear
Once again, because media and advertisements cater to those who look like they are “ideally” fit, a lot of plus sized people don’t want to go looking for the right sort of attire. Setting for something that seems like it might be loose and comfortable can be tempting, but it can also lead to bad chafing of the skin, which can ultimately make you feel like fitness sucks. It’s important to find clothing that supports you and is comfortable at the same time. Moreover, good clothes that are fun can even make you feel like working out and inspire you to push and challenge yourself.
3. Look At Other Exercises
It’s easy to get lost in the current fad or trend and think that cross-fit training or exercising at the gym are the best and most optimal options (since it seems to be working out for everyone else). However, it’s not necessary that you do what everyone else is doing if you don’t like the exercises or hate doing them. There are plenty of options that can give you great results too, like swimming, yoga, hiking, jogging, cycling or weight lifting. These are also important exercises, and when done correctly, can still help you to achieve your fitness goals while helping you enjoy the exercising more.
4. Chafing Is A Part Of Fitness
You may feel like you’re doing something wrong because the chafing feels painful and awful, and might even put you off exercising for a while. It’s important to remember though that everyone, and I mean everyone, chafes. It’s not because you’re plus sized that the friction between the skin happens, and if you check out pages dedicated to fitness, you will see that all athletes have to deal with this uncomfortable phenomenon. There are plenty of creams out there that can help you to deal with the discomfort and reduce the instances of chafing, so investing in them can help you keep you going.
5. Aim For Strength And Not Weight Loss
A lot of plus sized people want to make fitness a part of their life because they want to lose weight or become lean and skinny. While this is a great goal as it can help you to feel more confident, it also limits you from seeing the other benefits that comes with fitness. Not only can being more fit help you to do more with your life, but it also gives you strength, stamina and energy to get through each day. Exercising helps to release endorphins, which can uplift your mood, and it helps your body to function optimally. Once you start feeling good, you also start looking good and this can become a really great cycle.
6. Keep It Fun
It’s really important to look at exercise as a beneficial and good thing instead of looking at it like a punishment. Find ways to incorporate the things you like into your exercise routine so that you don’t feel bogged down. There is no need to be on the treadmill for hours because you think that is the way to lose weight; mix it up and go for a run outside if you enjoy being in the great outdoors. Take a hike instead of going to the gym, or look for a gym buddy that can push you and help you to get more out of your exercises. You could even sign up for a dance class, or a sports team if that makes you happy. There is no “right” way to become more fit, and when you start making it more fun, it can make the journey towards fitness the best one yet.
