Despite this, I still wanted to lose weight, but this desire took a backseat to the rewards of my physical achievements. I observed other plus-size women being recognized for their athleticism, and recognized the same potential in myself. We still have a long way to go, but the media are starting to wake up to examples of athletes just like you and me. Plus-size women are competing at the Olympics in weightlifting and track and field. They’re playing soccer, and they’re running triathlons and marathons. They’re training at fitness classes all around the world.
Throughout history, our plus-size male counterparts have been more visible, performing at elite levels in the NFL, in the boxing ring, and on the PGA tour. This is not a new concept. Plus-size athletes appear throughout Japanese history in sumo wrestling, the country’s national sport. In sumo, the bigger the body, the bigger the advantage and the more power behind the grapple.
When I opened my eyes and took a closer look, I found plus-size athletes in small pockets throughout society. This discovery was the beginning of my belief that big bodies can also be fit and athletic bodies. My entire outlook on what was possible changed dramatically. In my mind, the size of my body was no longer a barrier to becoming an athlete, and I started to feel unstoppable. Your body size is not a barrier for you either. You too can be unstoppable.
I began running regularly, and with a few races under my belt, I ventured into cross-training. I hired a personal trainer, Amanda, to support me as I learned how to lift weights. Like Chris, she never treated me differently because of my body size. She pushed me to become more and more of an athlete. After several months of working together, she asked me if I wanted to help her as a run leader for a “Learn to Run 10K” clinic. After running for a few years, I was now in the position to be just like Chris: to inspire and lead new runners to their first finish line. The old, frightened me wanted to say no. The new, reckless fitness girl said, “Hell yes!”
The next thirteen weeks were the most rewarding of my life as I helped lead a group of people to their first 10K race. On the day of the race, I guided the group through sun and rain; we ran like warriors who couldn’t be stopped. Not long before, I had been where they were, and I knew what they were feeling—a combination of worry, doubt, and hope. On race day I reflected on how far I had come and was grateful I had allowed myself to pay it forward. From that moment, I was hooked on leading others to achieve their athletic dreams. From there it was a short path to becoming a certified fitness professional, quitting my unfulfilling day job, and creating an innovative fitness company geared toward helping plus-size women achieve their athletic dreams.
Whether you are an avid walker, a triathlete, a ballroom dancer, or an Olympic weightlifter, or if you aspire to be all these things and more, your presence as a plus-size woman working out in our society is creating a much-needed shift. And because we don’t see women of size as much as we need to in advertising, television, movies, or other media, it’s up to us—you and me—to inspire others to join our ranks.
Athletes come in all shapes and sizes. Everyone needs to know this. When society as a whole starts to recognize plus-size athleticism as something real and measurable, the resulting profound social shift will improve the lives of everybody. People will become less judgmental, more women will engage in physical exercise, and their fear of gym culture will be reduced. If members of the plus-size community could see themselves represented in sports and athletics, our world would change dramatically—for the better.
Since the day I walked into my first running clinic fifteen years ago, I have trained and interacted with thousands of plus-size women. I’ve helped them realize their athletic potential simply by showing up and giving back what was given to me. I see amazing fitness feats from women of all shapes and sizes and I love watching their own reckless fitness girl emerge and take over. It is equally gratifying to watch their mindset change from diet girl to Big Fit Girl. I know that they are unstoppable and limitless—and you can be too.
I am living proof that this true. I found a different approach to fitness, and it changed my life. Ever since, I’ve committed my life as a trainer with my own fitness business to showing women of size how to reach their athletic dreams. Through my own story, personal profiles of other Big Fit Girls, and tips for how to live an athletic life, I hope to inspire you to stop feeling that success is only possible when you are thin, to embrace the body you are in, and to make your fitness goals a reality—to be seen more, to sweat more, and to conquer more.
HERE ARE SOME of the things you will find in this book:
1.Real women living their athletic dreams: Stories of women changing their lives, creating a limitless way of life, and achieving their athletic goals.
2.Body politics: A look at the fundamental social and psychological reasons why people struggle to make fitness a part of their daily lives. Knowledge is power; you’ll get that here!
3.Practical fitness advice: Practical fitness and body love tips geared toward the plus-size woman. It’s about time someone wrote something just for us Big Fit Girls.
4.Inspirational messages from leading plus-size women: Advice from plus-size Olympians, fitness professionals, TV personalities, bloggers, and fitness enthusiasts.
5.A cultural education: An examination of Western cultural ideals and how they affect the choice to be limitless or limited in our lives.
6.Fitness gear talk: An extensive list of the best fitness gear for plus-size athletes that includes advice on where to get it so that you can live your athletic dreams in comfort and with confidence.
7.Recipe for an active lifestyle, long term: Advice on how to stop jumping on and off the wagon and make fitness a lifestyle for good.
8.Nutrition talk, not diet talk: A discussion on how to nurture your body for your best athletic performance without measuring, counting points, or restricting what you eat—just healthy food in abundance. Food is not the enemy!
9.How to find the right fitness professional: An introduction to the art of finding the right people to help you stay fit for the long term.
10.A 5K training plan for plus-size athletes: A practical and doable plan for your busy life. After training thousands of plus-size women, I know what works and what doesn’t. The 5K distance is a great place to start. The plan is easy to follow, you can either walk or learn to run the distance, it’s free, and training can be done at any time of the day. The accomplishment is extremely measurable and will give you the inspiration and confidence to continue in your fitness journey.
11.A fitness glossary: The language, terminology, and nonverbal cues that come with many fitness environments can often leave you feeling like a fish out of water. I’ve outlined all you need to know so that you never have to feel lost as you work to achieve your athletic goals.
I ALSO SHARE my personal experiences, from my darkest hours to my greatest victories. My growing list of achievements kept pushing me forward to build the athletic lifestyle I had dreamed of for years. I hope that this book will help you to do the same.
ONE
Shattering Stereotypes
I RAN MY FIRST half-marathon in San Francisco. When I woke up on race day, my stomach was churning with both fear and excitement. Getting ready in front of the mirror that morning, I repeated my mantra: You are an athlete. You are a champion who has put in the training time. You belong here.
When I arrived at the race location and caught my first glimpse of the start line for the 30th Annual Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon and 5K, I felt even more determined. This was the beginning of one of the most demanding days of my life, and I was filled with excitement and growing confidence. As I approached the desk to pick up my race package, I caught the eye of the young man behind the table. He asked my name and without hesitation reached for the 5K race package. He assumed I was participating in the (much)