It goes without saying that exercise is good for your health. Not only can it make you look your best but it can make you feel great as well. Many of us struggle with exercise routines. It’s something that we know needs to be done but sometimes motivation or the lack thereof can get in the way.
If you have the best intentions but need that extra push, you may benefit from the support of an exercise group. This group can consist of friends or complete strangers but it’s focus it to get fit together. Walking Curves of Atlanta, Georgia is one of the many fitness groups for plus size women. If you’re interested in starting a Plus Size exercise group in your area, the following steps will point you in the right direction.
- Decide what type of exercise you want to do. Walking, running, low impact aerobics, high impact aerobics, calisthenics, weight training, tai chi and yoga will require different levels of fitness and will attract different participants.
- Determine your own fitness level, as you will want this to be the starting point for the group. If you haven’t exercised in years, you don’t want to attract people who are ready to start out running five miles a day or doing an hour of high impact aerobics. Be realistic.
- Find a location suitable for the needs of the group. If the group will be running or walking, you’ll need to find a trail or track at a park, playground or university. If you’ve decided on an indoor exercise regimen, approach the YMCA or other community center about using a space in their facility.
- If you’ve decided you want to do aerobics, yoga or another type of exercise that requires a leader, rent a selection of instructional DVDs that demonstrate workouts of that type. Watch them and choose a couple that are your speed.” Be sure to select ones that show participants working out at various levels, because there will always be some group members a little more or less advanced than others.
- Get the word out. Tell everyone you know what you’re trying to do. If you work for a large company, consider the possibility of starting an exercise group in that setting. Create a flyer to raise awareness and get permission to post it throughout the building.If starting a group where you work is not an option, post flyers in the vicinity of the location where the group will exercise. Call your local paper and ask them to mention it in the Community Events or Meetings section.
- Make the first meeting a getting-to-know-you and information gathering session. Discuss how often and what time the group will meet. Serve light refreshments, such as coffee, bottled water and juice. You may want to play the DVDs you’ve selected and get some feedback from the participants. Some of them may also have favorites that could be considered for the group’s use as well.
- Get to work! As the informal leader of the group, you should try to keep your enthusiasm high to set a good example. Moaning and groaning is not good for the group’s morale.
Valery Amador, Daily Venus Diva -- Daily Venus Diva.
I have been teaching to plus size women for years. Here are shapelygirl fitness we are all about bringing in larger/plussize women to get fit/healthy and losing weight the right way. We do not believe in DIETS/DIETING but encourage women to change their thinking about themselves and food.
Thanks for the article, I loved it
Debra Mazda, creator of SHAPELYGIRL FITNESS
I own Canada’s only fitness and lifestyle boot camps exclusive to plus size people. I know there is huge power in forming groups of individuals with like goals. It is very difficult for some plus size people to walk into a gym and get started, the support of others like you is magic.
I own 4 locations and the feedback I receive consistently is: my participants had been looking for some place to fit their entire lives and found it with us due to the group support. I encourage anyone to take action and start a group, “Fearless Fitness” at any size is where it is at.
Start today with the body you have now, you won’t regret it.
Love this site!
Best,
Louise Green
Owner / Director, The Body Exchange