Weight to help: plus-size athletes who aren’t self-conscious about their bodies

Body positivity – a tolerant attitude towards one’s own and others’ appearance – has penetrated all spheres of life. Stores are increasingly turning to plus-size models, popular bloggers are discussing this trend from different perspectives, and doctors are discussing how body positivity affects the body.

Some people think that body positivity is just an excuse for laziness and unwillingness to look after oneself, but this is not the case. The idea of accepting the body as it is has crossed over into sports. Plus-size athletes don’t diet, they just enjoy themselves and take care of themselves.

Roz Mace: the pylon is for women of all weights

Roz Mace is breaking the mold of what a pole dancing instructor should look like – she weighs over 100 kilograms. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old dancer is a certified pole dance instructor in New York City.

From an early age, Roz was involved in sports: fencing and soccer. However, she was never characterized by a typical “athletic” physique – she was always considered chubby. As a teenager, the girl faced difficulties in accepting herself. “I fixed in my head the idea that I was of no value for sports because I couldn’t run fast,” is how she describes that period.

Later, after a few years of sedentary work, Roz decided to go to the gym after all, where she became interested in pole dancing. Already in 2010, she announced herself: she began to perform at competitions with bright and memorable numbers under Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera.

Now Roz Mace is a popular pole dancing instructor, breaking all stereotypes.

Louise Green: a healthy lifestyle for every body shape

Louise Green is a certified personal trainer and sports columnist, as well as a vivid representative of body positivity. She is against exercising for the sake of losing weight. For Louise, physical activity is, above all, pleasure and a healthy lifestyle.

Only over time, the woman was able to overcome complexes and love her body. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been overweight – in terms of conventional views on the human physique (damn those views!) – I’ve always tried to do something about it. To no avail,” recalls Louise.

Now the girl actively works out in the gym, runs a blog on Instagram and promotes the concept of health at any weight.

Latoya Shantay Snell: 185 races and a sports blog

In 2013, Snell had chronic spinal problems. At that time, at 160 centimeters tall, her weight was over 115 kilograms. The New York-based chef needed a change.

The first time Latoya Shantay Snell ran a half marathon “for company” with a friend. Then she finished in 2 hours and 55 minutes. “That day was magical for me,” Snell admits. Since then, the athlete has competed in 185 races and started the Running Fat Chef blog.

She has often faced judgment and comments from haters. In 2017, during one of her marathons, a passerby shouted an extremely rude phrase at Snell. This severely hurt the athlete, and for three months she took an enforced break. But Snell was able to cope with it and returned to running again.

Now Latoya not only participates in marathons, but also conducts trainings on how to love your body and learn to ignore other people’s opinions.

Morit Summers: powerlifter and fitness studio owner

Today, Morit Summers is a successful woman, powerlifter and owner of her own fitness studio. But as a child, she suffered a lot from the labels that people around her were quick to place on her. “When I was growing up, everyone around me cared about one thing: my weight. Parents, teachers and doctors were always telling me I was too fat, and I knew it,” Summers recalls.

At age 14, Morit started working out at the gym. Her trainer taught her how to enjoy exercise. From that moment on, sports became not a way to lose weight, but an opportunity to love her body.

Now Summers works as a personal trainer and runs a blog on Instagram. She motivates people and makes them believe that they are capable of achieving their goals, regardless of their weight.

Bo Stanley: surfer, model and blogger

Bo Stanley was born into a family of surfers, so she has been practicing the sport since she was five years old. She started swimming before she learned to walk! Despite the fact that the girl’s build doesn’t fit the conventional patterns, as a teenager she finished twelfth in the WQS – Women’s World Qualifying Surfing Session.

“I’ve always believed in the power of surfing and the sport because that’s where I found my strength, my happiness and learned to love my body – not for how it looks, but for what it can do!” says Beau. – says Bo.

Now she is still surfing, modeling and blogging on Instagram.