Saturday 11 June 2016

Can You Be Fit and Fat?

Can You Be Fit and Fat? (Great Plus-Sized Fitness Giveaway)



By Crabby McSlacker

Can you be both fit and fat?  An email arrived in my inbox posing that question, and I'm not a total idiot, so I knew the answer.

Of course you can!

And Cranky Fitness readers know this too. Not just hypothetically--many of you have first hand experience. You guys come in all shapes and sizes and are doing all sorts of challenging workouts and activities, and most of you could totally kick my ass were I ever foolish enough to engage in any sort of competitive activity with you.

However, going by the fitness magazines, workout dvds, and other media representations of fitness? You'd think "fit" and "fat" can't inhabit the same universe.

Well, I think that's insanely stupid and untrue.  Which is why Cranky Fitness is hosting a workout DVD giveaway from Louise Green's Body Exchange, a Plus Sized fitness and adventure company. This giveaway does NOT require you to live in the U.S., and there are multiple copies available, so given that most people this time of year are off shopping and not blog surfing, your chances of winning are excellent!

More details below!



Why Does the World Not Know You Can Be Overweight and Also Be Totally Bad-Ass?

We humans are simple creatures, and when we see something over and over over, even if we intellectually know it may be fiction, our subconscious mind thinks it is real.  So if in the fake constructed world of entertainment and advertising, the only people who are active and healthy and strong are thin?  We get millions of unconscious messages that "fit" equals "thin."
Jennifer Nicole Lee via wikipedia

(And is it just me? I think the slogan "strong is the new skinny" kinda sucks. Especially since going by the photos one sees, it appears you still have to be the "old" skinny to get any credit for being the "new" skinny).

Of course if you are slim: No problemo!

But this bias has really unfortunate repercussions for people who are heavy, who may think that somehow they do not belong in the gym or on the track or in the pool or wherever fitnessy things are happening.

Which is really too damn bad, because plus-sized folks have every right to be there too!

photo via Body Exchange

So just to state a couple of things I believe:

1. Being fat doesn't prevent you from working out and getting stronger and healthier and faster and more confident and powerful, both in your athletic endeavors and in your life generally. And,

2.  Metabolisms vary.  Some people can work out and eat healthy meals and exercise all the willpower in the world, and lose some fat and gain a bunch of muscle and become totally fit. Yet they can still be written off as "fat" in the world's eyes.


Not Mutually Exclusive Damn It!
cover upload via flikr

If you are one of these people with a challenging metabolism, and particularly if you are female and therefore judged primarily on your looks (because that's how our f--cked up culture works), then you know how badly this sucks and how discouraging it can be. But don't let this insanity keep you from enjoying all the incredible physical and psychological benefits of exercise!

The notion that you can tell anything about someone's willpower or fitness level based solely on a scale number or a clothing size? Total horseshit!


OK, so enough ranting, on to the giveaway!
We Can Have FIVE Winners of the Body Exchange Home Collection Workout DVD:
Two copies are DVD's that can be shipped to the US or Canada, and three copies are digital downloads and can be viewed from anywhere!
Note: I have not seen the entire video, just the preview.  It looks like a sincere attempt has been made to tailor the workout to differing fitness levels.  However, I know some of you are pretty hard core. Since I do not see any barbed wire fences to climb or 500 lb truck tires to flip or 10 foot piranha and alligator infested ponds to leap across, some of you bad-asses may want to throw a sack of potatoes over your shoulders or something to up the challenge.
Giveaway Rules and How To Enter:
Honestly, I am a little worried that it's a low traffic time at Cranky Fitness, and this giveaway is being targeted at a specific audience, (although ANYONE can use it, you don't have to be plus sized). What if I can't do this justice and I get three entries for 5 prizes?
I'm hoping you guys will help spread the word, even if you are not plus sized yourself or if you just want to re-gift it to a friend or fellow Cranketeer and are mainly trying to help spread the word about plus-sized fitness generally.
So please leave a comment below about why you'd want this DVD, or think it's a good idea, for one chance to win.  At least one winner will be non-random and based on the content of the comment.
Since we love Canadians, and this is a Canadian sponsored giveaway, if you are Canadian yourself, (and mention this) you will have one additional chance to win.
Share this on some sort of social media or blab to a bunch of friends (and let me know in your comment) for 2 additional chances to win.
Is this freakin' complicated enough? You're welcome!
Giveaway winners will be announced New Years Day, Jan 1, 2015!
More Cool Stuff from Louise Green!

If you are lucky enough to live in certain areas of Canada, check out In Real Life Body Exchange locations for exercise classes.

They also have retreats which sound awesome!


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