Can Fat People Be Strong?
Can fat people be strong? The short answer is yes; after all, by carrying extra weight on our bodies, our muscles need to be stronger than that of a thinner person to move around. But, if you mean very strong, like bodybuilding strong, then the answer is still yes. I follow several amazing powerlifters who definitely have large bodies. If you want to be impressed, I suggest you check two of them out here:
Why Couldn’t Fat People Be Strong?
I think that it all feeds into the rampant fatphobia in our society today. In spite of the presence of medical studies, social media accounts, and multiple books, there is still the deeply held belief that you can tell how healthy a person is by looking at them. Thin people = healthy and fat people = unhealthy. As it is written, so shall it be. This philosophy completely ignores eating disorders, drug use, illnesses that cause weight loss, as well as underactive thyroid, mobility issues, and other medications that can cause weight gain. We also shouldn’t forget that mental health conditions can cause weight loss or weight gain depending on how it impacts the sufferer.
To assume that fat people are greedy, lazy and undisciplined and thin people are energetic, restrained and virtuous is crap, pure and simple.
Should Fat People Do Weight Training? Surely Cardio Would Burn More Calories
There are a few problems with this question. The first is the assumption that the fat person is trying to lose weight. They may not be; they may not even desire weight loss. I know that probably seems like an alien concept in today’s “Thin, Thin, Thin!” world, but it is possible to be fat and happy. To make peace with your body and stop the endless up and down diet cycle.
Secondly, the minute you make exercise all about calories burned, you immediately ignore the enormous numbers of other benefits exercise brings.
Benefits
- Reducing stress and releasing the stress hormone cortisol
- Boosting feel-good hormones like endorphins
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Boosts energy
- Reduces anxiety
- Improves sleep
- Better self-esteem
- More self-confidence
- Strength training increases bone density
- Boosts brain power and reduces cognitive decline as we age
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves the body’s insulin sensitivity reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes
With all these fantastic benefits, why focus so much on calories and weight loss? Also, if you’re only concentrating on which activities burn the most calories, you won’t be thinking about whether you actually enjoy what you’re doing. Exercise should not be a miserable experience. It is far and away one of the best things you can do for yourself, so pick something you enjoy. It makes it far more likely to stick with it long term.
Reasons Strength Training Is A Great Choice For Everyone
- It’s very simple. You can do it with dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, fixed machines or even your own body weight. Whatever you have access to and works for you.
- You can start as small as you need to—literally 10 bicep curls, 10 shoulder presses and 10 lunges all with bodyweight only. Then, as your form improves, you can increase the weight and the difficulty. There are always ways to progress.
- You can modify exercises easily. Can’t squat or lunge? Try deadlift variations. No equipment? Bodyweight is the way to go. Injured arms? Let’s work back, core and legs for now. There is always something you can do.
- It allows you to built stamina slowly. As a fat chick, I can tell you there’s a big leap from walking to even jogging, let alone running. If you do it right, strength training does get you out of breath, but as long as you increase the weight and/or reps slowly, you should be able to handle it.
- It lets you see what your body is capable of. Everyone is so focused on how their body looks that often we forget about what it can do. Strength training reminds us. When you set a new personal record for bench press or deadlift your own bodyweight for the first time, it’s impossible not to feel like a total badass.
Convinced?
I hope that I’ve set the record straight on the question can fat people be strong. They can, and so can you regardless of your weight. Your body is the most incredible piece of machinery you’ll ever own, and you should take it out and see what it can do. I am a very long way from being an expert, but if you want advice on starting to lift weights, here are my three personal gurus.
Nia Shanks: Runs her own site which has tons of fantastic free content and wrote amazing guides you can buy. Her blog is always worth reading
Meg Boggs: A fat girl who is hella strong. I watch her Instagram posts open-mouthed most of the time!
Nerd Fitness: Loads of cool advice on starting to train whatever your interest is. There’s also a fun option to turn your life into a quest to keep you motivated.
