Hey Curvy Fit Sis! There is no need to avoid running if it is something that you desire to do. As the Curvy Fit RN, I want to help you reach your curvy fitness goals. I cannot say that running was on the top of my list; however, the Fitness Guru who trains me put it there and I complied lol! So however you have come to the decision, let’s tackle it together.

First on the list is dealing with Fear. I get it. Anytime you are starting a new thing or going outside of your comfort zone, fear can creep in. But what is this fear about? I understand the fear, but won’t stop because of it. One of my own personal fears when it came to having to run was believing that I actually could because of my previous injury to my left leg. I was scared that I may not only look silly, but re-injure myself. Guess what…. not only did I actually get stronger, but my confidence in my abilities grew exponentially! One of the reasons why my fear of getting hurt was unreasonable was because I had been recovering and training for about 2 years post-accident. My body was prepared. Now just in case you still are hesitant, here are some solutions to get you started on this running journey:

1. Stop talking yourself out of it instead REPROGRAM YOUR MIND and remember all that your body is capable of doing in other exercises

2. Be READY. Make sure you are at a point in your curvy fitness journey to start running. You do this by strengthening the total body with CONSISTENCY in your workouts 3-4 days/week

3. Hire a Personal Trainer who can properly assess your fitness level and create a fitness plan that is customized to you and your goals.

Secondly, you’re probably anticipating the Pain. Am I right? Let me tell you something… pain is a relative term. There will definitely be some discomfort when you are new to running especially if you have fat that jiggles like I did in the beginning. You can learn more about how to work through this in my other blog post here. The stronger you become, the more your muscles will strengthen and diminish the jiggle. When you are running or just exercising period, you have to listen to your body(read more here). You must understand what it is communicating with you. There is no need to rush the process. You can surely run without experiencing pain as long as you:

1. Prepare the body

2. Be patient with yourself

3. Stay mindful of any past injuries. Take this into account, notify your Personal Trainer if working with one, and run in/on a surface(i.e. water or grass) to prevent re-injuring yourself

4. Wear the right curvy fit workout apparel (yes it matters)

5. Invest in quality running sneakers

6. Slowly incorporate it into your workout routine one day a week

Lastly, let’s not forget to mention the obvious one…Breathing. Now you know I was not going to overlook this one! Chilllleee don’t I know what it’s like to feel like it hard to catch my breath!! Running takes everything in me to do and it makes me really be mindful of my breathing and how I’m using it to move my body in the run. This is why I pace myself and regulate my breathing. Training consistently improves your breathing and endurance in running. Like any other exercise, you will get better with time. I cannot stress enough the importance of listening to your body and allow for rest to recuperate and continue on. For those of you with asthma or other medical conditions that may cause respiratory complications, be sure to get clearance from your medical provider first before starting.

At the end of the day, you can do what you put your mind to. Believe in yourself and the capacity of your curvy body. You are not too big. You are not too slow. You do not have to lose weight first. You just have to work diligently, be disciplined and focused in your pursuit to run responsibly. Go at your speed. Do your best. Be in an environment where you are supported, encouraged and challenged like Become StrongHER.