Exercise For The Plus-Size Woman

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that nearly half of all American women are overweight. Despite diet and exercise, that number continues to rise every year.

But fitness expert Rochelle Rice is taking a different approach to the concept of fitness, and she visits The Saturday Early Show to talk about it.

Here is part of what she has to say:

As the women in this program become more active, do they also lose weight?

Yes, weight loss can be a by-product of the program. But it is not our main focus. What we stress is movement. Many women, when they first come to us, lead very sedentary lifestyles. What we try to do through the exercises is to get them moving again. Once that happens, they often begin to feel better about themselves and start to make lifestyle changes. For many women, that means eating healthier foods, which can lead to weight loss.

So you say you don't necessarily need to be thin to be fit?

That's right. Many large, healthy women are told they must lose weight even though all other indicators (such as blood pressure and cholesterol) are good. As a result, many larger women tend to skip their routine medical check-ups because they don't want their physician to chastise them about their size.

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Buy Rochelle Rice's "Real Fitness For Real Women"

For a plus-size woman to be truly healthy, she needs to be fit both physically and mentally. One of the best ways to do this is through meditation, which I encourage all women to do once they've completed all their exercises. It gives them a chance to reaffirm themselves and focus on the positive changes they are making in their life by being active. It is very important that while meditating a woman banish all negative thoughts from her mind.

Talk about the importance of proper clothing for a plus-size woman.

Women of size are often very self-conscious about their bodies and tend to wear baggy clothes when working out. But form-fitting clothes are better. They help to cover and protect body folds. And don't forget a sports bra. If you are doing low-impact exercises such as walking or biking, a cotton bra should do the trick. Women who do more strenuous exercises such as aerobics need to buy a more tructured athletic bra. Women of size are also more prone to foot conditions, such as heel spurs. That is why I recommend buying a good pair of sneakers. Running shoes are the best bet because they have the most padding.

Many larger women haven't exercised in years. How can they get motivated?

It is very important that these women embrace themselves for who they are. Once they do that, their self-esteem will begin to rise, and they will be less afraid to try something new. It's very important to realize that at the start of any exercise program, there will be setbacks. One way to overcome these obstacles is to begin a program with a friend; that way, you can encourage each other.

For more about the Olive Leaf Wholeness Center in New York City (where Rice is a trainer, visit its Web site.

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