Secrets of a Former Fat Girl by Lisa Delaney Read Free Book Online Page B

yourself in the mirror if you’re new to the whole workout scene. An interesting study suggests that watching yourself move your body in unfamiliar ways might actually make you feel as if you’re working harder than you actually are. This is not a good thing when you’re on a quest for Former Fat Girlhood and trying to get into (or get back into) the habit of exercising. It is better to claim a spot a couple of rows back in your fitness class. (Most probably the class veterans and guys lusting after the teacher will nab the first rows anyway.) As for the cardio and weight rooms, if you can’t find a mirrorless spot, try looking at the TV or focusing on the floor or ceiling. If you’re doing a weight move or riding a stationary bike, close your eyes.
    The Obstacle: You Don’t Like Exercise
    I know what you mean. For a long time I thought there must be an “I love exercise” gene that I don’t have. And maybe there is—right next to the “never a bad hair day” gene or the “eat chocolate, lose weight” gene. Until modern science discovers them and figures out how to put their powers in a pill, we all have to deal. Here are my tactics.
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    Shoes Rule: How to Find the Right Fit
    Every so often some group of podiatrists releases a survey showing that some amazing percentage of women are walking around at any given moment in shoes that don’t fit. I’m not going to go into the reasons that that’s true; let’s just say we women are notorious for having trouble sizing things up.
    This isn’t a mere comfort issue for women on the heavy side who are just starting to get active. The wrong pair of fitness shoes can sidetrack you on your way to becoming a Former Fat Girl. Here is how not to let that happen.
Match the shoe to the activity you do regularly. If you’re a runner, you should buy a pair of running shoes; if you’re a walker, walking shoes. It’s really not some evil marketing ploy to get you to spend money on a closet full of fitness shoes. Shoes for different activities feature different technologies; for instance, walking shoes are more flexible under the ball of your foot than running shoes to accommodate the rolling and pushing off you do.
Think about your feet. Are they wide like mine, and do you have high arches or narrow heels? Certain manufacturers and Web sites can help you match styles to the shape of your foot. Brands that are particularly good for women include New Balance and Asics, both of which come in different widths, and Rykä, which makes only women’s shoes and is particularly good for walking, cross training, or studio shoes.
Try a style built for “heavy runners” if running is your activity of choice. Okay, so the hope is that you won’t need this particular piece of advice for long. But shoe companies—from Avia to Asics to Rykä as well as New Balance and Saucony—in the last couple of years have introduced models specifically for women who are hard on their shoes. They typically have more support and are less flexible, and therefore stand up better to the pounding paces you put them through.
Know how you move. Certain shoes are constructed to compensate for issues you might have with your stride. The most common is the tendency to roll inward (called pronation). The easiest way to figure out if that is an issue for you is to look at a pair of athletic shoes or flats in your closet.
Look at the soles for any signs of wear. If the cushioning is broken down or the tread is worn away along the inner edges of the balls of your feet, you’re probably a pronator. Shoes with what is called “motion control” can help correct that problem and make your activity more comfortable.
Specialty shop. Why shop in person when you can get anything you want on the Internet (without the humiliation of being waited on by skinnier-than-thou salespeople)? Because as well as you know shoes and as