Big Fit Girl

Despite the fact that nearly 70 per cent of North American women wear a size 14 or larger, society still sees "plus-size" as the “wrong size"—and Vancouver’s own Louise Green is on a mission to change that. An amazing plus-size athlete, personal trainer and longtime advocate of size acceptance, Louise spoke to us about her new book, Big Fit Girl, and gave us her own tried-and-true advice for feeling confident at any size. Call us inspired! —Noa Nichol

Tell us about your book, Big Fit Girl. Why did you write it, and why now?

I wrote Big Fit Girl because of my personal experiences navigating the world of fitness as a plus-size athlete and personal trainer. After countless conversations with my plus-size clients, I learned that many feel left out of fitness culture. I realized that there was a serious lack of relatable information available for those who want to become more active, but fall outside of cultural fitness ideals of being young, lean and ripped. This book is for the rest of us! Big Fit Girl is so very timely because, over the last few years, body positivity has really started to come into its own. There couldn’t be a better time for Big Fit Girl to launch.

Today you run half-marathons and host boxing classes, but you weren’t always so active. What motivated you to make the change?

I made the change after I had hit rock bottom in my unhealthy lifestyle. For many years, I had tried to achieve better health through fad diets, but could never adhere for any length of time. I was constantly hungry, and always ended up breaking my diet. This left me feeling like a failure, and deeply impacted my self-esteem. One day I’d had enough, and decided to join a Learn to Run 5K clinic. It started as yet another attempt to lose weight, but this time things went differently. To my surprise, our leader was plus-size, like me. Seeing a coach with a larger body switched something in my mind; I stopped wanting to whittle my body down to a conforming size, and instead focused on building the healthiest and strongest version of myself, in the body I already had.

What kind of hurdles have you faced as a plus-size athlete? How did you overcome them?

I think the biggest hurdles I face as a plus-size athlete are the stereotypes and bias about my body—the surprised reactions when I tell someone I am a personal trainer, the judgements about my physical capabilities based on my size. These snap judgments happen often, and I’ve learned to take them in stride as someone who is breaking fairly new ground. I don’t blame people. When all we see are lean, sculpted bodies in fitness publications, why would anyone think plus-size women are capable? Changing this narrative is a big part of my mission.

As a plus-size personal trainer, you’ve helped thousands of plus-size women become more active. What’s the most important piece of fitness tip you offer your clients?

Find the right environment and people to support you on your fitness journey. That’s what changed everything for me. Things changed for me after I finally found a coach who wasn’t harping on calorie reduction and stringent meal plans. She believed in me and supported my unique needs. Her support led me to many finish lines and, ultimately, a career change. In my book, I talk about what to look for when hiring coaches and trainers, or when visiting fitness facilities. I truly believe that with the right support and environment, we are limitless.

What kind of changes would you like to see from the fitness industry in the coming years?

My hope is that the fitness industry starts to be more inclusive in the imagery and messaging that they choose to put out into the world. As it stands right now, bodies larger than a size 8 are rarely seen in most media, yet 67 per cent of North American women are over a size 14. This creates an invisible majority, whereby millions of people are not represented. I am a firm believer of the adage, “We cannot be what we cannot see.” If we truly want to make North America a healthier place, then we must be more inclusive in our advertising and fitness messaging. Right now, I feel the industry plays on the desires of women who are dying to lose weight. They advertise with imagery showing an unattainable standard in hopes that women will get out their wallets and sign on the dotted line. But as an industry dedicated to health, we need a better business model that is more inclusive and an industry that has a broader spectrum of what it means to be healthy. For me, fitness has changed my life. I have better body image and self-esteem, and an enriched approach to life. I think everybody deserves a chance at that.

In your book, you discuss how having social support is key to achieving fitness goals—especially for plus-size women. What can friends and family do to be more encouraging allies?

I think it’s fantastic to see friends and families getting involved, and that’s a great way to support a loved one. You’re not only supporting through words but also actions, and that says a lot. Offering to work out together is a great option, as it not only shows support but also build friendships. The challenges and successes faced on a long run together can strengthen relationships and deepen bonds; supporting someone comes with great reward and is win-win for both parties.

When times get tough, what keeps you going? What inspires you?

When times get tough, I often think about those people who can’t run or even move. Each year I fundraise through a long distance cycling event for the BC Cancer Foundation. The ride is 250km and extremely tough. But on the way, I think about what others face, and it gives me the strength to carry on. I believe that health and physical capability is a privilege. There are many people in this world who would give anything just to get up and walk across the room. I owe it to them to live my best life while I can.

If you could share just one to piece of advice with every plus-size woman, what would it be?

I know getting started can be terrifying on many levels, but you deserve to experience fitness triumphs, endorphin highs, and victories just like everyone else. When I joined that running clinic 15 years ago, I was sure I was going to fail, but I didn’t. In fact, it was a defining moment that change my life. So my biggest advice is: don’t quit before the miracle happens. Keep going until you get the victory you deserve.

louisegreen.ca