ThisGirlCan and I can too

I have never felt comfortable enough to run outside for fear of people looking at me and laughing at my rolls jiggling about. But then I think, ‘Hang on a sec, I deserve to be outside too!’ If I want to run really slowly and waddle my way round the streets where I live, then I’m going to bloody well do it!

The #ThisGirlCan campaign opened my eyes to how women feel prejudiced if they are plus size and are seen exercising. There is this notion that seems to say, ‘You’re too fat to run’ or ‘You’ll need to run a lot faster to get rid of that belly!’. Just because women are deemed fat DOES NOT mean they aren’t fit. I am a size 16/18 and I am confident that I am a lot fitter than some size 8/10 women you see walking around. I was blessed with a larger than life personality and a body to go along with it and I am not ashamed. Yes I have lost weight but I have lost it for health reasons and am pretty happy at the weight I am now to be honest.

I exercise to keep fit and improve my heart health; I want to be both healthy and curvy.

I want to help shake the stigma of fat people being unfit because it is just not true. Those who

accuse do not see the effort we put in at the gym or wherever we choose to exercise. They don’t see the sweat and determination when you feel like you can’t run any more but still manage to get to the end. They don’t feel what we feel when we complete a 5k, the emotions and endorphins that rush through our bodies and make us feel AMAZING.

I love the #ThisGirlCan campaign because it reminds me that anyone can exercise, no matter how they look. You just have to find what works for you. For me its swimming and running on the treadmill but my friends prefer to be outside in the fresh air to feel the wind in their face.

If you feel worried what others may think and that’s stopping you from exercising, I urge you to get out and do something to be more active, regardless of whether you’re 8 stone or 22 stone, a size 10 or a size 24. We have all felt uncomfortable with our body at some point, so why not boost your confidence and challenge yourself to swim 40 lengths or run 5km. Ignore the haters and demons telling you you’re too fat or too old. It doesn’t matter what you look like, as long as you feel great doing it!

Tasha is a 25 year old blogger based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She blogs about my weight loss journey,getting fit and trying to live healthier after her 30 stone plus uncle died of a heart attack December 2013. She say's 'I'm a curvy lady who loves reading, rock music, sunshine, good food and attempting to exercise'