Over Stressed about being Overweight?

Are you stressing about being overweight? Whether it's 10 lbs or 50+, many women feel ashamed of their bodies, and those feelings can hinder you from joining a fitness class.

"What if people come down on me because of my weight?"

"What if I'm the only one who doesn't know the moves?"

"I can't stand the way my clothes look on me - what will others think?"

"What if I can't handle it? I can hardly make it up the stairs."

If these kinds of thoughts and feelings of inadequacy are holding you back from trying group exercise, I'd like to encourage you to give me a call (see 'Contact Us') and let's talk about what a Walk 15® class entails. Sometimes getting to know a bit about your instructor beforehand can help build your confidence. It might surprise you to know, for example, that one of the reasons I never tried group fitness before my mid-forties was that I felt very insecure about how I looked and whether or not I'd be able to do the moves, and I had no idea what to wear to 'fit in...' and coordination is actually something with which many people struggle... myself included!

I love teaching Walk 15® in the community because I find that people are generally more comfortable in a community hall than they are in a health club setting. It's less intimidating, and something about the environment seems to take the pressure off. I always encourage people to do what they can in class, and if you keep the moves small, you might be surprised at how well you do! You never, ever have to follow perfectly, so if you go back to a walk when you need a couple of minutes of recovery, that's exactly the right thing to do!

As far as what to wear, really, as long as you've got the proper footwear (clean/dry walking or running shoes) and are wearing clothing that's comfortable for you and doesn't restrict movement, pretty much anything goes! Tee shirt, tank, sweatshirt, sweatpants, yoga pants, shorts - I've even had someone come in blue jeans, and in a corporate setting, someone came in a skirt once because she left her workout clothes at home. I once led a class in my business clothes - dress pants and blouse - because I forgot my workout gear!

It can also be comforting to know that no one in my classes (myself included) has 'the perfect body.' We come in various body shapes and sizes and at different levels of fitness. Everyone is welcome! As well, one of the great things about these classes is that if you can WALK, you can do it - the music starts and everyone in the room walks in place to the beat of the music until I give further direction - no one stands out and you feel an element of success immediately!

Try a Walk 15® class this week - you'll be glad you did! See Class Times, Locations & Cost for current class locations.

Nancy Ehle is Founder & CEO of Witness 4 Fitness located in Calgary, Alberta. Her industry certifications include Master Walk 15® Instructor (her specialty) through Walk 15®, Group Fitness Instructor through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), Health Coach, Indoor Cycling, and Pilates. Nancy has also taken many continuing education courses throughout her career, which currently spans 6.5 years. An encourager by nature, you'll find her upbeat attitude and energy infectious! Follow Nancy on Facebook: facebook.com/WalkStrongCalgary