Review: Fit-Zone Plus Zumba Class

Full disclosure.  I'm fat.  But you already knew that.  What you may not know is that I'm also PHAT (are the kids still saying that?) and I proved it on Monday night at FIT-ZONE PLUS when I danced my sizeable bootae into a Zumba high.

Let me explain.

Suzanne Gracan, Owner and Fitness Director of FIT-ZONE PLUS reached out to me on Twitter and offered me a free class if I'd blog about my experience.  FIT-ZONE PLUS sells itself as a place for everyone (plus sized and otherwise) who feel uncomfortable in a traditional gym setting.  They offer yoga classes, personal training and Zumba.  I'd always been curious about Zumba (any workout that claims to not feel like a workout is intriguing) but trying it out would mean finding a class and then gathering all the courage it takes to go to a gym full of bra-top Lululemon wearing women who "glow" instead of "sweat" and often, not always, but often, treat you like you're in the wrong place.

There is a stigma attached to "exercising while fat" and it can really make quick work of your motivation.  

I'm a confident, capable person and yet I still do 90% of my working out on the stationary bike in my basement with only Joe Scarborough to keep me company and the promise of my first cup of coffee as incentive.  

There is no bitchy side eye served up in basement.

So, off I go to Zumba class.  On the subway on the way there I started to think about how I found my old Junior Kindergarten report card a few years ago and the teacher wrote about how I "struggled to keep up with the other children physically, but I really tried".  Oooof.  I'm almost 40 and it hasn't gotten any easier.  I was just going to have to throw caution to the wind and if my instructor was left looking at me, muttering "sweet fancy Moses", hey at least I tried.

The small studio is located centrally, just North of Bloor Street on Yonge.  You enter through a Thai Massage studio and go up to the third floor.  What was the most obvious from the moment I set foot in the place was that Suzanne has created somewhere with a real sense of community.  The ladies waiting for class to start seemed awesome.  And I felt not in the least bit like an other.  No side eye here.  It felt like my basement but instead of Joe Scarborough I was with all of these fantastic women who were ready to get moving.  The enthusiasm was palpable.

As impressed as I was with the atmosphere, I had a few questions before class started:

Is it a bad thing if you're sweating before class starts?

Why didn't I bring something to tie my hair back?

Somebody hold me?

I only had one question when class was over:

WHEN CAN I DO THIS AGAIN?!?!

Much to my complete and utter shock, the 45 minutes I spent dancing and sweating to Latin and Hip Hop tunes under the tutelage of the capable (and frankly, adorable) instructor Karla was the best part of my day.  I had a stupid grin on my face through most of the class and when it was over, I felt like I could have done it all over again.  No reservations, no fear, no side eye.

I'd highly recommend that anyone (especially my fellow plus size ladies) who have an interest in getting out of their basements and trying out something in a class setting (especially Zumba or yoga) come try a class out at FIT-ZONE PLUS.  I can't wait to go back!

To learn more, visit their website, read Suzanne's inspiring bio and follow FIT-ZONE PLUS on Twitter.

Words of Wisdom from Bobby Hill.

"Mom I'm fat. But big deal. I don't feel bad about it. You never made me feel bad about it, and just because there are some people in the world who want me to feel bad about it, doesn't mean I have to. So Bobby's fat. Eh. He's also funny, nice, he's got a lot of friends, a girlfriend, and if you don't mind, I think I'll go outside and squirt her with water. What are you gonna do?" - Bobby Hill

What is this? Like a moose call?

How much do I LOVE this Lane Bryant catalogue cover from 1942? Just think, without the internet I'd be forced to hang out in reference libraries to find this kind of madness. Also...can you dig those MAN HANDS?

On The Plus Side

Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice on Saturday. This was a victory for the Obama administration, for women and for Latinas. Obviously. What you may not realize, is that this was also a blow to your friendly neighbourhood fatists. What's that? you say. Sonia Sotomayor is not fat. But not only were people using her weight as a tool to ridicule her, they used it as reason for her not to be confirmed for the job. I kid you not. Law professor Paul Campos pointed this phenomenon out at The Daily Beast, while sane people everywhere shook their heads in disbelief. Campos writes:

Within hours after the news broke that Souter was resigning, concerns arose that Sotomayor might be too fat to replace him. A commentator on the site DemConWatch.com noted that of the three most-mentioned candidates "the oldest (federal judge Diane Wood) is the only one who looks healthy," while Kagan and Sotomayor "are quite overweight. That's a risk factor that they may not last too long on the court because of their health."

It's a wonder she can get around without the aid of a motorized scooter, am I right?

Is that a double chin I see?

She's smiling because she's thinking of tacos.

Let's break this down. Scalia and Thomas both have the body of a layabout bureaucrat, big man guts and all. I don't hear anyone having any concerns about their ability to serve. Ruth Bader Ginsberg has been fighting cancer, but that's not something that's going to be a problem, cause she's skinny and she was before she got sick. So, you know, who could have seen that coming? No matter how brilliant you are and no matter what you accomplish in life, your size will always be used to judge your competence. If you're a woman.

Now, you guys know me. Or at least you've seen my picture. I am a nicely rounded-out woman, and by societal standards I definitely need to lose weight. I'm fat. I power walk, do cardio on my exercise bike, practice yoga and eat lots of fruits and veggies and whole grains. Could I work out more? Of course. Last week I didn't work out once. And I felt bad about it. But the week before I got three cardio sessions in and this week I plan on doing the same as well as attending a yoga class. I'm happier when I work out despite the fact that the motivation to do so is not something that comes naturally to me. Do I have an unholy love for fried chicken? I admit it. I have had actual dreams, like while I'm asleep, of the Colonel. Is that stuff that I could stand to keep in check? Absolutely. But it's all about balance for me and year after year my doctor tells me that my cholesterol is fine, my blood pressure is low and I am quite healthy. My doctor proves to me, every year, that the BMI is BS. Hopefully with every year that passes I'll be exercising more and treating myself to a few less pieces of fried chicken...but never with the goal of losing weight, only with the goal of STAYING healthy.

Does my fat make you uncomfortable?

I'm swimming in it!

Unflattering picture of a fat woman cooking a turkey! I bet she's going to eat the whole thing herself!

You know what doesn't help? Accomplished women in the public eye like Oprah and Kirstie Alley constantly yo-yo dieting and apologizing for their weight. Oprah: you are the most powerful woman in media. You work hard, you do good things for people, not to mention you are in your 50's and have a thyroid issue. STOP saying how sorry you are that you went up a couple of dress sizes and start START saying that you are sorry for unleashing Dr. Phil on the world. Kirstie Alley: STOP trying to find a quick fix. Eat better, move more and if the weight comes off, it comes off. If it doesn't, start a plus size clothing line for the over 60% of women in your country that are plus sized like you. Most of all, just SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT.

Ladies, everywhere, I beg of you...STOP being ashamed and START focussing on what matters. Live your best life, damn it, and stop being a part of the problem.

One more thing. Do me a favour: don't tell me I can't be a Supreme Court Justice because I'm fat. Tell me I can't be a Supreme Court Justice because I never went to law school, or because I'm not fit to judge a dog show or because I'm Canadian! But leave my fat, spanx wearing ass out of it. The same ass, which by the way, you can kiss. Two times.