Women’s Running magazine has selected Nadia Aboulhosn as their April cover model. Nadia is a 27 year-old model, fashion blogger, designer, runner and social media star. Nadia is a beautiful and vibrant model. She is also not the defined-abs, narrower-hipped model we usually see on fitness magazines. Nadia, like Ashley Graham, does not like the descriptor “Plus Sized” because she believes it creates a binary to define “normal” body images. Originally, Nadia was to be showcased in the magazine’s feature on fitness/fashion influencers. However, once they saw her energy, editor-in-chief Jessica Sebor moved her to the cover. It was a great choice – the cover is fantastic. Her outfit is Adidas and the shoes are Nike. This issue comes just a month after Sports Illustrated released their swimsuit issue featuring a variety of body types on the covers. Nadia’s cover follows Women’s Running August 2015 cover with 18 year-old Erica Schenk who also breaks the sized-2 mold.
Happy tears! Plus-size model Nadia Aboulhosn broke down in public when she saw her Women’s Running magazine cover for the first time in stores.
“Brb I’m crying ugly tears. I shot a few months ago with @womensrunningmagazine for their April 2016 issue that’s out on stands now,” Aboulhosn, 27, wrote via Instagram on March 14. “I was in the airport last night flying from Florida back to LA and went in the store, saw it, and started crying…I for sure thought last minute something was going to happen and I wouldn’t be on the cover just solely off the fact that things have turned wrong for me so much of my life when I’m almost about to have something.”
Despite the cover star’s doubts, the decision was a no-brainer for the glossy’s editor in chief, Jessica Sebor. “You don’t need to be an Olympic marathon runner to get the physical, emotional and psychological benefits of staying fit and healthy,” she wrote in a statement.
Aboulhosn’s cover marks the second time the fitness mag has featured a plus-size model on the cover in just eight months. In July 2015, 18-year-old curvy model Erica Schenk had the honor. “There’s a stereotype that all runners are skinny, and that’s just not the case,” Sebor told Today. “Runners come in all shapes and sizes. You can go to any race finish line, from a 5K to a marathon, and see that. It was important for us to celebrate that.”
My favorite part of this whole thing is that Nadia wasn’t originally the cover model and wound up there due to how well she does her job. The reasons for running are varied and sometimes losing weight isn’t a part of the thought process at all. I began running in earnest to get the hell out of the house after I had my children; I just need to be in my own head for those 40 minutes a day. Running is as much a lifestyle as it is an exercise and, as with any community, it is made up off all different types. With multiple body-positive covers, I feel like Women’s Running understands the running community.
Photo Credit: Women’s Running and Getty Images
SI’s different covers were same body type, different sizes.
We need to embrace body types AND sizes.
It’s no use putting a bigger version of Body type A and calling it a victory for all body types when it’s still body type A being celebrated.
Thank you!
somewhere along the way people confused size with type. great post LAK!
I’m not sure I understand the argument here. Models are always going to be the most attractive body types, and now they are celebrating different sizes. And this is…bad?
Models are usually chosen from the rectangle body shape and the triangle shape. Rectangle is the most popular model shape.
Good point LAK. It’s the truth.
I thought the SI cover did represent 3 different body types. You had the ectomorph (hayley), mesomorph (Rhonda), and the endomorph (Ashley). Also, Ashley has an hourglass figure, while the other 2 ladies are more straight up and down. I suppose it would be nice to see a pear shaped and/or Apple shaped woman on the cover, but I still think the covers were pretty diverse in terms of body type.
Body type is to do with the ratio of shoulder width to waist width to hip width. This is what gives shape to a body. Height, weight,boobs,bottom aren’t a consideration.
The 4 basic shapes of female body are:
1. Rectangle : shoulders are the same width as hips and also same width as waist. Sometimes referred to as banana, pipe, straight up and down.
Subset: barrell : shoulders and waist are the same width, but the waist is wider than both. Like a barrell.
This shape is the most popular body type in the fashion industry.
2. Inverted Triangle : shoulders are wider than waist which is also wider than hips. Sometimes people say this type has linebacker shoulders due to the bigger upper body.
Subset: apple shape. Same as triangle, but thebwaist might be significantly bigger which gives overall appearance of an apple barrell with slim limbs.
This is the second most popular shape in the fashion industry. Famous inverted triangles are Elle MacPherson, Charlene of Monaco, Kate Middleton
3. Triangle : shoulders are significantly smaller than hips as is the waist. Also known as pear or spoon shaped.
4. Hourglass : shoulders and hips are the same width, but waist is very small and defined. Like the shape of an hourglass. Also known as figure 8 or curvy
Triangle and hourglass are the least favoured and least likely body types in fashion. famous hourglass models are Candice Swaeopoel (sp?), Stephanie Seymour, Tyra Banks
ETA: Ashley Graham is a triangle. Most of her poses are with one hip slightly in profile which gives impression of a more rectangle figure, but straight on, you can see that her hips are wider than her shoulders even with a small waist.
Oy. The mention of linebacker shoulders makes me self conscious. I fall somewhere in between these descriptions and it’s annoying.
InvadeTak – that’s my dilemma too. Very hard to dress this shape, no? I also surf so my lats and shoulders dominate. But as long as I stay fit, I think it’s pretty hot. But if I gain so much as 5 pounds – no bueno.
True hourglass here. It’s a pain in the a$$ to shop for. There are no such things as jeans that fit properly. Guess comes closest with their curvy versions. We all want what we don’t have though, so I won’t complain.
I think all body types are hot when fit and strong. I think that most women probably fall in-between the ‘types’ you outlined LAK. From the side I look like a pear because my bottom sticks out in the back (though the rest of my build is quite slim) but from the front I look like an hourglass or inverted triangle because my shoulders are the widest part of my body, but only just barely and I have a defined waist.
Ladies, there is nothing wrong with your body types. All women fall somewhere in any of these categories.
Sadly, the fashion industry celebrates only one body type, rectangle, and occasionally the inverted triangle. The rest of womanhood who don’t have those types of bodies are made to feel awful about their bodies.
Crumpet: again, the size and shape of your bottom and boobs has nothing to do with your body type. Body type is a measurement of the width of your shoulders vs your waist vs your hips ie it’s a ratio of your skeletal measurements. It is a measurement from the front, not the side. You can’t fall into several categories. It’s pure and simple measurement from the front. Never the side.
You’ve just admitted that your shoulders are the widest part of your body which places you firmly in the inverted triangle body type.
Your body type doesn’t change because you lost or gained weight.
That said, every body type has a way of adding weight that is unique to that body type eg hourglass will add weight above and below waist yet maintain a small defined waist. A triangle or pear will primarily add weight to their bottom half before anywhere else. Inverted triangles tend to gain upper body first whilst rectangles gain evenly all over, including waist.
Finally, there are additional measurements of the skeleton that are a determinant of weight distribution eg body frame ie skeletal frame.
The secondary features of body type eg weight, boobs, bottom, height always confuse people because those are the features everybody talks about and completely misdiagnosed their body types as a result.
Its great to see all body types featured in fitness magazines, because women of all sizes should be celebrated for including fitness in their lives. But, I hope being overweight isn’t the new normal. Being overweight is still a health issue in America and we’ve got to figure out how to reduce that. Maybe its new eating habits, maybe we should learn to eat smaller portions, or maybe its getting rid of all the hormones in our food. But I do applaud seeing a plus-size (don’t even know what word to use instead of plus-size) woman on the cover of a fitness magazine. BTW – I would be considered plus size and its hard for me to get the energy everyday or every other day to work out even though I almost always feel better when I do. And even though I ate plenty of fruits, grains and vegetables, I also eat plenty of potato chips!!!
It’s so frustrating to see this type of comment on every article written about plus size models. She’s running on the cover, promoting exercise, not eating a 10 pound burger. Sometimes people are built bigger and still maintain a healthy lifestyle. I don’t think more plus size models in the industry is going to affect America’s lifestyle, but it will affect little girls who may not look like a size 0. Skinny doesn’t always mean healthy. We are all aware that we have an obesity problem. However, we can still promote positive body image, whether you have bigger hips or small ones.
I’m actually starting to agree with this “type” of comment, and it’s frustrating to me that it can’t be made without a huge backlash. It’s a valid argument. Why promote a positive image about being overweight? So that little girl will feel fine about it and get diabetes and heart problems and high blood pressure when she’s older? Is that helping her? I think we need to stop telling ourselves that we are failures if we don’t look like a size two model, and get on with healthy lives. This is just reinforcing the idea that magazine covers are realistic images that we should all strive to emulate. I don’t think it’s positive to celebrate being overweight.
It is frustrating, because it’s comments like the one above that make people hide and not get out and move. I know I’m fat, I know I need to excersise more, and I don’t need someone looking down on me while I’m trying to do that by pointing out the obvious.
I think you might have misread or misunderstood what I was saying. I think its great to have women of all sizes on fitness magazines because, like I mentioned above, women of all sizes do exercise and strive to live a healthy lifestyle. My concern is having plus-size as the new normal. That’s a concern of mine as is with the rest of the health industry. I don’t mean to intimate that the cover model is promoting an unhealthy lifestyle simply because she is not a size 2. Quite the contrary, which is why I applaud the cover.
@goodnamesalltaken No one is celebrating being overweight. But what this magazine is promoting is a healthy lifestyle for all sizes. There are some people who eat healthy and exercise and are still not a size 2. We need to promote being healthy, not what size we should be. And maybe seeing a plus size model exercising will encourage overweight people to get up and do more, because I know seeing a super tiny model does nothing for motivation.
@Jenn
Please. It’s not comments like mine that keep you from exercising. I’ve been fat and I’ve been thin. If you decide to exercise, you will do what you need to do and stop blaming other people for your own choices. If you’re unhappy about your weight, work towards changing it. Nobody else cares and nobody is looking down on you but you.
@GNAT- it wasn’t your comment, but the one above it. And hey, if no one has ever made you feel like a fool for daring to go out in public while being overweight, great, but don’t diminish those who have.
@Jenn
I have been completely humiliated about my weight several times. A clerk at my law firm asked me to “settle a bet” for her about whether or not I was pregnant, for starters. I wasn’t. I’m not unsympathetic to how terrible it feels to be ashamed of your body. I just know from my own experience that nobody can do anything about it but you.
@GNAT: Some people have never been skinny. Some people have been overweight all their lives and believe me, that’s not the same as having your weight fluctuate. (ETA: Just saw your comment above.) Nobody is blaming anyone for their own weight. And as far as I can see, fat is not promoted to be the new normal. It’s just about representing bigger women. Showing that no, not everyone is skinny and we’d like you to be visible as well.
What people don’t seem to understand is that overweight people know they’re overweight!!! For the love of god, that makes me so uptset every single time. This girl on the cover knows. I know. Thanks, I’ve been told. And telling someone is nothing but mean and unnecessary. Nobody else’s comment or fake concern will help anyone lose weight. What might help though is a positive comment on a cover like this one. Because it’s not celebrating fat, it is showing bigger women that yes, of course you can run. Of course that’s for you too and of course you can look cute doing it. THAT is what these models are representing. Maybe it’ll inspire someone who has weight problems. Maybe THAT way that person will actually become more active and lose weight.
Representing every type of woman, every race, every size, every age, that would be great. So we’re apparently now doing it with bigger models. Representing something does not equal promoting it. Every sane person knows being overweight is not ideal. But maybe it’s not such a horrid thing either. Sure, losing weight is great. But I don’t want to hide in the basement until I get there.
@GNAT- I know I’m the only one that can effect change in myself. The grown up, smart, happy successful career woman in me knows that there are people out there that will make fun of me, and they really don’t matter, and most days she wins the battle. Some days though, that fat little girl inside isn’t quite convinced
Actually, no – most overweight people underestimate their weight: http://news.discovery.com/human/psychology/most-americans-are-overweight-but-dont-know-it-140617.htm
@Jenn
I get it. We all have that place inside that’s hurt and scared and doesn’t feel good enough. I guess I just took your comment about “that’s why” too literally because I used to make so many excuses to myself.
@littlemissnaughty
FYI, I have to work my ass off to stay not fat. Not skinny, which I will never be, but just not fat. I had my resting metabolism measured and it’s very, very low. So I have to eat small portions and exercise every day to keep from being overweight. But I do it because being overweight contributes to so many diseases. I had breast cancer, and that’s when I decided to do something about it. I hear what you’re saying, but I still think it’s a fine line. I don’t want anyone, overweight or not, to feel less of a person. But I also don’t want to foster the idea, as I think this picture does, that overweight is healthy. This young woman is beautiful and looks great the way she is and she may be very healthy. I don’t know. But generally speaking, being overweight increases your chance of health problems by a very large margin, and we shouldn’t pretend it doesn’t.
You really think people are celebrating being overweight? Let’s see we have two covers and a small portion of media coverage, not to mention when it happens at least half the comments are negative, and some are over the top awful. Let’s not forget the millions of images on tv, film and others of the most likely unhealthy unattainable overly thin women, some who maintain their weight through drugs and other expensive means the average girl or woman can’t do. Don’t you think that social image caused the dramatic rise in eating disorders? Yet we don’t see this backlash every time an overly thin model is on a cover. In fact they almost have to look either prepubescent or emaciated to receive any notice about their weight. Sorry but the image is still heavily on the overly thin side.
What I find upsetting is that anyone would think this cover of a woman who is overweight running is glamorizing being overweight. Reality check American’s and now a lot of the world are overweight, and for most of them it is hard and will take a while if not years to get the weight off. Are they supposed to hide and not do anything and not be seen in the media until they do? One reason a lot of women don’t try to exercise is they are afraid at how they look. This image is making it more acceptable for all people of any size to not be embarrassed and try.
@Sam. Thanks for that article. That tells an entirely different story doesn’t it? One that no one wants to talk about.
I dont agree. this is not a natural body weight, she is overweight and that is not healthy. And that’s all there is to it..And, even if she does really “run” like they have on the cover, she isn’t running enough. Having a family member with diabetes due to lack of self control with food has been a big eye opener for me. I am not a fan of everyone praising someone for being overweight. Clearly she doesn’t really run that much…sorry. But I am speaking the truth.
@Sam-Yes! I lost about 18 pounds this year because I had hit a weight that I knew was too heavy. I had friends the whole time telling me I didn’t need to lose weight. I have been underweight due to health problems. I know what I look like underweight and I did not go anywhere close to that and yet my overweight friends were acting like losing weight was an unhealthy choice because their perspective of “fat” is so skewed.
Carol, I know you are getting a bit of backlash but I think you articulated this well and positively.
Agreed.
Also agreed!
@ Carol – A mere handful of overweight women on a magazine cover does not make fat the new normal. In fashion magazines, heavier women are given a single page devoted to dressing well with some extra pounds. The norm — celebrating bodies that are only achieved by being 18 or severely limiting food — is not the answer to our obesity epidemic, either. What matters is that women feel confident enough to get out there and exercise, and take care of themselves, and maybe this cover will do that for some folks. No one is trying to make fat normal or mainstream. I think the focus is much more of accepting and loving who you are – that’s the best path to motivating someone to invest in themselves and take that time to exercise.
Well said. It would take thousands of covers like this one to even budge “rail thin” from being the norm in fashion and modeling.
I’ve never heard of this lady before now but I’m impressed. She’s really lovely. And she does represent a considerable segment of runners, those out to become fit and healthy and not to win — or even participate in — marathons.
Thanks so much for this! I really don’t understand how some people think that showing women who are overweight in fashion magazines is going to magically convince people to stay obese or become obese. If you have a health issue that could be addressed by weight or diet – like, say, type 2 diabetes – your doctor is still going to tell you so. But only you and your doctor can know the state of your health, and whether MAINTAINABLE weight-loss is an appropriate goal for you. One should be allowed to exist in public without being concern-trolled over one’s probability of having diabetes. It does far more good than harm to promote an image of a plus-sized woman exercising as a positive thing, especially an image where the woman looks happy and confident in herself. I’ve actually been following Nadia on Instagram for a few months and she’s a lot of fun, so I’m thrilled to see her being featured in celeb news.
Why is there always a “but”? Why can’t we just celebrate the fact that fitness really is for everyone and you don’t have to be a certain type to enjoy it.
Overweight is the new normal? Well, maybe it is in a way. I’m not denying the obesity epidemic or excusing it. However, to start in on that “concern” when a woman who is not the thin ideal is featured doing, well, just about anything, is ridiculous. I would like more of these features because quite frankly it’s nice to see someone who looks at least a little like me (yes, I’ve got extra pounds too) engaging in healthy activities. It’s encouraging, much more so than seeing some thin fit model out for a run. I don’t believe being overweight is healthy, but absolutely everyone at any size deserves to feel good about themselves and encouraged in healthy habits.
Actually running is pretty hard on your joints so no, it is not for everyone. She’ll bust her knees if she keeps on running at this weight.
Oh I fully agree that running isn’t for everyone. Running isn’t for me, ever, because I have terrible knees. But I’m taking about fitness, which is not confined to just running. For me it’s lower impact stuff like swimming, hiking, yoga, and riding; for her it’s running. It’s not for me to decide how others wish to pursue fitness.
But Wren, shouldn’t the point be made that running is not very advisable for a person of this woman’s size? If an overweight person wants to start a running regime, they are usually advised to start by walking/power walking or something like that. I don’t think giving people medically accurate information about how to preserve their bodies counts as trying to “decide how others wish to pursue fitness.” It’s being realistic. I would discourage an overweight person from running in the same way I would discourage an asthmatic from taking up diving.
Goodness, I didn’t realize that there was a Right Way for fat ladies to exercise! It’s not enough to actually get off your butt and be active, you’ve got to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Or else people will be concerned about you. For your health, of course. I assume you’re a doctor, physical therapist or in the field of sports medicine, since you feel so qualified to say she should not be running. It’s her decision to make to run or not, and she’s obviously been training for some time. Since I’m not her doctor, I’m not going to make a judgment on her workout routine.
@Sam: why wouldn’t running be advisable for a woman this size? Have you been to a running race? There are people of every single size and shape represented, and I’m pretty sure they would disagree with you. As would fitness professionals (I’m one!).
Running is NOT hard on your knees, folks. Sports that involve pivots and sudden changes of direction are. Actually, impact exercise like running helps increase bone density, and running itself has no affect on the integrity of joints. The vast majority of running related injuries are actually overuse injuries brought about by muscular imbalances (ie weak glutes/core). Not to mention, as you train your body actually makes micro adjustments, meaning that the more you run the more your body adjusts to the impact.
– signed, a run coach and fitness pro.
Thank you Bridget! I go to boot camp 5x a week. Running isn’t hard on my knees- it’s the side shuffles and Plyo lunges. I was almost 300 lbs when I started. I’m down about 30 lbs, but my knees have gotten much better since starting, not worse. My sister, btw, is within normal weight range, came with me once, and afterward said, “No thanks. I’d rather not eat than do all that.” Yet if her picture was up there no one would’ve worried about her health. Yes, obesity is unhealthy, but it doesn’t give us a right to judge that person’s health unless you’re a doctor who has actually run tests on said person. My blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol are all BETTER than my sisters. So to all the judgment masked as concern, I say, “bye Felicia”.
Weight discussions make me crazy because thin people can be just as sick as heavy people. But I wanted to thank CAROL for bringing up the issue of the FOOD we eat. Corn syrup is probably one of the very worst offenders – it’s just a cheap economic byproduct of growing too much corn and it does terrible things to our bodies. Then of course sugar, and all the low-fat products that are crammed with extra sugar (or fake sweeteners) to make them taste better. And hydrogenated oils that could never exist in nature. And gluten, because somehow they screwed up flour and now we can’t eat it any more. Most people eat ALL these things. They think apple juice is “healthy” (it’s basically candy) and a yogurt with fruit on the bottom is good for you (never!). Even commercial granola bars are promoted as healthy but they are not. The processed foods we eat in this country are truly something to worry about – “willpower” is irrelevant if you’re still eating lots of sugar, salt, antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, preservatives, artificial colors, trans fats, and so on, which is what most people get. Don’t body shame a heavy child until you look at school lunches, where ketchup counts as a vegetable!
God forbid we celebrate big women for working on their health! We’ve had 90+ years of mass media exclusively celebrating smaller bodies / shaming bigger bodies, and we aren’t healthier or happier for it.
I’m not overweight, I have a very healthy BMI, and yet I’ve had people yell rude / mocking comments about my body when I’ve been running. It really kills my motivation. I can’t imagine how much harder it would be for an overweight or obese woman, for whom running is more physically demanding, who have fewer visible role models, and who face greater censure for simply existing in a public space.
Images like this send a powerful message that everybody has an “ideal” body for exercise. That message benefits everyone, including people with healthy bodies that don’t fit the very thin “old normal.”
The “thin people can get sick too” comment I keep seeing on these discussions is really annoying. If course they can get sick. Do people understand the concept of risk? There is a correlation between many diseases/cancers and being overweight. Those correlations don’t exists with those that are at normal weight. It’s not easy to lose weight, but on top of the physical health risks, extra weight also takes a mental toll. That is pretty clear from the comments on these threads. If this cover helps someone get moving and get healthier, that’s great.
To me, this covers represents overweight runners, who are not normally shown. My old town hosts the ironman. I have seen very overweight people doing the ironman. This cover is not saying it’s OK to be overweight, it’s saying you can be a runner and overweight. I know, it’s amazing, isn’t it, but big people do work and they should be represented as well. A lot of big people don’t want to go to the gym because they are embarrassed. Embracing people of all shapes and sizes running is a great thing in my opinion.
” Maybe its new eating habits, maybe we should learn to eat smaller portions, or maybe its getting rid of all the hormones in our food.”
I think it might be the food — or what’s in it. My parents grew up in another country, and I doubt they exercised to the extent that people in North America do, but in all of their photos they were just as skinny as the athletic people running marathons (mind you, I’m saying they were skinny, not necessarily athletic or muscular or whatever else you associate with actual athletes). I suppose they were always doing something and on the move, so to speak, but I’m puzzled by the size differences nonetheless because of the amount of effort people of all sizes in North America put into getting into shape.
This is a win! Still, it took a while for my eyeballs and brain to get adjusted to seeing a woman that size on a magazine cover. That needs to change.
It’s great to see women of all sizes on magazine covers.
I wish they would show women in between super skinny and overweight on magazine coves. To me, that’s healthy and “normal.” I think everyone should feel good about themselves. It doesn’t help to beat yourself up. But I’m starting to see the point of people who are saying that we need to stop pretending that it’s healthy to be overweight. It’s not. It’s a real problem in this country, and while I understand that you can’t look at someone and tell whether or not they are healthy, being overweight is not just a lifestyle choice. It shouldn’t be treated as one. Shaming wome for being overweight is wrong, but I’m not sure celebrating it is the answer either.
I know what you mean. I feel like as someone who is not model (in this case athlete) slim and not plus sized I never see women of my size represented. I know this isn’t the same battle it has been for plus-sized folks to get representation and I’m not trying to compare the two, but it’s an odd group to leave out of the spotlight and I think for a lot of people it’s kind of the goal – most people aren’t realistically trying to get healthy to look like a model (or it’s not possible) but people can get healthy to be like a size 6-12 (or whatever).
How about we celebrate the journey? I’m overweight and I’ve recently discovered running. Finding shoes was easy. Finding a sports bra was difficult. Finding running gear is almost impossible. Nike has shorts and apparently I need to check out ADIDAS, but it is almost impossible to find gear in my size.
I don’t want to run in sweatpants and a t-shirt. It is uncomfortable and hot. But if a company makes clothes for women who want to change – then they’re shamed for promoting obesity. It is a double edged sword.
It is nice to see that someone my size not only runs but enjoys it. If she can overcome the weight/clothes issue and find a way to be active. Then so can I
I’m not happy where I am, but it can be hard to find motivation when all you hear is you’re fat, unhealthy and not worth having companies support you.
Really? Did you check online at all?
That sucks and it’s something that I’ve never thought about–not being able to find larger-sized running gear. I just checked Amazon quickly and they have the black Nike Dri Fit capris (REALLY recommend these as they’re comfy and flattering) in L and XL…
Try looking at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s. Believe it or not, I’ve had great luck finding workout clothes in sizes that fit at those two stores.
Old Navy has a good selection. It’s not the best quality, but it’s ok. I’ve ordered lots online because Canadian stores don’t stock plus size, but you can return anything in store.
Also try this page; http://fortsatta.com/32_souces_plus_size_activewear/
Moving Comfort for sports bras. And my running friends come in all shapes and sizes, and I know there are a lot of gear brands represented (try Old Navy’s older sister Athleta). Heck, I like Old Navy’s stuff a lot! Running shorts in general are very tough to find as a woman if you’re not comfortable with very short. I stick with Oiselle’s Long Roga, which has a 6″ inseam and that makes a huge difference.
PS, if you haven’t already, read Runner’s World’s piece “Fat Girl Running” for a little inspiration!
Here’s my thing, I wear a size 8 in slacks (a scant size 8; I used to be a 6) yet when I looked in Canada for fitness bottoms, even some size large were too tight. What are women larger than a size 8 supposed to do in that case? Women of every size need and want to move, but the apparel doesn’t seem to acknowledge this.
As we’ve discussed, most women are neither very thin nor very fat, but somewhere in between. Most people by definition fit somewhere under the bell curve, and it would be great to see that reflected in our images – what I think of as women wearing between 8 and 12.
Check out Columbia too. They have some good workout clothes in a variety of sizes.
Truth on the sports bras. I have to wear regular bra+plus-size sports bra+ regular sports bra on top. I call it my armor. No one thinks about the F-cups doing jumping jacks.
Thank you. They still haven’t shown my body type. I run. I go to the gym 4 or 5 days a week. I am short, pear shaped and about 5 pounds overweight, all of it in my thighs and hips. Surely most people are neither super skinny nor overweight but somewhere in between.
Girl are you me? Although I’m probs closer to 10 lbs overweight after this week, people kept bringing in chocolate cake…
I totally agree with this comment. I feel like it’s either tiny or overweight. There’s a lot of woman who are just average with cellulite and normal lumps and bumps and they are really never featured.
Oh they’re featured. They just photoshop all the flaws off them and present it as reality.
I’m just happy to see someone on a cover who doesn’t have really narrow hips. I’m about middle-of-the-road sized (5’3″ and 125 lbs) but I have big hips.
Separately, there are few things I LOATHE more than skinny jeans. No, not everyone looks good in them. Only women with more linear figures looks good in skinny jeans. I look like a demented Keebler elf in skinny jeans.
“demented Keebler elf”! Love it – And I hear you. Skinny jeans are not my friends
🙂
Skinny jeans are no one’s friend, unless you’re built like Taylor Swift. I do not get why they are so popular. They make thighs look bigger, butt huge, and calves scrawny. Imo, flared and boot cut pants balance everything out much better.
Skinny jeans NEED TO DIE. I am so tired of them. I’m a pear shape too and even when I’m at my slimmest (and I’m 5’11, so height doesn’t help), skinny jeans are not flattering on me. I don’t need help making my thighs look bigger, thank you very much.
My teen won’t wear any pants but skinny jeans. Sometimes leggings under a long sweater. She’s shorter legged and thinks other styles make her look squat. I’ve been trying to coax her into trying other styles for awhile. But she does look cute in her outfits at least.
The solution to skinny jeans hell is straight leg. I’m telling you. You don’t look outdated and you don’t look poured into your jeans like most of us with, um girth do.
What is the idea here? You guys consider this lady on the cover, overweight?
She’s overweight technically. Doesn’t mean that she’s not beautiful or healthy, but yes, she is overweight.
She’s cute but come on. She is massively overweight.
‘Massively overweight’ ?! Is that still from a technical point of view? I admit, I am not good at technical stuff.
Is there technical support that I can use to call someone massively moronic or massively idiotic? Are there studies?
I guess not because FAT is visible and the other stuff is not.
What luck for the morons, alcoholics, cheaters, drinkers, drug addicts, idiots of the world they get to live nice and quiet with their shit while calling out the overweight that don’t get to live with their shit out in the open.
BMI is a bell curve. Much like IQ. much like height. If your work with Eating Disorders, you’d be surprised at how many women refuse to be on the higher end of the BMI scale and diet into the “normal” BMI range, and become just as sick as those with very low BMIs. It happens.
As an example – two women – one naturally BMI 28, diets down to BMI 20. The other woman – naturally BMI 20, diets down to BMI 16. The first gets compliments, the second gets eating disorder comments. Which has an Eating Disorder? They both do. (See YourEatopia)
Bad things happen when you try to stay at too low a weight for your body – anemia, depression, heart problems, bone density issues, infertility, the list goes on and on.
Everyone has a natural setpoint, though not all of us choose to accept it.
Seeing ppl like her on a magazine just says her body is just as worthy of the cover as someone with low % body fat. it says being big doesn’t stop you from living your dreams, like running. It doesn’t glorify any body type over another. Just says it’s ok to be big and run.
Good comment. It’s like with many other aspects of society, it seems as if there is a narrower and narrower range in which to be “normal.” We’re all born different and need to figure out what’s optimal for our height, frame and proportions.
Yes, thank you.
People shouldn’t base their diet and exercise routines on BMI. BMI is NOT an accurate or appropriate way to determine if someone is at a healthy weight because it doesn’t account for the differences between muscle weight and fat weight. Many athletic, in-shape people have BMIs in the “obese” range. BMI is a useless measurement.
BMI is not useless at all. It’s certainly not the be all end all of anything but it’s a good guide. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if your BMI is technically obese but you’re ripped and have low body fat that you aren’t actually obese. BMI is simply one measurement, one tool to use to track your body condition and progress.
Thank you for this. I’m someone who is muscular, so my BMI is always high. It was a 19 when I was super anorexic and you could see my ribs. Now it is 25, with me being very fit. I hate BMI.
I’ve never been very overweight, but her cover is inspirational to me. She looks beautiful. I’m not currently model skinny, but I can (and do) look strong and healthy working out too.
They’re not going to show people between “super skinny & overweight” because the industry still thinks they’re fat.-that’s why. (I personally think that’s ridiculous but I’ve worked in the fashion industry and that’s how many decision makers think.) As a big girl who exercises and occasionally gets static from people while I’m doing it, I’m not going to hate on the cover above. Do what you have to do to improve your health period.
Yes, I think that’s why, too. They would definitely think I was way fat. I’m not hating on this beautiful woman. I just think we have to be careful not to say that either extreme – too heavy or too thin – is healthy.
Even if I agreed with you, I think you are dramatically wrong on this cover. This is Women’s Running magazine. They are not celebrating being overweight they are celebrating running and exercising. She isn’t even wearing anything that is suggestive, she is just wearing regular running outfit. The more we can make exercise look good for everyone the more healthy we will be as a society, and this is a good step.
That’s an interesting point. I don’t think I fit into either category (though I’m probably always trying to be slimmer), and I always feel I’m sort of on the cusp of being what someone what might consider media-okay in terms of physique but not actually there. (I’m talking about regular magazines though, not the running ones — I think the model they chose for this cover makes sense since they said she was really great and energetic at running).
I hardly think that 2 or 3 plus sized cover models equates the new normal. the body positivity movement is all about acceptance. I don’t have to hide to excersise, I can have cute clothes to wear while I do it, and I AM NOT ALONE! Maybe some of you don’t get it because watching your arm and leg fat jiggle independently of the rest of you hasn’t happened to you. If you’ve never had people stare and laugh at you for trying to remedy that, maybe you do think these cover models are glorifying obesity.
I feel like all the “concern” over this topic is just one more way of reeling in the fat girls. It’s not about health at all and never has been. It’s about conformity. We’re so well programmed that we’re policing ourselves.
So now showing a not-thin woman running is “glorifying obesity”? Please. I’m not falling for that. If the conversation was really about health we’d be discussing how fitness is accessible to everyone and everyone’s health journey is different. But, no.
I think you’re seeing what you want to see. Nobody is trying to reel in the fat girls. But being overweight is not healthy, and showing an overweight woman on the cover of a health magazine running seems to imply that it is.
Thing that gets me is nobody ever shows that concern about women who fit the “healthy size” aesthetic, no matter how they achieved or maintain it. For another, this lady is shown exercising! How in the world does that lead to “oooh, bad, this promotes bad things!”
Even assuming that being anything above ideal perfect weight is unhealthy and should be rectified immediately, I still don’t think that putting her on the cover is saying “hey look, this overweight girl is totally healthy!” The message I get is “hey look, fitness is for anyone who wants to pursue it”. We don’t know where she is in her journey, and I think showing all the steps is important. She’s certainly healthier than someone who sits on the couch eating chips.
@GNAT or it is showing overweight women that you don’t look bad when you exercise, and maybe they should give it a try. Whether you know it or not your comments seem to me to be very negative to overweight women and detrimental to society and the overweight problem in general. Although, unfortunately probably the norm for our society. If overweight women can’t even be seen on a cover of a women’s running magazine trying to be healthy, because it is “glamorizing” being overweight where can they be seen? I guess they should hide for the years that it may take to lose weight. Most people can’t lose weight the Biggest Loser way, and it takes a long time. I am guessing you missed the headline, ” The Best Reason to be Body Positive, Science say Self Loves makes you run faster.” To help become body positive you need to see images of people who look like you doing positive things to improve their health this is that kind of image.
@Jenn Agreed! Call me when >50% of magazine covers show big girls indulging in bad habits.
@GNAT Fair enough this says to you “being overweight is healthy,” but luckily that doesn’t impact your motivation to work out, as you mentioned above, you just get on with it regardless of societal messaging.
On the flip side, I don’t see anyone on this thread saying “Oh great! I don’t need to make healthy choices now this is the new normal!” I do hear people talking about how motivating this is. How hard it is for bigger people to find gear that fits and safe places to work out. For many people images like this show what’s possible. That you don’t have to be healthy to start healthy habits or receive praise for healthy choices.
My bigger girlfriends are more willing to come to yoga with me, for example, when they see images like this on a studio’s website. They’re more willing to come swimming now because they bought swimsuits modelled by this EXACT SAME MODEL showing them how fierce their bodies can look in motion!
I agree Wren.
As a “big girl” who runs – I LOVE THIS. It’s hard to feel like a fatty and put yourself out there on the street. This cover says – “I see you! Keep it up!”
It’s not saying “hey, gain weight, eat a burger.” Acknowledging that overweight people exist is not the same as endorsing weight gain. Ugh. We all KNOW we’re overweight.
Also, I had never heard of this magazine…going to check it out now!
Exactly! And would be great to see more fitness advice aimed at a diversity of bodies – lots of activities aren’t one size fits all and helping people modify activities to get their best exercise experience would go a long way!
She is beautiful.
Saying that this will tell girls it is okay to be overweight and feel fine about it – leading to health issues, is ridiculous. It is celebrating women of different sizes. Period. These women who aren’t a size 2 deserve to see women who aren’t either – on the cover of magazines. We are used to seeing 0’s 2’s and 4’s on the cover… well can’t it be argued that that could tell girls that size is the norm (it is obviously not) and create health issues for girls striving to be a size they may not be meant to be? The argument can go both ways. You do you boo.
I agree. I also think there are some girls and women who have such low self esteem(Low self esteem effects all shapes and sizes) that they are embarrassed or intimidated to work out in public or at all and this could be a great motivator for them. Plus women are not being glorified by having a few magazine covers but I wish all shapes and sizes were respresented because many people feel marginalized and should be represented.
Here, here!
This is such a random thing to say, but I hate Women’s Running magazine. It’s almost entirely geared toward people just starting running. Why is “women” code for “begginner”?
Oh snap!.. truer words have never been spoken. Some sexist sh*t right there.
And all the “how to get motivated” and “diets for runners” nonsense. PLEASE.
I recently had some dude ask me “are you psyched for the warmer weather so you can get out there and run?” I’m like “No, because I’ve been running 60-70 miles a week with a 10 lb backpack through freezing cold, ice, snow, rain, and insane wind this whole winter.” lol I know it was an innocent question but it was still fun to shut his ass up.
That’s not meant to brag, just to say that for some of us running isn’t exercise or a way to burn cals, it’s a passion.
Every single issue is like that, and I sincerely don’t know how they come up with content every single month. At least they don’t have an article about how to make your own tutu to run in?
I’m in the PNW and people ask me what I do when it rains. I explain that it turns out you can just throw on a hat and still go outside and run.
Kitten, if I remember correctly you’re training for a half marathon?
LOL
“Pamper Your Feet After a Run With a Soothing Lavender Soak”
“Cutest Hair Accessories for Runners”
“Best Waterproof Makeup to Last You Till The End of Your Run”
Running in light rain is one of the greatest joys as a runner. Even better if it’s a mist. Ahhhhh…
This will be a long explanation (sorry!), but I could use any advice you have on this, Bridget..
So my plan was to hit up a half this Spring but 4 weeks ago I got a pretty serious injury. I’ve had extensor tendonitis building on my left foot for about 7 or 8 months now and I’d say about 5 months ago a big ol’ Ganglion cyst formed on the top of my tendon. I tried ladder lacing my sneakers to make room for it and take the pressure off but nothing seemed to help. Anyway, (speaking of running in the rain) one day I ran home in crazy, torrential rain and I had a cut on my left heel. My theory is that I picked up bacteria from a puddle and my foot (including cyst) swelled up to a monstrous size. Turns out to be a staph infection. I could have lost my foot entirely so I was really lucky that I got to a doc when I did and he quickly put me on antibiotics. They drained the cyst twice but it’s still pretty big so….I’m actually not supposed to be running or jumping but I’m doing both because I’m a stubborn bastard.
I switched out my minimalist sneaks for more padded ones to get a buffer between my cyst and laces and I’m using those ice wraps after every run. Seems to be helping..All of this is to say that I’m holding off on my half for now. Maybe summer or fall, but I don’t think a spring half is in the cards for me sadly. I actually have a 10K in another week and it’s all hills which is brutal on extensor tendonitis…trying to decide if I’m still gonna run it or not.
Dude. Rest. Staph infection, cyst, AND tendinitis? At least get the cyst a little more under control.
Also, if you haven’t already, get to a PT and figure out the root cause of your foot issues, esp the tendinitis, because that means some thing’s not firing correctly when you’re running (this as someone who has to roll her peroneal tendon with a golf ball regularly to keep it from getting wonky). Get healthy, because you’ve made the fitness gains, but they won’t mean anything if you can’t get to the start line and then finish the race. That’s the nice thing about a half marathon especially in comparison with a whole – it’s much easier to get a new one on the calendar to make up for a missed event.
Amen, Kitten and OMG about your foot. I’m so glad you’re on the road to recovery.
I love running in the winter, especially when the snow is falling. I was actually bummed that I never got to try out my new Yaktrax because our winter was too mild, lol.
And a light rain is perfect, just put on a baseball hat to keep the rain out of your eyes and you’re good to go.
Happy healing.
Well done, you! That mileage is truly impressive. Yesterday some triathlete friends were talking about doing a race relay together, and since I’ve been regularly logging 10k, 5k and 8k runs weekly I thought this might be a possibility, for me to take the running leg (only 10k). Obviously, I am not a serious runner with that mileage; for me, running is a fitness skill and an excuse to get outside rather than an all-consuming passion. I’ve run a couple of 10ks and thanks to my own stupidity wound up with chronic injuries each time, and it’s taken sooo long to work back to the point where I can run comfortably and not worry about injury. After seeing a 5-day-a-week run schedule for training to get a sub-50min time, I just don’t know if I want to drop most of the weightlifting, bike riding and yoga I’ve come to love in order to pursue this goal. Running is awesome, but I don’t have the body type or natural skill to be a truly gifted runner so I see little benefit to specialization. And right now, everything I do, I look forward to so much as an experience. I am pumped to hit the squat rack and pumped to try to PR on my 10k weekly, and to better my times on sprint intervals, and wring myself out from all that work with yoga.
Best wishes for your foot’s recovery!
@Esmom: I love my Yaktrax! I’ve never run more than 6 miles with them, but they’re great to get out in the snow.
@Bridget-I know I know…You’re totally right.
I can’t make any promises but I have tried to at least scale back a bit on the running. It’s so hard for me to rest..it goes against my nature. I’m just the most miserable human to be around when I can’t run or do fitness activities.
@Esmom- I got my first pair of Yaktrax this winter! I LOVE them for running on snow-packed paths but they do not transition well onto wet pavement. I lost a spike (bent right in) after my first test run with them. They were still worth the investment though-just being able to run on snow and ice without stressing out opens up a whole new world for me. The funniest part is how everyone turns around and stares at me when I’m wearing them because of the crazy sound they make on pavement. lol People are like wtf?
@Senna-Well that’s the thing though-it’s all about personal goals. The races I run in are usually big races with Bill Rodgers running group, NCAA ranked runners etc so there’s no way I’ll ever win. I’m not running a 5 min mile you know? But I placed in the top ten for my age group in a 10K that I did (actually the same one that I’m supposed to do next weekend) and it was HUGE for me. I wanted to beat my personal best and I shaved off about 3 minutes so it was something.
I think you can still train for the relay (I’ve ALWAYS wanted to try one of those–so fun!) and still do your weight-training and yoga. I weight train 3 times a week just to increase leg strength and core.
Maybe you just over-trained in the past which is why you ended up injured?
Thanks for all the positive words, guys! ♥
@Kitten I’m loving the running discussion on here! First of all, YES, I absolutely overtrained on the first 10k forays. I actually followed a “learn to run 10k” program, but for someone to go from not-running but in generally ok shape (thanks to cycling and yoga) to running 3x a week, all in about 3 months, is actually a pretty heavy workload. At the end of both training regimes, I had big IT band flares that required total rest and a lot of physio to recover from. I also trained in the Fraser Valley (agricultural area of BC) which is the absolute worst place to be if you have sports asthma, which I do, and I trained with my naturally-gifted-at-running ectomorph husband, pushing myself to keep pace like the competitive idiot I am. So it was a disaster. I’ve now been running without injury for almost 3 years and a big part of that was swearing off racing, which pushes me to do stupid things rooted in vanity, and just enjoying the work itself. But maybe I’ve learned my lesson and can NOT be an idiot, knowing that right now I could complete the 10k at around 55 min with my current 2-3x a week running workload, and anything better that I work towards is just gravy. It would be so fun to race with friends!
Wow, you do 3 weightlifting sessions a week on top of running? You are a warrior! Also, top 10 for your age group in a 10k is fantastic.
@kitten: it’s not like you’re the first runner to get injured and have a hard time taking time off!
I’m actually the other way around. I top off between 50-60 miles a week because more takes too much out of me right now (balancing training, kids, and job turns out to be hard!). I have one last ‘big’ race this training cycle, in June, and then I taking a break from the 26.2 until next year. I’d love to see if I could get my time to as close to 3:30 as possible, but if I don’t it’s not enough to inspire me to keep going this year because I am TIRED.
@Bridget – running in the rain is the best! When I’m driving and see someone running in the rain I’m always hit with a little wave of jealousy.
@Kitten – There will always be other races. Just a guess, but you mentioned that the race your on the fence about running is one you placed well in last year. If you’re anything like me you’d be ultra bummed if you chose to run through your pain and either didn’t finish or did poorly, knowing how well you can do on this course. Pushing yourself too hard when your body is telling you no is usually not a good idea. All that said, no one knows your body better than you; if you’re listening to it, the choice you make will be the right one regardless of what that choice is.
I do as well, Bridget; I’m a long distance runner ( hobby, not professional) and I am a little disheartened at how basic, almost twee, a lot of the articles are in Women’s Running.
Also running in the rain is awesome, which is just as well since I live in Ireland. 🙂
I don’t think Women is always code for beginner, but this magazine does cater to the beginner because I can’t think of anything else like this. I don’t know if there is a men’s running, but would love to see if there was and what that looked like. I am a casual runner and read this and the articles are geared more to me, although some are stupid I would agree with that. I find it helpful in the shoes and bra area of running.
I was talking about this magazine specifically. There are plenty of non-gender specific running magazines out there as well – Runner’s World, Running Times, etc.
I can’t stand the beginner thing either it feels like they are saying a woman can’t be a serious runner. I’ve been running and swimming since forever and don’t find many resources geared towards women that don’t make broad assumptions. My mother and I used to do marathons together and trained in all kinds of weather and love the feeling of beating the weather if that makes sense. She’s still running marathons with her best friend who is 65. Halfs now and lower but girl is out there doing it and inspires me. I can’t train properly right now with my children being small but I still get in some nice runs but not enough to prepare for a marathon or anything.
@kitten be careful about staph. I had a cut that became infected with staph that I thought was healed and swam and exercised but then started feeling tired and woke up one morning with a fever and chills. When I went to the doctor again I was sent to the ER and ended up being admitted because the staph was now in my blood. Staph can hide in your body and can be hard to detect. To say it was a nightmare would be underplaying the whole thing. I was on IV transfusions for 6 weeks. I too am a stubborn thing and running is like my meditation and therapy, it gives me a sense of well being. But I had to learn to rest and just stick to my yoga and Pilates for a time and am now getting back in my groove. Wish you health and success in your future running career.
Keep running ladies! 🙂
The thing is, change comes in small increments. For the longest time, only very slender bodies were featured as the norm for beauty. Now we’re seeing others, and it’s an important message in itself, especially for kids: that people who are different shapes and sizes deserve to be respected because there is nothing wrong with them.
Keeping the discussion of health separate is correct. We should still talk about health, but people need to understand that health is first and foremost an individual issue, between that person and their doctor. It should not necessarily be automatically correlated to the cover of SI. The subjects of health and beauty are not mutually exclusive; they simply don’t always need to be in every conversation together, particularly when we are trying to teach our little girls not to starve themselves for beauty.
See I feel like All bodies are worthy of celebration. Big bodies, small bodies, bodies with cellulite, bodies where thighs touch and ones where they don’t. Bodies with autoimmune disease or in wheelchairs. Bodies with big boobs, bodies with little boobs, apple shaped, pear shaped.
There’s no way you can tell me that X person in overweight range (Queen Latifah) is unhealthier than someone in “normal” weight range (Cara Delevigne). You can be healthy (or unhealthy) – depending on your behaviors, your attitude, your zest for life. That’s what this cover is saying to me.
I’m really heartened by all the positive discussion I see here about keeping health/weight separate, and encouraging people to be active rather than shaming them into hating their bodies. Maybe we’re finally seeing a positive social change in the way we treat obesity that could actually help people make positive, health-focused rather than aesthetically-focused changes in their food and exercise habits.
I love your sentiment. I like the focus on women’s health because I think that is a much better discussion and has nothing to do with beauty. I honestly think if it was only about health for all sizes and not about being thin or feeling bad about impossible goals for whatever reason then I think the conversations are more positive and inspiring.
I don’t really need to see my exact body “celebrated” or whatever. If I’m being honest, I prefer to see athletic-looking, strong women on magazine covers because that’s what I find personally inspiring. I also totally understand how subjective that is, so it’s great if larger-sized women find a cover like this empowering. *shrugs*
Also, I take a really intense class at my gym–I mean REALLY challenging. It’s structured in 3 sets of 10 exercises (1 minute each no rest in-between). So you do one set and then repeat it twice after that. It’s super-hard combo exercises (it’s never like, bicep curls or anything easy) and it’s designed to basically break you. Anyway, there’s a bigger-sized woman who is always in that class and she effin kicks so much ass. She has amazing form (again, these exercises are super-hard) and she pushes herself more than most of the other people in class. She’s obviously very strong, fit, and healthy and she is not a small size. I know it’s repeated often around here but people really need to remember that overweight can be healthy and fit.
That’s the thing – if you’re actually out at races and at gyms and on the roads, you see that there are people of every shape and size out there working hard.
EXACTLY. I went to a gym that was all-women for 15 years and it’s unbelievable the range in body types and sizes.
It’s so true. I was into kickboxing for awhile and you truly saw an array of women killing it in class.
The SI swim thing irks because women’s college level sports programs are always underfunded and accused of only existing because men’s programs bring in all the revenue. This is partly true but if women’s sports were taken more seriously and received more attention perhaps this would change. They should feature women from different sports showing different types of athletic shapes.
I too get inspired by strong bodies but do like that this image will inspire others to exercise too.
Not to mention, only about half of men’s football teams actually make money (football being traditionally considered the big moneymaking sport). So what’s supposed to be the big money maker for a school half the time ends up costing them money!
I don’t think ‘fit’ = ‘healthy’. Look at what happened to Jim Fix. She may be physically fit, but if she is overweight she has too much metabolically active fat. We used to think that fat was just dead weight – something that hurt you because it puts strain on your joints. But now we know it is just as metabolically active as any other tissue in your body, and not in a good way (unless you are heading for a long period of little to no food). People talk about hormones in food – it is nothing compared to the hormones extra body fat is pumping into the system.
whatever ya’ll stay there doing the Body type/health blah blah blah fight, I’m just her to be in Awe of how fierce Nadia Aboulhosn is, her IG and Twitter are a Treasure, I follow this one everywhere just cause her energy and the looks she pulls off are everything, she is Openly serving Fire and F8ck you Stares
QQ dear, came here to say the exact same thing!!! I’ve been following her for a couple years now, and I absolutely adore her. She’s beautiful, smart, hilarious, and her style is to die for.
YES!! she is so fierce!! I also Love her family glimpses!
Uh, I’m just rolling my eyes at all the people saying that 1-2 plus-sized models getting magazine covers is going to make being obesity acceptable. Come on! A-list celebrities like Adele, Rebel Wilson, and Melissa McCarthy haven’t stopped overweight people from getting picked on – you think THIS will? Our obesity rates didn’t go up when Adele released her #1 album or Melissa released her #1 movie, they sure as heck aren’t going to go up with a magazine cover that gets much less attention than they do. Just crazy to me. All it’s going to do is show people that you don’t have to be a size 0 to get out there and run or take a Zumba class or whatever. Or make a girl going through puberty and a chubby phase think “oh, maybe being fat isn’t the worst thing in the world”. I spent way too much hating myself as a teen (perfect bloodwork, btw) and if these covers could have helped my self-esteem an iota, it would have been a success, IMO.
^^^ This.
I just don’t, for the love of God, see how someone can look at this cover and come to the conclusion that it’s ‘glamourizing/promoting’ obesity. I can’t. This cover and any other like it are not going to make the skinny people decide to become overweight for heaven’s sake! Someone up-post put it way more eloquently than I could… “Seeing ppl like her on a magazine just says her body is just as worthy of the cover as someone with low % body fat. it says being big doesn’t stop you from living your dreams, like running. It doesn’t glorify any body type over another. Just says it’s ok to be big and run.”
Being overweight doesn’t make people any less of humans than skinny/not overweight people.
Wow, she’s gorgeous. I see a little bit of Nikki Reed, but more interesting.
And I know I’m supposed to be focusing on the cover image, and it’s great, but… those BOOTS. That coat. Damn.
You should definitely check her street style. It’s annoying how flattering and effortless-looking it is.
She is gorgeous. And I love how happy she looks. This is how running makes me feel. Happy, light(inside) and capable. She conveys that to me, so as far as I’m concerned, she is doing her job. Congrats on your cover, Nadia.
Yes, the term “plus-sized” and “normal” creates a negative binary. Truly, all body shapes of people who, ya know, eat are “normal” while all of those models’ bodies should be labelled “starving.” It’s all a woman-hating mess.
I’m actually ok with the term plus size. I don’t want to waste my precious time searching through racks of size 8 clothes. When I go in a store I want to know immediately which pants skirts swimsuits and lingerie are cut for ample butts and back fat. The term is helpful to me. I have no hang ups about the term at all.
I’m so sorry, but I don’t think it is positive to encourage being overweight. As someone who has a family member struggling with Diabetes now, due to their overweight(ness) I just cannot rationalize how we are praising someone for being overweight. I am so sorry to say that..but I don’t find it healthy.
Clearly you haven’t read any of the comments.
She is Running, on the cover of a Running magazine. She is being praised for Running.
It’s not a picture of her parked on the couch stuffing her face, and encouraging others to be like her. She is helping to motivate anyone, at any size to get moving.
I don’t think she really runs.
Ok
It literally says right there in the description that she’s a runner. Go to a race – you’ll see people of every shape and size. I know runners both big and small. Not to mention that the Running magazines all specifically use actual runners on their cover.
Not to mention, one of the best ways to manage Type 2 diabetes is with exercise.
Diabetes has been associated with obesity. It is not directly correlated.
Disagree. Ask any doctor looking to lower their A1c and the number one way is weight loss.
Well, I’m a pre-med, and I can tell you that in many cases, yes, diabetes is associated with degenerative function of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas that can be linked to obesity. We cannot explain why this doesn’t occur in ALL obese adults or why it sometimes happens idiopathically in normal weight or otherwise healthy adults. We also don’t know if there’s a genetic predisposition or what causes congenital diabetes. It’s a pretty complicated disease.
I hate running. Lol. I’m a sprinter-give it my all- type of runner. Long distance, hell no. I’d rather do any other workout! And I’m super active and LOVE to workout! She looks great. The picture of her on the wall is so beautiful! I want her GRAY Nikes!!!!! Now!!!
He key is health. She obviously works out. She’s probably more fit than a lot of runway models. We have just lost a sense of proportion. My 13 yr old can be a little thick in the thighs–that’s where her teen girl weight goes. But she has a great BMI–neither overweight or underweight. But in clothing she alternates between a medium and large. It really makes me wonder about sizing and the message it sends.
Sizing is completely arbitrary and always has been. 40 years ago, a size “2” was our size “0” now. Designers/clothing companies make the measurements for sizes whatever they want to be and change them at will.
Forty-20 years ago, size 14 was a “regular’ size because North American stores stocked sizes “2-14 or 16” as regular women’s sizes and 16+ was seen as plus sized. Now size 14 is found in plus-sized stores. That’s simply about money and charging women more by putting them in a false niche. So you can’t always go by “size” alone. I have everything from an “old” size 12 to an 18 in my closet.
Totally stunned someone thinks this gorgeous gal is “massively overweight”
Mama June may be massively overweight and looks extremely unhealthy.
Nadia appears very healthy and happy.
Obviously the now normal is anorexia which is depressing and sad.
A polar bear is not praised for being skinny.
There are ALL TYPES OF BODY SIZES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some people are healthy bean poles.
Some people are healthy rolly polly.
The key word here is “healthy”.
I’m sorry that the truth bothers you so much. :/. You should work on that.
Fat is metabolically active, and not in a good way. So fit does not = healthy in either over weight or normal weight people.
http://dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1758-5996-3-12
I can never seem to get the Reply to work in the right place!
Thanks to Kitten and Bridget for the suggestions. I actually run in Nike Dry Fit capris. Moving comfort bras are great for walks and yoga, but my DD girls need Enell bras so they do not move (thanks to Oprah for the tip). I wear bamboo stretchy tanks (elo and sometimes Brooks) but winter gear is harder. I’m so thankful the weather is changing.
I’m a die-hard Mizuno girl. They are a light shoe so I’m not hauling extra weight. Wave Riders for interval work, wave galaxy for serious mileage.
I just finished my first 10k (barely) and I’m inspired to train for another where it hopefully won’t be as hard. I’ve done 5ks forever but the 10k in Feb was my first. I’ve caught the bug.
I love this magazine cover and will be hunting it down.
So the Enell bra is worth it? I’ve debated for a long time, no one around my little town sells it so I can’t try one on first. How high up in the armpits does it go? I find a lot of these sports bras are too low, and I end up with overhanging underarm boobs!
That’s interesting that Moving Comfort didn’t really work for you, because I know some very busy gals (especially after having kids) that swear by them. I’ll make sure to remember Enell. As for the Winter gear, in some ways it’s easier than summer for me because I don’t have to worry nearly as much about chafing since I don’t have any bare skin on seams. For super cold days I wear a thick long sleeve and a quarter zip pullover (target or Nike) and that’s good around 15-20 degrees farenheit. And a good vest will get you far!
Thanks again for the tip Bridget, once I’m able to comfortably wear the Target XL (champion I think), I’ll grab one. It seems to run small in some areas so I spend more time fighting to keep it down… But spring is here and I am absolutely more active in Spring, Summer, Fall when I can dodge the rain.
I’m a single Mom, so my little one is close to the age where I can leave her home for 30-45 minutes and take off – no excuses!
Jenn – I LOVE my Enell for running, but I went to a running store and was measured, so I know I have the right size. The back is solid and it clips in the front – close to 20 fasteners- so you’re corsetting yourself in. There is no bounce. Also, it comes up pretty high underarm. Not uncomfortable but you’re held in everywhere. Some people think it is uni-boob uncomfortable, but I don’t want any bounce so I don’t care. I’m not wearing it to look cute.
Moving comfort and LivFit are great for cute/non-bouncy activities.
Target was just an example (especially since I personally only own a few items for really cold weather since the PNW doesn’t have really long cold snaps). My point was more that you don’t have to break the bank for good cold weather gear – Old Navy has good stuff, Athleta is great too (both carry extended sizes!). I find I prefer to buy my running apparel from apparel specific companies vs the running companies like Brooks, Asics, Nike, etc because I’ve found fit issues across the board there. To the point where I wonder if they ever consult any real women when they make their clothes 🙂
Another idea is men’s running gear. Of course not bras but pants and tops and outerwear can work well sometimes. I am tall so the length can be good and the tops with sleeves work better for me depending on the brand. A few ladies I run with sometimes have problems with tops because they are top heavy or carry a few extra and don’t want to feel too constricted.
First. The USA has reached a point where basically only one size
and physique= attractive = healthy, no matter how this size is achieved. Meanwhile obvious differences in body type are not considered normal but are flaws to be overcome or at least apologized for.
Second. Into this already distorted view of body image come th e fat people. Yes, obesity resulting from excessive intake of fatty,sugary foods and lack of exercise is obviously unhealthy.
Obesity is one of those public health problems where people insist on attacking individuals rather than even considering the circumstances in which the phenomenon came into being. Some people think obesity is a moral failing, but whose failing is it? Is it possible that like poverty, it is a by-product of a society that always puts greed over anything and anybody with little pushback from the majority of people? Has any of you fat shamers ever said anything about coca-cola having a stake in American school lunch programs?
Third. I read somewhere that thinness is valuable social capital. This explains why one would feel so threatened by the image of a large model on a magazine – it might devalue their precious thinness. Glamorizing obesity? Ha! Give me a Coke.
Lol. Men would pick a healthy, thin woman over an overweight woman everytime. Literally none of my friends are attracted to big women. If you are over a size 8 good luck getting a date. Take care of yourself.
Well that’s a load of bullsh*t. One of my very good friends is quite overweight, and her husband prefers her body type to all others. I have also had male friends who said they preferred thin girls, but when they met ‘the one’ they said (slightly baffled look on their faces) “I honestly don’t care about the fact that she is overweight. I don’t really even see it.”
This is supposed under Matt’s comment.
I was a fat girl 23 years ago when I met my husband and he sure seems to like me. Lucky for me, your circle of friends isn’t very big. 😉
Well clearly that’s the most important part. I mean, what other reason is there to get out of bed in the morning if not to be attractive to some a-hole guys?
If you say things like this out loud, good luck to you as well. You’re going to need it.
Her size wasn’t the thing catching my attention on the cover. The full make up face, the impractical way the jacket is zipped and more importantly the dark gear head to toe gave me pause. I run, alone, before or after work, 50 to 60 km a week and her outfit, though cute, is totally unthinkable. Maybe she only runs on treadmills or in stadiums with megawatts spotlights.
That’s why I never buy running magazines specifically for women. I still don’t see what couldn’t apply to me in standard running magazines.
I really don’t think putting overweight people on magazine covers is the same as ‘celebrating being overweight’ or ‘making obesity the new normal’ (as if a few covers like this are going to replace the size 0/2/tolerable curvy size 4 status quo). It’s just representation and reflecting a little bit more of what’s out there. It doesn’t really do any good for society to pretend that overweight (and almost-overweight) people don’t exist by only having slimmer people modeling clothes or shown on the covers of fashion, fitness, and health magazines just like other people. This seems to be more of a celebration of living an active life style and promoting better body image than telling people that looking just like this runner is the ‘glamorous new thing.’
@Mat lol a woman will pick a man with some depth and character over a mean spirited shallow man child any day. Literally none of my size 8 and below friends or my 8+ friends would date a jerk so good luck getting a date.