Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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What are your New Year's Resolutions? If you're like many people, losing weight is one of them.
Dr. Kim Mulvihill shows us a good approach for people of any age and any size.
While exercise is a great way to lose weight and improve health, many overweight people find it intimidating walking into a gym. Well here's a class that makes it easy.
These women are living proof you don't need to be young and thin to work out.
They're all taking part in fitness plus, a class at the Bay Club in Marin designed to motivate people, regardless of how old or how large they are.
Trainer Meredith Medland says by creating an exercise class women can feel comfortable in, it helps them rediscover themselves.
Meredith Medland/ Fitness Plus Trainer: "Just really tapping into that sexy feminine power, regardless of size and age, and really just flowing with that and having a lot of fun."
The class is the brain child of movie critic Jan Wahl. Jan says she wanted to break through the stereotypes and the fear that prevent many women from going to gyms.
Jan Wahl/ Movie Critic: "It's about exercise and it's about feeling good. And it's about the lies the diet industry has told us and the fashion industry has told us that you have to be thin and you have to be a certain age to be fit."
The women dance, lift weights, do sit-ups and stretch to get a complete workout.
Studies show that people who exercise, even if they are overweight, are at lower risk of heart disease than people who are considered normal weight but don't exercise.
The women in Fitness Plus says it's liberating to realise they are not alone, and that they can have fun while working out.
Pamela/ Loves Fitness: "I like the energy. I like Meredith's way of teaching. I like the absolute uninhibitedness of all us ladies."
Yvonne Angelo/ Loves Fitness Plus: "I'm over 65 and feel fortunate to have found a place where I can come and feel comfortable."
Diane Faris/ Loves Fitness Plus: "This gives us the freedom to be who we always wanted to be."
It's a freedom that's good for the body and the soul.
Staying active is one of the best things we can do for good health. It helps you feel better and sleep better, and does a lot for the little aches and pains of getting older.
Classes like this one are getting started all over the country, helping those people who need it most.
