Winnipegger fed up with fitness professionals who say she's too fat to be fit

For someone who knows her way around a weight room, Sarah LaCroix cares very little about pounds. Still, the 31 year old from Winnipeg says she's constantly shamed at the gym because of her size.

"The gym isn't about losing weight, the gym is more about my physical and mental health," said La Croix, who is a regular at the gym but often feels judged for being curvy.

Recently, LaCroix was told by a fitness instructor that she could leave in the middle of her exercise class. When LaCroix insisted on staying for the whole workout, the instructor went on to offer unsolicited advice, such as how to do a bicep curl.

There's still that idea that fat people are lazy...- Sarah LaCroix

"At some point she asked, 'Do you know how to do a push up?,' recalled LaCroix.

LaCroix said instructors often single her out and assume she is inexperienced at the gym because she's curvy. In some instances, instructors have yelled at her for slowing down classes, but she said it's equally insulting when they show genuine surprise at her capabilities.

"There's still that idea that fat people are lazy and fat people can't work out and fat people hate themselves," said LaCroix.

More accountability from instructors

LaCroix's experience is common, according to Stephanie Strugar. Strugar is a certified dance and fitness instructor whose body positive classes often attract curvier women.

"70 per cent of my job is dealing with the emotional state. Not because they can't take control of their life, but because they have experienced trauma at the gym," said Strugar.

As a curvy woman herself, Strugar faces her own challenges in the dance and fitness industry. As a ballroom dancer, she learned to dance lead so she could dance with other girls. She said the men in her classes always chose thinner women as their partners.

At the gym, Strugar has been bullied by other fitness instructors for her weight and the clothes she wears.

She says it's time for better rules in the industry.

"I think there should be some accountability for fitness instructors and their conduct, just like for coaches with good sportsmanship and respect. That is something that instructors of dance or fitness should have to align themselves with as well," Strugar said.

Protocol aside, the bottom line for Strugar is simple: A healthy body comes in all shapes and sizes.

"I haven't weighed myself in years because it's not about your weight, it's about what you can do when you're hitting those exercises," she said.

Both Strugar and LaCroix are seeing some positive change in the industry as the "body positive" movement gains momentum, particularly in the online world, but it is still outweighed by negative experiences.

"Change is coming, but it's hard and it's going to be a long road," said LaCroix.