About three years ago my aunt told me a story about how when she’s going through any situation her friend would ask her, “What’s your truth and how are you gonna get your power back?”

Sooo here’s my truth:

I’m 28, about 280lbs, 5’10, knock-kneed (with one bad knee to boot), a Grad student, assault survivor, plus-size, and an African American woman who, at this point of her life, only owns clothing, a couple pots... most days, my sanity... this blog, and my day-to-day experiences.

All these things and the lack of people who look like me in the many fitness spaces I frequent is why I came up with The Plus Side of Things because although I work out and try to eat healthy, my goal has never been to be a size 6. I don’t ever wanna be less than 200lbs. In a society that says I’m morbidly obese and need to lose about a 100lbs, these classes simply aren’t marketed to people like me.

What is my chance? Where is my hope to fix this societal problem? The sad truth is in the privacy of my home & snap stories, I’m happy with my curves. It’s when I walk into clothing stores & fitness classes that I’m reminded that my hourglass/pear-shaped body is not always accommodated. This has brought me here, and hopefully you too: helping those like me find affordable and affirming spaces to shop & workout.

My name is Jamie, and this is the +SideOfThings