Thankfully we seem to be past the point where thin automatically equals healthy. Human beings come in all shapes and sizes, and a larger person can be just as strong and long-lived as a slimmer one. That said, plus-sized folks can still surprise you. In this feature, we'll spotlight 10 people on the chunky side who are doing some pretty astounding things with their big bodies.
Erik Cavanaugh![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
Ballet has a reputation for pushing dancers to be as thin as possible, but Pittsburgh pizza bot
Erik Cavanaugh is turning that cliche upside down. The Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School alumnus has become an Instagram sensation for his videos, which show him moving his body around with a surprising amount of precision and grace. Cavanaugh keeps it positive for his thousands of
Instagram followers, telling the world that his goal is to "change the mind and shape of dancers." He's doing a pretty damn good job of it.
Amanda Bingson![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
You have to be pretty confident in your form to pose nude for ESPN Magazine's Body Issue, but
Amanda Bingson doesn't look like many other athletes. The U.S. Olympic hammer thrower broke the women's world record in 2014, throwing a nine-pound chunk of metal on a wire an astounding 248 feet. After getting kicked off her high school volleyball team because the coach thought she was too fat, Bingson had a fire lit under her to show that she wasn't just as good but better than skinnier girls. How rad is she? If she medals at the upcoming Olympics, she's promised to bring a can of beer up to the podium and chug it Stone Cold Steve Austin-style.
Reese Hoffa![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
Track and field is typically the domain of athletes with a pretty low BMI. But the world of shot put is more amenable to the beefy boys, and 2012 Olympian
Reese Hoffa is a perfect example. Weighing in at 324 pounds, Hoffa was told by his high school coach that he'd never succeed as an athlete. Revenge is a powerful motivation, and by the time he graduated college he was a four-time All-American. In 2000, Hoffa originated the victory routine that would make him famous, taking a lap around the track while holding a turkey leg aloft like the Olympic torch. He also once competed in a wrestling mask as "The Unknown Shot Putter," so this guy pretty much rules.
Krista Henderson![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
Krista Henderson has always been a big person, but in 2004 her quest for fitness started when her doctor told her to "train like an athlete." She took that advice and ran with it -- literally. Her first challenge was a 25km bike race and she's continued to compete and improve. In September 2004 she ran her first triathlon, and from there she was hooked. Henderson has gone on to compete in many races, as well as pickup squash. She's now moving into weight training and wants to explore CrossFit too. The dedicated athlete also founded Born To Reign, an organization that encourages and supports plus-sized women in physical fitness.
Leah Gilbert![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
To really understand just how thin-obsessed our culture is, you need go no further than the people accusing
Leah Gilbert of "promoting obesity." The Australian athlete weighs in at just under 200 pounds, but she's not unhealthy by any means. After being diagnosed with degenerative joint disorder, she embarked on a fitness regimen that started small and built up to triathlons, CrossFit and more. One commonality you'll find among many of these plus-sized athletes is that they don't focus on exercise for looks, but instead work to build up core strength and muscle power. That core can be an important factor in staving off injury, making them even healthier.
Holley Mangold![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
One-time Biggest Loser contestant turned Olympic super-heavyweight lifter,
Holley Mangold has been big her whole life, but unlike many people she used her unique body to her advantage. In Ohio high school, she played football on the offensive line, and became the first girl ever to start in a state championship game. Weighing in at 370 pounds, Mangold is widely regarded as one of the best female weightlifters in the world. She can clean and jerk 323.4 pounds at a personal best, and is always trying to go bigger. Size and power run in her family -- her brother, Nick Mangold, plays center for the New York Jets.
Andrew Cassidy![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
Okay, sure, so Andrew Cassidy might not have the athletic chops of some of the other overweight people on this list. But when passersby spotted the 50-year-old
Andrew Cassidy practicing his keep-up skills with a soccer ball by the docks in Pembrokeshire, the video of his skills made him a viral star. The "Milford Messi" as he's been dubbed doesn't let his extra pounds stand in the way of his ball handling, and the clip spread so wide that he was invited to the World Freestyle Football Championships in Dubai as an honored guest. After losing his fisherman's job in 2002, he started spending several hours a day practicing his footy skills and the work obviously paid off.
Mirna Valerio![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
Running an ultra-marathon is a challenge at any weight, but
Mirna Valerio shows that with enough drive anybody can do it. The Georgia woman doesn't push for lightning-quick speeds, but demonstrates an unbelievable amount of endurance. After a heart attack scare in 2008, she set her mind to fitness and jumped on the treadmill. Even though she runs 35 miles a week, her weight is still around 250 pounds. That hasn't stopped her from grinding out some seriously long races, including the Finger Lakes 50K. After a feature in Runner's World, she's inspired many other larger individuals to start a fitness journey.
Eric Esch![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
Typically carrying extra weight in the boxing ring isn't a good look -- it'll make you tired faster and move slower. But somehow
Eric "Butterbean" Esch, the Michigan-born fighter with a BMI of almost 59, has made it work. Over his 97–24–5 fighting career, he's knocked out his opponent 66 times -- a pretty incredible record for any fighter. Esch was bullied for his weight as a child, and transformed that anger into insane punching strength. After winning a local Toughman contest, he went into fighting full time. People who have faced him in the ring attest to his deceptive speed and power.
Valerie Sagun![10 Plus Sized People Pushing Their Limits]()
When you think of yoga instructors, the mind naturally goes to sinewy ropes of muscle like Dhalsim from Street Fighter. But 28-year-old Hatha yoga instructor
Valerie Sagun defies every part of that stereotype while still performing feats of balance and strength that have us reeling. Sagun has battled with depression throughout her life, and yoga gave her the self-confidence she needed to not only push her limits but share her successes on social media. After her
Instagram account went viral, she crowdfunded the money to get certified as an instructor, and she's now spreading her love of yoga to a new generation of people of all sizes.
