If you watch weight loss reality shows like “The Biggest Loser,” you know that contestants come from all walks of life. Some refuse to let their weight get in the way of their interests and goals, and while weight inhibits the degree to which they participate in physical activities, sitting home and watching others take on physical challenges isn’t an option for them. If this describes you, embrace your interest in rock climbing. Once you ascend your first official peak, it’s anybody’s guess which new challenges you’ll be ready to take on in the future.
Read Before You Climb
In addition to physical prowess, there are many aspects of rock climbing that demand emotional and intellectual prowess, so visit your library and check out books on the subject. Learn the nomenclature. Understand the range of equipment required for rock climbing. Satisfy your curiosity by reading personal stories of guys who have made the sport their favorite pastime. Look for magazine articles written by climbers with their own weight issues.
Hire the Right Instructor
Train with someone who has worked with heavier people so you’re confident that you’ll be looked after properly while you're learning to rock climb. Inquire about certifications like those granted by the American Mountain Guides Association, a group that’s been around since 1987. Share the fears and concerns you have about your weight with your instructor, so she is equipped to deal with them. If you’re self-conscious about indoor rock climbing walls because of your weight, ask your instructor to work with you at an off-peak hour until you grow more comfortable.
Slow and Steady
Even skinny guys start slow and easy. Your instructor may recommend avoiding overhanging climbs that require you to tackle 45-degree angles until you’ve learned more about how to support your additional body weight. Anticipate learning single, double and twin-rope systems, nuances of rigging your harness, belaying techniques, ascending while placing/attaching protection, steep rock descending – known as abseiling – lowering/descending and, importantly, common mistakes made by rock climbers regardless of their weight.
Acquire Proper Gear
As a heavy guy, you want and need the best grades and gauges of equipment to support your weight, but don’t be surprised if you must do more research than men of average weights when you shop for everything from gear to climbing clothes. The rock climbing industry focuses on lean, fit climbers when engineering and manufacturing equipment and garments. Happily, climbing harnesses come in large sizes, so you may wish to start there.
Join a Club
Whether you got your first footing at an indoor climbing wall or your first experience involved low-level bouldering, when the time comes to fly the nest and take leave of your instructor, join a climbing club. Locate one with at least one heavy member and you’ve likely found a home; if the guy fit in, so will you. Think about taking a yoga class to help you manage your nerves, while relying on club members to support your efforts and share their skills.
Manage Your Expectations
A great instructor, persistence and practice combine to help a heavy guy like you master the sport of rock climbing, but you’ll also need to manage expectations – especially those you may harbor about rock climbing as a weight-loss method. It’s possible to lose a few pounds, but without adding a food management program and cardio, you'll be more successful if you focus your expectations on rock climbing acumen rather than weight loss. Here’s something you can expect: researchers at Texas A & M University found that “climbing could reduce stress, improve self-confidence and encourage positive thinking.”
References
- AMGA.com: Certification Program
- ABC of Rock Climbing.com: Rock Climbing Technique: Belaying, Leading, Abseiling Techniques
- Guardian.co.uk: All You Need to Know About: Rock Climbing
- The Fat Girl’s Guide to Living: The Fat Girl’s Guide to Indoor Rock Climbing
- MayoClinic.com: Barriers to Fitness; Overcoming Common Challenges: Barrier No. 3: I’m Self-Conscious About How I Look
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