Through the years, the world expected plus-sized people to adjust to their standards. They'd push women and men considered fat to try ridiculously unhealthy habits to achieve society's idea of beauty. Finding clothing items is challenging because businesses often focus on smaller body types. Overweight people are often shamed for not making any effort to lose weight or be skinny. The lack of plus-sized clothes in stores is worrying — as if the body condition is not normal and is socially unaccepted.

Photo: Pexels/Andres Ayrton

However, isn't it time for society to adjust to people with larger bodies? A person who's curvy, thick, or big-boned must have necessities manufactured solely for them. Thankfully, the world is progressing into a more accepting community. Groups and organizations now aim to spread awareness about normalizing plus-size people. Reminding people that they shouldn't comment about anyone's physical traits unless otherwise asked is important. A person must not be shamed for dressing up even when their clothes are sized XL, XXL, or XXXL.

Photo: Youtube/Good Morning America

Moreover, it's never easy to lose fat and shed some weight. Certain health conditions can make someone gain weight. For this reason, trying to be fit becomes more frustrating. They have already been harsh to themselves; it's best if someone validates them when they can't. Plus-sized people deserve to have their options as well. One of the items that need to be size-inclusive is a bicycle. The two-wheeled vehicle requires a driver not to weigh more than 275 lbs to 300 lbs. As a result, some people cannot enjoy a fun bike ride since it reminds them of their weight. Marley Blonsky was one of those people, and her bike problems began a promising movement.

The woman from Seattle got inspired to have a bike after seeing people cycling through the streets while she commuted to work by bus for hours. She bought herself a bicycle, but her excitement got crushed due to the vehicle's gears. "That was the first experience that started to open my eyes to some of the challenges of riding a bike as a bigger person," says Marley. "I was breaking spokes all the time, and I broke a couple of other components, so I became acutely aware that I was too heavy for this bicycle."

Photo: Youtube/Good Morning America

Nevertheless, she did not let her weight stop her from pursuing another passion. She consulted a bike mechanic who provided her with a steel bicycle that could carry her weight. Since then, she has gone camping and gravel biking and officially fell in love with the physical activity. Marley shared those experiences on the internet. She posted every hurdle that she went through, significantly about cycling attire. Stores are not size inclusive — they were not selling raincoats, jerseys, or shorts for people in Marley's size. While scrolling through social media, she saw a post by Kailey Kornhauser, who shared a similar problem with her. She had started biking across Alaska but had issues with rain jackets and other cycling outfits.

Photo: Youtube/Good Morning America

The two eventually started a conversation which turned into a beautiful friendship. Marley and Kailey also cycled together and then formed a group of cyclists called All Bodies on Bikes. Everyone shared the same love for cycling and experienced the frustrations of how society treats those with larger bodies. By riding in groups, they send a message to the community about size inclusiveness and accepting your body for what it is. It's a movement to show people that living life doesn't have to be limited by weight or any physical attributes.

All Bodies on Bikes became a safe space for people who had never felt any sense of belonging due to their size. "So the big thing that we're advocating for is social no-drop rides. And actually making it so nobody gets left behind. So, that's a big part of it. We're launching chapters, so those rides will be all over the country, which is really exciting," Marley shared in an interview with Good Morning America. The group's objective is to encourage brands to be size inclusive — they need to widen their target audience.

Photo: Youtube/Good Morning America

You can get involved with All Bodies on Bikes's growing community. Learn more about empowering cyclists by visiting their website and other socials. Help them promote, educate, and change society's perspective toward plus-sized people. No one should ever be left behind — support their advocacy and be part of a better, accepting world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtQAkCxgwwY