Sylvia Malan-Gonzalez is a Fat Positive Hiker from Portland, Oregon, on a mission to show that hiking really is for every body. Although she enjoys being active, Sylvia didn't fall in love with hiking straight away. Getting started wasn't easy. Finding affordable gear that fit, overcoming self-doubt, and navigating the outdoors in a body that isn't often represented in the hiking world all presented their own challenges. Instead of giving up, Sylvia set herself a simple goal: hike twice a month. One trail at a time, she built confidence, found supportive communities, discovered the gear that worked for her, and eventually climbed Mt. St. Helens—proving to herself that she was capable of far more than she ever imagined. In this episode, Sylvia shares what it means to be a Fat Positive Hiker, why she embraces body neutrality over chasing weight loss, and how learning to trust herself has transformed both her relationship with the outdoors and with her own body. We also talk about overcoming fear, dealing with judgement, finding hiking partners, using hiking poles, building strength in the gym, and why losing your hiking mojo doesn't mean your adventure is over. Whether you're completely new to hiking, returning after time away, or simply looking for encouragement to take that first step, Sylvia's story is a reminder that the outdoors belongs to everyone. *** New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Your support makes a difference. Thank you x *** Show notes Growing up and living in Portland, Oregon, USA 39 years old English teacher Married for 29 years Half white and half Latina Growing up in a very creative environment Her parents running - Miracle Theatre Group! Getting to go to Outdoor School and spending time in nature during Middle School and High School Working as a Youth Counsellor Not liking hiking at first Liking being active and going for walks Trying to get into hiking and struggling at first Not being able to get the gear Setting a personal goal other hike twice a month Figuring out what gear worked for her and her both Using athletic gear that she used for the gym Starting to read more about what clothes she would wear The basic essentials you need to take with you First aid, electrolytes The lack of brands for plus size people How the market for making clothes for bigger people is no longer there anymore Thicket Wonder Outdoors Being a Fat Positive Hiker and what that means How the body positivity message has changed via influences over the years Centering herself in body neutrality Not wanting to focus on weight loss Loving yourself and losing weight are two separate entities Loving yourself no matter what stage you're at Seeing health at every stage Setting a personal hiking challenge 52 Hike Challenge Founded by Karla Amador Using hiking poles and how they helped her Finding other people to go hiking with Using All Trails Oregon Hikers Sharing and tracking your hikes Building a hiking community Making friends through the hiking community Being held back by fears Overcoming fears and the lessons learned along the way Climbing Mt. St Helens Being a fat person and being afraid of getting hurt Judgement from other people Being encouraged by her friend to climb Mt. St Helens What is the real fear Why it is more of a mental thing Losing hiking mojo and how to handle that Setting hiking goals for 2026 Leading group hikes Getting into strength goals Going backpacking and camping! Sharing on Instagram How to connect with Sylvia Final words of advice "You can do hard things and still have fun while you're doing it. Who cares what people think of you? This is your life. Don't be afraid." Social Media Instagram: @SilverMTNGoat

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