I go to the gym at least 4 times a week and yet to look at me someone would probably say that I don't work out at all. As a size 18/20 woman, I can lift weights in bodypump class for an hour, hit yoga class, and finish off by walking on the treadmill. I am strong and working on my fitness and I am seeing improvements. However, by society standards I am still very much fat and unhealthy. Society tends to glorify being thin and vilify those who are overweight. There is this hypocrisy that skinny people are automatically healthy and overweight people are automatically unhealthy that is not always true. It seems the real truth lies somewhere in the middle and the focus should be on fitness and not clothing size.
"Fat Acceptance" is not a phrase that I really care for. When I hear phrases like this or fat positive I can appreciate that they come from a well meaning place and may work for some people, but to me it just sounds like defeat. When I hear "fat acceptance" I think I am never going to lose the weight or be at a healthy weight so I just need to accept that. I think that self acceptance would be a much better term because to me that says that I accept and love myself where I am now, but do not want to stay where I am now because I can strive to be more fit and healthy.
"Thinspiration" is a word that I cannot stand. I think some people are built naturally thin or are very athletic and work out enough to be naturally thin and should be appreciated for that. But to try to diet and starve your way into a size 0 just because it makes you look like a model is just ridiculous and not healthy. Taking weight loss pills or starving can create dangerous heart conditions and other medical issues. There is absolutely nothing healthy about that.
"Fit is the new Skinny" is a phrase I can actually agree with. I think that a healthy balance is important in all aspects of life. I think with weight loss you have to be gentle with yourself and work out, eat healthy, but also love who you are now and appreciate what your body can do. If you are someone who is thin and trying to build muscle, you need to be just as loving and kind to yourself. Negative self talk is the fastest route to low self esteem (which is not healthy either).
I have several subscriptions to fitness magazines and make an inspiration board with strong women, women who have lost weight, yogis, dancers, runners, boxers, cyclists, hula hoopers, and women of all shapes and sizes. One of my favorite female role models is Jillian Michaels for her fitness and inspiration and overcoming her own weight struggle in high school. One of my other favorite role models is Beth Ditto who is very fat positive and does not care what anyone thinks of the way she dresses. I fall somewhere in between the two of them and I feel that is how health should be. A happy middle that does not discriminate on people for being too thin or too fat but instead focuses on being more fit and happy with yourself.
"Fat Acceptance" is not a phrase that I really care for. When I hear phrases like this or fat positive I can appreciate that they come from a well meaning place and may work for some people, but to me it just sounds like defeat. When I hear "fat acceptance" I think I am never going to lose the weight or be at a healthy weight so I just need to accept that. I think that self acceptance would be a much better term because to me that says that I accept and love myself where I am now, but do not want to stay where I am now because I can strive to be more fit and healthy.
"Thinspiration" is a word that I cannot stand. I think some people are built naturally thin or are very athletic and work out enough to be naturally thin and should be appreciated for that. But to try to diet and starve your way into a size 0 just because it makes you look like a model is just ridiculous and not healthy. Taking weight loss pills or starving can create dangerous heart conditions and other medical issues. There is absolutely nothing healthy about that.
"Fit is the new Skinny" is a phrase I can actually agree with. I think that a healthy balance is important in all aspects of life. I think with weight loss you have to be gentle with yourself and work out, eat healthy, but also love who you are now and appreciate what your body can do. If you are someone who is thin and trying to build muscle, you need to be just as loving and kind to yourself. Negative self talk is the fastest route to low self esteem (which is not healthy either).
I have several subscriptions to fitness magazines and make an inspiration board with strong women, women who have lost weight, yogis, dancers, runners, boxers, cyclists, hula hoopers, and women of all shapes and sizes. One of my favorite female role models is Jillian Michaels for her fitness and inspiration and overcoming her own weight struggle in high school. One of my other favorite role models is Beth Ditto who is very fat positive and does not care what anyone thinks of the way she dresses. I fall somewhere in between the two of them and I feel that is how health should be. A happy middle that does not discriminate on people for being too thin or too fat but instead focuses on being more fit and happy with yourself.
