A few weeks ago, Kelli and Daniel over at Fitness Blender posted a quote on their Instagram account. “Fitness looks different on every body.” Six words. I live and work in this crazy fitness and wellness world and that simple statement really got me thinking. There are lots of things you can take from that and I want to talk about the two that are nearest and dearest to my heart. Today, part one, the body image spin.
Body positivity is definitely having a moment coming in to its own. There is a lot of chatter happening (some of it from yours truly) and frankly, it’s about darn time. Fitness looks different on every body was really a YEEESSSSS, Thank You! moment for me. I have written before about my body type not being what people expect from a woman who does what I do. But I consider myself to be fit, and most of the metrics we fitness professionals use to assess our clients, agree. I can complete 64 push ups and 61 crunches in one minute timed tests. I can out wall sit my 20 year old students. I can run several miles without stopping. My annual check up numbers are all good too.
I am not sharing all of this with you to brag or to create a false sense of self-importance. I share all of this with you to illustrate that we can’t out train our genetics. Mine will not allow me to have long dancer’s legs or to see my six pack. But whose values are reflected there? They used to be mine and I am proud to say I am learning and accepting that they aren’t anymore. Most of us are not meant to look like fitness models. Heck, most of the fitness models are not meant to look like fitness models and put their bodies through a lot to maintain the size/weight/shape deemed acceptable.
I accomplished all of those things with hard work, consistency, and small changes. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that those are my mantras around here.
Hard work. Go, move, get sweaty and lift heavy things. Run when you think you can’t and stretch when everyone else goes home.
Consistency. Pick a plan, any plan, that works for you and stick with it. When it stops working, don’t you stop working. Adapt, adjust and keep at it.
Small changes. Nobody bench presses a bulldozer their first time in the weight room. Nobody cuts two liters of soda out of their diet cold turkey without withdrawal. Change as much as you can tolerate and hold. When it is second nature, change a bit more.
This is what body positivity should be. Size, shape, or weight should never even enter the conversation. We should be able to appreciate what our bodies can do if we ask them to do it. We should be able to acknowledge our own diet and exercise truths without guilt or shame. We should be able to celebrate others success without comparison and without trying to force them in to our own molds. Because we all have a different idea of what “fit” is for ourselves, so it looks a bit different on all of us. Tell me in the comments, how has fitness shaped your body image?
