Fighting social injustices like body-shaming definitely requires some aggressive push-back, but body-positivity taken to the extremes is … well … not very positive at all. I can understand how/why the movement had to push as far back as to declare that no desire for weight loss was welcome, but I do not think it’s healthy — mentally, or physically — to maintain that position.
It really isn’t justified, or productive, to counter fat-shaming with shaming people for wanting to lose weight.
It’s OK to want to lose weight.
Wanting to change is beautiful! It’s your nature to grow! Wanting a stronger, fitter, leaner physique is perhaps the MOST worthwhile desire you could possibly have!
Health truly is wealth. And while some individuals MAY be healthy at any size, HAES is just not a scientifically viable statement to make for the majority.
I am a MAJOR supporter of Body Positivity
The Body-Posi movement began as a social defense against discrimination. Every body deserves respect. Every body has inalienable rights. That shuld include the right to decide whether you want to lose weight and the respect to facilitate the best health possible for your body.
I am a MAJOR proponent of LOVING yourself thin
It’s time to take the next step in this fight for the self-respect to treat our bodies, our wishes, and our deep desires for health, and beauty, as the sacred gifts that they are.
Beyond all of the health stats, and what other people expect from us, the truth is being lighter feels better. Being open and acknowledging what is TRUE is the necessary next step in our collective journey towards self-love.
It’s time for Body Positivity to become Health-Proactive.
Read more about body-negativity masquerading as body positive.
Turning “Body-Positivity” Health-Proactive (plus Weight Loss)!
While we won’t get healthy by telling ourselves that we shouldn’t want to change, or trying to force a stagnant/depressive type of “self-acceptance” on our psyches, there are some key skills the body positivity movement brings to effective weight loss and some areas that need to evolve.
1. Ditch the Scale (if you want).
While “health at every size” may be a stretch, it’s true that weight and body mass index are not an indicator of health. I like to weigh myself (and use a smart-scale that estimates muscle-mass and body fat percent, among other things, that actually are correlated to health) but I’ve read countless studies saying that it stresses people out.
Anything that causes stress is bad for your body as a whole — doubly so for weight loss. Taking a stand against these kinds of pressures is an awesome way to be Body-Productive!
2. Annihilate body-shame.
Listen. Your body is that way your body is right now. There’s nothing “wrong” with you, you don’t “deserve” the punishment of being in an uncomfortable body, and if that is your reality then coming to grips with it is the only way you can grasp responsibility. A lot of my students are incredibly relieved when I separate “fault” from “responsibility” for them.
Just because your body is your responsibility does not mean you are at fault for the dysfunctional way you’ve been taught to treat it (which resulted in the troubles you are now facing).
3. Realize “Weight Loss” isn’t about Weight.
Just as weight is not an indicator of health, it’s also not really what people generally mean when they talk about “weight loss”. Most people want to fitter, stronger, and leaner. You can easily achieve all of those things without losing a pound. In fact, for many people getting fitter & stronger will potentially cause weight GAIN.
Getting clear about what you truly want will help you carve the path towards your best body on your terms. It will make the journey more personal, give you more agency, and create an ideal setting within to sustainably succeed.
4. Accept that Wellness is the Beginning, Middle & End Goal
Just as the goal of “weight loss” usually has little to nothing to do with weight, the path to “health” is really more about “wellness” than anything. Think about it: sure, you likely want a long life where your doctor isn’t lecturing you about checks and balances every time you visit. But are the good test results and the years added really the goal? No. You want to be playing with your grand-children, and smiling in comraderie when you visit your health care professionals. You want wellness. And luckily, that is the path to health anyhow!
Focus on feeling good, not on checks and balances. While good cholesterol levels are awesome, doing activities you enjoy, and eating food that’s tasty, — with the intention to GIVE yourself that good-good, not forcing activities or abstinence that you don’t like — is not just more enjoyable for you, it’s more effective for sustainable weight loss!
