One of the hardest parts of this transition is the gym. Gym culture is historically hostile to fat bodies, disabled bodies, and non-conforming bodies. Body positive wellness demands that we reclaim these spaces.
It would be disingenuous to write this article without addressing the legitimate critiques of body positivity. Nudist Family Beach Pageant Part 1 22
Some argue that the movement has been co-opted by thin, white, able-bodied influencers who have never faced discrimination for their size. The original Body Positivity movement was started by fat, Black, queer women fighting for basic human rights. One of the hardest parts of this transition is the gym
Furthermore, there is the tension between "Healthy at Every Size" and disease. If someone is in a larger body and has high blood pressure, body positivity does not mean ignoring the blood pressure. It means treating the blood pressure without forcing weight loss as the only solution. It would be disingenuous to write this article
True body positive wellness says: "Let’s take the medication. Let’s eat more vegetables for heart health. Let’s move to lower cholesterol. And let’s do all of this while respecting that your body may not shrink—and that is morally neutral."
The good news? We don't have to choose a side. There is a third space: Neutrality.
The most sustainable, joyful lifestyle exists at the intersection of these two worlds. Here is how you merge them without losing your mind.