PSA: It’s Okay if you Want to Lose Weight
This isn’t about whether or not you can be body positive/neutral and still want to lose weight. That’s a very fascinating, but more in-depth conversation for another time. This is specifically about me, Sprout Wellness, and weight loss.
There’s no Shame in Wanting, or Not Wanting, to Lose Weight
I know a lot of what I talk about is anti-diet, anti-industry, body-neutral, body-positive, etc. Actively working to fight against and dismantle fatphobia is an important part of what I want to do with Sprout. However, I want to be clear that my intention is to educate and inform, not to shame.
My general feelings and opinions on the diet industry and fatphobia don’t mean that I’m automatically anti-weight loss. We are all different people with different bodies, needs, and feelings. I would never shame someone for their health and wellness goals, nor would I lie to them or provide misinformation. Whether you want to lose weight or don’t is entirely up to you, your body, your lifestyle, and your needs.
How Sprout Approaches Weight Loss
With the above being said, it’s okay if you want to lose weight! I know it can feel overwhelming to be caught between today’s growing body-positive, fat-acceptance environment and decades where fatphobia was normalized and encouraged. Advice and opinions yell at you from each side, telling you you’re right or you’re wrong no matter what you do, and all you want is to feel better. It can be hard to tell what’s accurate and safe from what’s false and dangerous. That’s why proper, non-judgemental weight-loss education is so important!
As a body-neutral personal trainer, I feel that my responsibility is not to stop people from wanting to change their bodies but to ensure that they have the right reasons, use safe and appropriate methods, and don’t allow any negative feelings to take control and cause them harm.
If someone comes to me with the goal of weight loss, I want to help them while also making sure they’re using safe and sustainable methods. I want to ensure their beliefs and concerns are based on facts and research, not other peoples’ opinions. If they want to make dietary changes, I want to keep them from obsessing over calorie tracking or developing disordered eating habits.
In essence:
I don’t want any of my clients, prospective clients, or other people looking for information and advice to be afraid of bringing up weight loss with me. I’m here to answer your questions, help you find solutions, and support your personal health and wellness journey.
Yes, I want my clients to make peace with their bodies and shift their negative perspectives to appreciation and respect. At the same time, this shift isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes time and hard work, and it’s okay to work on the things you want to change as you learn to feel more positive about yourself.
If you want to talk about weight loss, body neutrality, or fatphobia, I would love to hear what you have to say and answer any questions!
Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash