Embracing Every Curve and the Positive Body Image.

Fitness is a journey of strength, endurance, and transformation. However, in the pursuit of health, it's crucial to cultivate a positive body image, embracing and celebrating your body at every stage. There’s a lot out there in terms of people ‘defining their perfect body’, but being kind to yourself and enjoying you body as it moves helps to love you house and home. We wanted to explore a few ways on how to cultivate a respectful and loving perspective on body image, encouraging you appreciate your body for its strength and resilience. If you find this subject at all triggering, we have provided resources below of people who could be of some help :)

1. Set Realistic and Personal Goals

Your fitness goals should be about improving your health and well-being, not striving for an unattainable or unhealthy ideal. Though it can be easy to fall into the trap of ‘I want to look and be like that,’ setting goals that actually reflect a fitness system you want in your life is a much more body-loving approach. Set goals that focus on what you want to achieve for yourself, whether it's running a longer distance, lifting heavier weights, or simply feeling more energetic throughout the day. I't’s about maintaining a consistent exercise that you enjoy and want to do, not achieve a specific physical goal.

2. Celebrate All Forms of Progress

Recognise that progress isn't just measured by the scale or the mirror. The obsession of calorie counting or weight loss permeates every corner of the fitness world, and while some elements of this can be helpful for those who already have a good relationship with exercise, when starting out or redoing your fitness goals its definitely better to avoid and focus simply on the routine of doing the activity. Celebrate other signs of improvement, such as better sleep, more energy, improved mood, or increased strength when doing particular yoga moves or lifting certain weights. Appreciating these victories can boost your morale and motivate you to continue with a certain fitness routine.

3. Embrace Diverse Fitness Role Models

Seek out and follow diverse fitness role models who promote a healthy and inclusive approach to fitness. This is more so that you can remember that the external ‘look’ is not reflective of the healthy lifestyle a person can lead. People of all bodies types have healthy and respectful relationships with exercise and their bodies, and are good inspiration that you can too. It normalises body diversity and reinforce the message that fitness truly is for everyone.

4. Focus on How You Feel

Pay attention to how exercise makes you feel. Notice the rush of endorphins after a good workout, the sense of accomplishment when you finish a session, and the overall increase in energy and vitality. Let these positive feelings be a source of motivation rather than purely focusing on aesthetic changes. The runners high or endorphin rush from a good stretch routine will feel so much more rewarding than any other element of the process.

5. Use Positive Language

Be mindful of the language you use about your body and others'. It can be hard to replace negative or critical thoughts, especially if it’s been an engrained system of thinking, but being conscious of how you talk to yourself and others about what fitness means to you and your love for your body aids the whole process of adopting exercise into your life. Remind yourself of your body's capabilities and strengths, and compliment yourself on the effort you're putting into your fitness and health.

6. Engage in Activities You Enjoy

Choose forms of exercise that you genuinely enjoy, not just the ones you’ve been told are good for you. When you look forward to your workouts, you're more likely to view them as a celebration of what your body can do rather than a punishment for what it isn't. If you love yoga but hate weights, remind yourself that you can still get strong and toned through that kind of exercise. If you love weights but don’t really want to do the cardio, remember there are plenty of ways to raise your heart rate without going for a jog - find what works for you.

7. Avoid Comparisons

Remember that everyone's body is unique and responds differently to exercise. You body will love different things to your friends, family or partner. Your progress is your own and what’s a success to you should always be celebrated no matter how it compares to those around you. If running 2k is a success, it’s a win. If doing 20mins of beginner pilates is a success, it’s a win. You truly deserve to celebrate every one of your accomplishments within your own fitness.

Fostering a positive body image is a crucial component of your healthy fitness journey. By focusing on personal goals, celebrating all forms of progress, and embracing your body's uniqueness, you can develop a more loving and appreciative relationship with your body that lasts a lifetime. Remember, fitness is a personal journey of health, not just a means to an end. So, lace up your sneakers, honor your body, and take another step towards health and happiness. We’re all rooting for you!