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I've been tossing a few ideas around about body positivity and weight loss. Mostly centered around questions about how/if the two can co-habitat without ripping each other to shreds. Is it possible to be body positive and want to lose weight? Is there a way to truly say "all bodies are good bodies regardless of size, height, color, scars, etc." and still want to be thinner and take the steps to become thinner?
To me, body positivity is the mental process of actively resisting anything that will negative harm or damage your body, your relationship with your body and the bodies of others. That's where it intersects with the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement: HAES focuses on the ideas that you can literally be healthy and fit regardless of what "healthy" and "fit" look like and body positivity breads the confidence and self-love needed to make this a thing.
So back to the original question: can you be a supporter/sharer/content creator for the HAES movement and/or body positivity and not be happy with your body?
And to be honest, I have no freaking clue. I'd be lying if I said I was happy with my body at my current weight. I'd be lying if I said I was watching what I eat for health reasons. I'd be lying if I said the exercise regime I've adopted for 2013 was not about changing my body into something I'd like more aka something thin(er). But I'm still atimid vocal supporter of both body positivity and HAES and I do my level best to introduce others to these ideas and get them thinking and acting on them.
I'd like to say "yes" because I'm holding these ideas in my brain a la DoubleThink and I haven't turned into a ball of fire yet. But how to do you actually live with them? I try my hardest not to body shame and I don't participate in negative body talk, is that part of this balance between these extremes? Or does this balance lean more towards actions like "respect your body and don't push it more than it needs to be" or "no restricting" and "take a rest day and do nothing! Seriously DO NOTHING!"
Hopefully as the year continues, I'll be able to be a little more articulate/have a better idea of what/where I'm going with this and this series as a whole. As you can see, I'm still trying to figure out what this academic jargon actually means when applied to me and my life and how best to express/share it with you all. What I can tell you right now, the one thing I know for sure, is that this is a process. It's about unlearning everything you've been taught about your body and what you're "supposed" to do and feel in it.
Do you think this is possible? Or is it just DoubleThink?
-The Management
To me, body positivity is the mental process of actively resisting anything that will negative harm or damage your body, your relationship with your body and the bodies of others. That's where it intersects with the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement: HAES focuses on the ideas that you can literally be healthy and fit regardless of what "healthy" and "fit" look like and body positivity breads the confidence and self-love needed to make this a thing.
So back to the original question: can you be a supporter/sharer/content creator for the HAES movement and/or body positivity and not be happy with your body?
And to be honest, I have no freaking clue. I'd be lying if I said I was happy with my body at my current weight. I'd be lying if I said I was watching what I eat for health reasons. I'd be lying if I said the exercise regime I've adopted for 2013 was not about changing my body into something I'd like more aka something thin(er). But I'm still a
I'd like to say "yes" because I'm holding these ideas in my brain a la DoubleThink and I haven't turned into a ball of fire yet. But how to do you actually live with them? I try my hardest not to body shame and I don't participate in negative body talk, is that part of this balance between these extremes? Or does this balance lean more towards actions like "respect your body and don't push it more than it needs to be" or "no restricting" and "take a rest day and do nothing! Seriously DO NOTHING!"
Hopefully as the year continues, I'll be able to be a little more articulate/have a better idea of what/where I'm going with this and this series as a whole. As you can see, I'm still trying to figure out what this academic jargon actually means when applied to me and my life and how best to express/share it with you all. What I can tell you right now, the one thing I know for sure, is that this is a process. It's about unlearning everything you've been taught about your body and what you're "supposed" to do and feel in it.
Do you think this is possible? Or is it just DoubleThink?
2 comments:
I definitely is possible. I think the key is really to keep your goal in mind. I have started working out and eating right and the trick has been first to not think of the number on the scale and to look more towards being healthy and strong versus a size or weight. I don't even weigh myself right now. I have been taking measurements at the end of every two weeks. So far, it has made me feel significantly better than the attempts I have had in the past.
I regards to food, I am vegetarian, but it is a health choice. I try to meal plan throughout the week, have snacks about every 2-3 hours and really listen to my body when it comes to what is feeding and fueling it.
Good luck! As long as you have a positive outlook and remember that it takes time, you will be successful.
Yes I think you can be a supporter of the movement and still not have a positive image of yourself or want to be slimmer. This all armchair psychology on my part though. I think for me, wanting to be slimmer or maintain a slimmer figure is not a bad thing IF you are doing it for the right reasons and not excessively or obsessively. I do wonder if someone with an eating order - past or present can recognise if it is becoming excessive or obsessive. Does that worry you?
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