i used to be a lil chonky and when i signed up at a new gym i got a personal training session. the trainer asked me what my goals were and i said to be healthy and active through old age and he said “how about drop 10 lbs? tone up the booty for spring break??”

i was like no i’m not trying to lose weight or obsess over my body parts and he just could not believe that and kept pressing me until i said “SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT ME TO LOSE TEN POUNDS” and canceled my session even though it was fucking free

anyways i kept doing things my way and exercising and eating healthy and not obsessing over my weight and body parts (and went off birth control which fucked with my hormones majorly) and my body found where it should be

i will never break down my body into numbers and parts. i’m not a collection of measurements. i have a body that all goes together, i’m not a mr potato head doll where you can switch out body parts to ones you like better

i’m still kinda pissed at that guy bc even though i had the confidence to tell him to fuck off (thank u therapy) i’m sure a lot of other people had their body image destroyed by his mentality. and only seeing fitness as looks instead of health makes you a bad fitness professional

don’t assume people want to lose weight. don’t assume people see themselves as a collection of body parts to be toned and slimmed for spring breaks and beach vacations. don’t put your body issues on other people.

if you’re a personal trainer and a client doesn’t want to set goals based on weight and measurements, it’s *so* easy to set performance based goals or just don’t set goals at all and foster a love for exercise that will help them enjoy life.

we have to divorce exercise from weight loss or gain. lifting weights can help people maintain mobility if they get arthritis. building strength & flexibility can reduce pain. cardiovascular fitness can help you keep doing the activities you love for your entire life.

exercise shouldn’t be a punishment or a judgment. it should be a tool, an activity, a source of joy that is accessible to EVERYONE regardless of disability, age, looks, or goals. and it’s sad to me how few fitness professionals seem to value clients who don’t fit the fitness mold