Can you truly pursue wellness without falling into the trap of toxic diet culture? Can you love your body as it is right now, while still striving to be stronger, healthier, or more energetic?
You cannot hate yourself into a healthy lifestyle. Shame is a terrible long-term motivator. You might be able to starve yourself for a wedding based on shame, but you cannot build a lifestyle on self-loathing. This is where the synergy lies. Redefining Wellness: The "Health at Every Size" (HAES) Approach To bridge the gap, we need a new definition of wellness. Enter the Health at Every Size (HAES) principles. HAES is not the claim that every body is statistically healthy; it is the practice of supporting health policies and habits that improve quality of life for people of every size. Can you truly pursue wellness without falling into
It is the radical belief that you are worthy of wellness right now , before you change a single thing. You are worthy of going to the doctor without being shamed. You are worthy of buying workout clothes that fit. You are worthy of taking up space in a yoga class. Shame is a terrible long-term motivator
You need to curate your feed. You can follow the cross-fitter for exercise tips, but unfollow them if they make you feel bad about your rest day. You can follow the plus-size yogi for inspiration, but avoid the "toxic positivity" that shames you for wanting to change. Redefining Wellness: The "Health at Every Size" (HAES)
I care for this body not because it is a temple to be worshipped, nor because it is a project to be fixed, but because it is the only vessel I have to experience this life.