This is the number one fear people have when adopting a body positivity and wellness lifestyle. They worry that if they stop punishing themselves, they will spiral into an unhealthy lifestyle.
The evidence suggests the opposite.
A 2019 study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders found that participants who engaged in body positive interventions showed decreased disordered eating, decreased depression, and increased intrinsic motivation to exercise. teen nudist team
When you remove shame, you remove the trigger for stress eating. When you remove restriction, you remove the rebound binge. When you move for joy, you move more often.
You don't "let yourself go." You let yourself live. This is the number one fear people have
You cannot heal in the same environment that made you sick. Unfollow accounts that make you feel "less than." Follow body positive doctors, dieticians, and activists (like @yrfatfriend, @mikzazon, or @thebodypositive). Your algorithm should show you diverse bodies: stretch marks, rolls, disabilities, cellulite. Normalize reality.
One final nuance. In the body positivity and wellness lifestyle, we must acknowledge that health is not a moral obligation. A 2019 study published in the Journal of
Not everyone with a disability can be "healthy" by societal standards. Not everyone has the privilege of time, money, or access to fresh food. Some people are in larger bodies despite perfect habits due to genetics, medication, or chronic illness.
Your body is valid whether you run marathons or use a wheelchair. Your body is valid whether you eat organic kale or rely on a food bank.
The goal of this lifestyle is not to achieve a specific BMI. The goal is to reduce suffering and increase quality of life.
If you have high blood pressure, working with a weight-neutral doctor (Health at Every Size approach) to eat more vegetables and move your body without focusing on weight loss has been shown to improve biomarkers even if the scale doesn't move.