Whats wrong with encouragement, you may ask?
In theory, encouragement is positive.
Its meant to show support, something to inspire confidence and hope.
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But anti-fat encouragement, especially when related to working out, is quite different.
Then, just when you have finally found more peace within, youre hit with this anti-fat encouragement.
This encouragement can present in a few different ways.
Whichever way the encouragement manifests, it all has one common root: Our society is fundamentally anti-fat.
Most people in our society are tryingnotto be fat.
Hopefully these can help you too if you experience something similar.
So, keep up the good work!
Or maybe theyre transferring goals they once had to you.
Most of the time, the encourager believes that they are being supportive and friendly.
So whats the best way to respond to this?
In this anti-fat encouragement situationand in all the ones that followtheres no one script to follow.
Remember, you dont need to justify your choices and goals, especially to a stranger.
You want to draw your boundaries, and respond in a way that honors those.
So back to the weight-loss encourager.
We dont need to justify our decisions to strangers at the gym!
Both of these situationscouldbe helpfulif you actually were new.
So if they had been going to the gym, they wouldnt still be fat.
There are a few ways you could handle this.
I am well-versed on how the machine works and use it often.
As for the person offering its-hard-because-its-new encouragement?
In that case, I feel like its best to acknowledge that youve been a regular.
Id say something like, I actually come here regularly and am familiar with the intensity.
These responses show clear boundaries and clearly let the person know they have missed the mark.
And for the instructor who directs you to a different group?
Or it’s possible for you to just tell them youre in the correct spot.
(Even if youre not going above and beyond what anyone else in the class is doing!)
Or someone calls you brave simply for going to the gym.
So Id say something like, Im no different from everyone else in the class, working hard!
And yes, these situationscanbecome exhausting.
Its not your job.
Explain how its become a negative experience.
This is unfortunately no guarantee that this anti-fat encouragement will stop, though.
If it persists,finding a size-inclusive fitness spacecan help make you more comfortable on your fitness journey.
See more from SELFs Future of Fitness package here.
