Stop looking for Fitspiration, start looking for body positivity

By Rebecca Clyde, KSL.com Contributor | Posted - Sept. 28, 2017 at 9:13 p.m.

 
Stop looking for Fitspiration, start looking for body positivity

(Photographee.eu, Shutterstock)

Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Fitspiration was all the rage, cropped photos of women, body parts, and messages of "inspiration" that tell you to take the feeling out of existence to move forward. We've been taught that this is inspiring, that it makes us better. But does it?

Research suggests that adults with greater weight satisfaction actually have better health habits. And that's not by having a "healthy" BMI, it's being satisfied with your weight, wherever it is. The Academy for Eating Disorders goes as far as saying that body dissatisfaction does not lead to self-care, it actually leads to helplessness and damaged self-worth. Are you sure you want to sign up for that?

It's time to call an end to clean eating, fitspiration, and any other damaging means to 'get healthy' because, in reality, they don't actually lead you to get healthy and actually stay healthy. This idea of perfect eating or exercising is exhausting, stressful, and takes us further away from being able to tune into our bodies, which I believe is paramount to living a healthy life. Now, this isn't the case for everyone, but it sure is for most.

So, in order to feel better, why not expose yourself to more people who highlight what their bodies allow them to do vs punishing themselves?

Well, here you go, here's great Instagram accounts to follow that won't make you feel bad about your body or your lifestyle.

  1. Body Posi Panda
  2. Melissa Toller

  1. Lisa Rutledge, RDN

  1. Body Positive Yoga

  1. The Mindful Dietitian

  1. Food Peace Dietitian
  2. Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN

  1. Intuitive Eating RD

  1. Beauty Redefined

What our research and real-life experience make very clear is that when we can begin to see ourselves for more than our parts and respect our bodies as instruments that can do amazing things for us and for those around us, we get much closer to finding health, fitness and happiness. But in the meantime, millions of us cannot break through the constant messages telling us to survey ourselves at all times (self-objectification) and spend all the time, money, and energy necessary to perfect the parts of us in need of "fixing." 💗Many years ago, this fab scholar, Simone de Beauvoir, understood this point. She pointed out that as a girl grows up, “she is doubled; instead of coinciding exactly with herself, she also exists outside." Can you even fathom what self-objectification is doing to females everywhere? It stunts our progress in every way that really matters. It keeps us from getting awesome grades, reaching for the coolest possible jobs, raising our hands in class, playing sports and exercising, running for political offices, loving each other and loving ourselves. When we live “to be looked at” in a perpetual state of self-consciousness about our looks, we are left with fewer mental and physical resources to do what can really bring happiness. We perform worse on math tests, logical reasoning tests, athletic performance, we have lower sexual assertiveness (the ability to say “no” when needed), and we are left anxious and unhappy. 💗When we push ourselves to break free from that prison of being looked at and just move (walk, run, play a sport, lift weights, dance, use the elliptical machine, etc.), we experience the freedom of using our bodies as instruments -- NOT ornaments. ✖️Break through those prison doors by moving your body until you aren't picturing yourself living. Then, you'll really be alive.✖️ Illustration credit goes out to the always awesome @mylittlebelleville. #beautyredefined #morethanabody #seemorebemore

A post shared by Beauty Redefined ® (@beauty_redefined) on

  1. Healthy Balance Fitness
  2. Moderation Movement
  3. Every Body Yoga with Jessamyn
  4. Made on a Generous Plan
  5. Rosie Molinary
  6. Christy Harrison/Food Psych
  7. Fat Women of Color
  8. Nalgona Positivity Pride
  9. Paige Smathers, RDN

I'm constantly in awe of the beauty of the place I live 🌻#beautahful

A post shared by 🍓Paige Smathers, RDN, CD (@paigesmathersrd) on

  1. Immaeatthat

  1. Hummusapien
  2. Goodness Gracious Living
  3. Emily Fonnesbeck, RDN

So go ahead and purge yourself from all the accounts you follow that make you feel bad about yourself and follow more like these that are positive and real.

![Rebecca Clyde](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2582/258205/25820572\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Rebecca Clyde -------------------------------

Rebecca is a registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in helping women find happiness and feel comfortable in their skin by empowering them to nourish their minds and their bodies. She also works tirelessly to help people reject the unrealistic and dangerous expectations for women to look a certain way and enjoys helping women improve their body image. She runs a Salt Lake City-based nutrition business nutrition business. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and her free, private Facebook support group for food and health inspiration. You can also download her complimentary list of healthy foods to save you hours in the kitchen each week. - - - - - -

Editor’s Note: Anything in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, to (a) be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition; (b) create, and receipt of any information does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. You should NOT rely upon any legal information or opinions provided herein. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel; and (c) create any kind of investment advisor or financial advisor relationship. You should NOT rely upon the financial and investment information or opinions provided herein. Any opinions, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of KSL. KSL does not endorse nor is it responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, information, or statement made in this article. KSL expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.

Most recent Lifestyle stories

Related topics

Lifestyle

    Most Viewed

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast

    Mobile Apps | Newsletter | Advertise | Contact Us | Careers with KSL.com
    Terms of use | Privacy Statement | DMCA Notice | Do Not Sell My Data | EEO Public File Report | KSL-TV FCC Public File | KSL FM Radio FCC Public File | KSL AM Radio FCC Public File | Closed Captioning Assistance
    © 2024 KSL.com | KSL Broadcasting Salt Lake City UT | Site hosted & managed by Deseret Digital Media - a Deseret Media Company