I’ve seen a lot of messages out in the world about the Body Positivity Movement. As someone who has struggled with eating disorders in the past, I’m here for it. But I’m also someone who is fairly entrenched in the fitness world. It never makes sense to me why these worlds often stay so separate. It’s sometimes to the point that members from each camp are calling each other out. Which makes zero sense to me.

You are allowed to love your body and still have fitness goals. In fact, loving your body is the first step to health and wellness. Why do I eat well and exercise? First and foremost, because I love my body and I choose to take care of it. Even if your goal is to lose some weight, you can love yourself every step of the way. Our scale does not determine our self-worth.

If you’re someone like me and the scale can be a dangerous place, choose other fitness goals. Work on being able to run longer distances, or lift weights you never thought you could lift. Our bodies are so much more than “fat” or “thin”.

If a trainer or “fitness expert” ever pushes you to hate your body to motivate you, leave them. If you are ever told that you need to lose/gain a certain amount of pounds or inches before you can love yourself, don’t listen. You can love your body every step of your fitness journey.