For a long time, the wellness industry sold us a lie. We were told that to be "well," you had to look a certain way: flat stomach, toned arms, no cellulite. If you weren't actively trying to shrink your body, you weren't trying hard enough.
Neutrality is the bridge. It allows you to take care of a body you aren't necessarily "feeling" today. Be careful. The wellness industry is sneaky. It often repackages diet culture in "wellness wrapping." Miss Teen Nudist Pageant 2009 Candid 12
Wellness is not a punishment for eating "badly." It is the practice of caring for the vessel that carries you through life. For a long time, the wellness industry sold us a lie
A fitness challenge that punishes you for missing a day. Truth: Wellness is flexible. Rest is productive. Healing is not linear. The Bottom Line You are allowed to want to be healthier. You are allowed to want to feel stronger, sleep better, and have clearer skin. Wanting better health is not a betrayal of your body. Neutrality is the bridge
So, eat the veggies. Take the walk. Lift the weights. And while you do it, thank your body for showing up today—exactly as it is.
That is where comes in. You don't have to love your thighs. You just have to respect them enough to take the stairs. You don't have to adore your stomach; you just have to feed it so you don't get a headache.
Suddenly, the narrative shifted. We were told to love our curves, embrace our cellulite, and ditch the diet culture. But for many of us, this created a new, confusing question: If I love my body as it is, does that mean I shouldn't try to change it? Can I want to get stronger without betraying the body positivity movement?