Celebrate Joyful Movement by Shifting Your Focus
If you have grown up in a plus size body, it is highly probable that family members or friends may have “encouraged” or even pressured you into participating in sports or some form of physical activity. This notion stems from diet culture, which misleadingly equates movement with weight loss. It is crucial to understand that not all physical activities lead to a decrease in weight, and that the motivations behind moving our bodies can be far more enriching than simply shedding pounds.
As research has advanced, many individuals have shared personal experiences that reveal that exercise does not inherently result in weight loss. Moreover, the most significant reasons for engaging in physical activities often revolve around enhancing our overall well-being, happiness, and mental clarity.
Discover the Benefits of Joyful Movement for Your Well-Being
Joyful movement represents a holistic approach to engaging in physical activity, emphasizing personal choice, happiness, celebration, intuition, pleasure, and adaptability. To embark on this fulfilling journey, begin by identifying an activity that genuinely sparks joy for you. Whether it’s taking your pet for a leisurely walk, dancing to your favorite tunes, or enjoying a refreshing swim, the goal is to find what resonates with your spirit.
We often construct rigid ideas about what exercise “should” entail, but the reality is that any form of movement is beneficial for both your mental and emotional health. Embracing a wide range of activities allows you to discover what feels good for you, enhancing your overall quality of life.
The advantages of engaging in movement extend far beyond mere weight loss. Whether your goals include improving your sleep patterns, alleviating stress, or cultivating mindfulness, it is essential to find an activity that aligns with your unique preferences. Remember, each individual has different tastes and interests when it comes to movement, and that’s perfectly acceptable!
If you’re fortunate enough to have a companion who shares your enthusiasm for a particular type of physical activity, consider participating together! Exercising with a friend can enhance motivation and make the experience more enjoyable.
Establishing realistic goals is vital when embarking on your journey of joyful movement. As previously mentioned, the focus should shift away from weight loss or calorie burning and instead celebrate what your body can do. A practical goal might be to commit to just 15 minutes of movement each day to start, adjusting as you discover activities that bring you joy.
Insights from Fat Activists on Embracing Joyful Movement
Transitioning to a mindset that prioritizes joyful movement isn’t an overnight process—it’s a gradual journey. According to Danielle, @confidentfearlessworthy, “I started to recognize that movement did make me feel better physically, but I enjoyed moving my body in certain ways far more than others. I discovered aqua aerobics, and it was one of the only things I truly enjoyed doing. The water combined with music didn’t even feel like exercise to me. My suggestion would be to try a variety of things because moving your body joyfully doesn’t have to look a certain way. Recently my goal was to walk around Disney with my family, so I found an 8-week walking program that focused on the amount of time walked rather than miles walked, and that really flipped a switch for me.”
Lindsay, @fantasticalfatty, frequently hosts joyful movement sessions on TikTok and shares valuable insights on this subject. They explain, “the biggest thing is learning the science behind exercise and weight loss and discovering that exercising doesn’t actually lead to weight loss. When we understand that, it shifts our entire perspective around movement and exercise. If we can think of movement [exercise, sports, athletics, everything] as something we do for fun, connection to ourselves and others, mental and physical health, and because we freaking love it, we will start to choose activities that feel good. The more we focus on exercise for weight loss, the more we are robbed of the ACTUAL benefits of movement and why exercise is so essential to our human experience.”
Lindsay highlights a significant point about the science behind exercise and weight loss. A study published by the NIH titled “Healthy lifestyle habits and mortality in overweight and obese individuals” found that adopting healthy lifestyle habits leads to a substantial decrease in mortality rates, irrespective of baseline BMI.
Participants in this study were categorized based on their BMI and the number of “healthy behaviors” they incorporated over a span of 14 years. These behaviors included refraining from smoking, consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, moderate alcohol intake, and exercising at least 12 days per month.
When these four behaviors were consistently practiced, participants experienced a reduction in overall health risks, with negligible differences observed across all BMI categories. Importantly, the participants’ weight remained stable over time, irrespective of the healthy habits they adopted.
Lindsay further emphasizes the importance of starting your joyful movement journey gently and mindfully. “Movement is meant to feel good, even when we’re pushing ourselves, and we shouldn’t push past where our body is able, as that only leads to pain and injury. The only way to do this is to slow down and listen to our bodies. Talk to our bodies. Be gentle and kind with our bodies. Not ask it to do what it can’t just because we could five years ago or because someone next to us can.”
How do you celebrate your body through joyful movement? Share your experiences in the comments below!
