I have a very different definition of what constitutes healthy compared to the fitness industry.
Before I get into the specifics of my opening statement, I’m going to share a story.
Back in July, I did a free fitness assessment at my gym. Of course, I expected to blow the scale out of the water with my whole food living, dominant physique and #vanillagorilla mentality. Hello? I am a Healthy Living Blogger after all.
So I signed up and answered a boatload of computerized questions about my eating habits:
- Do you add salt to your food? Of course, usually when I’m cooking because veggies need love. They also like to be roasted and toasted too. (Don’t we all?)
- Do you opt for low carb or low-calorie when possible? Um no. Isn’t that just a chemical shit storm waiting to happen. Plus, I don’t think they make low carb apples and potatoes?
(source)
Noticeably absent, at least for me, was any question about where my food actually comes from, which is kind of a big deal. If my eats are direct from a farm, chances are I’m not sucking down a McShake loaded with high fructose corn syrup or a breakfast sandwich with seventy-five different ingredients, most of which I can’t identify without a dictionary and a translator.
(source)
Onto the fitness portion of the test.
I hopped on and off a step for two minutes straight, without even wheezing once. I even started to enjoy myself. I excelled at the mobility challenge, where we had to stretch as far as humanly possible. Since one of my superpowers is being hypermobile, I knew I had that one in the bag. I also let them take my blood pressure and pinch my girly bits and pieces with a pair of body mass index tweezers. Let me tell you, it hurt like a son of a bitch when they went after my thighs. There’s not much there, other than rock solid muscle (#poundschest) and maybe a little flesh, and I’m pretty sure their ‘pinch’ left a mark.
I performed every test, answered every question and waiting patiently and eagerly for my results. Confession: out of the four potential categories: Needs Work, Fair, Fit and Excellent, I expected to be awarded the highest honors and sent on my way with a crown, or at the very least a pat on the back and a protein shake, which you know I wouldn’t actually consume. After all, my doctor did give me two thumbs up at my annual physical mere months before when we went over the results of my blood work together. She declared me healthier than a horse and told me to keep on riding, so why would the fitness industry be any different?
Well the results came back and they were….drumroll please.
Fair.
Forgetting excellent, even though we know I am, I didn’t even qualify to be in the Fit category. To say I was speechless would be an understatement, and we all know how much I can talk. I was shocked beyond comprehension. Did they miss the memo? I did a Tough Mudder less than a year ago, and while I couldn’t run a marathon at this moment in time, I could easily walk one. I even did a forty-five minute Spinning class yesterday, after taking weeks off, without batting an eye, and earlier this week, I went on a four-hour hike, rated as difficult, and had myself a blast.
Even more shocking than my “Fair” label: I was told in order to achieve a Fit level, still not excellent mind you, I’d need to lose at least nine pounds of pure fat. Not total body weight, just fat. I realize most of you only know me through the internet, so you may not really know my body or its baggage. Without getting overly descriptive, I clock in at a strong and vertically challenged 5’2, which makes me pocket-size. I am little bitty all over, except for my twins and I’ll be damned if I let those ladies go.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not claiming to have the flawless figure of a Victoria’s Secret model, post photo shop. I don’t have six-pack abs and I won’t be winning any physique or figure competitions soon. Excessive calorie counting, super structured meals and dangerously low body fat isn’t appealing to me. Having those things doesn’t automatically qualify me to be fit either.
Here’s what I do know.
I am at a healthy weight for my body type, and losing nine pounds would be detrimental, not to mention destructive. My conditioning is fantastic, and I am in great shape, not only physically, but mentally as well. I know when to push myself and I know when to back down. I am incredibly proud of what my body can do, and I embrace its subtle curves, all while longing for more junk in my trunk.
My body may not have rock hard abs or buns of steel, but it is healthy and it is definitely fit, which is perfect for me.
Thanks for letting me Think Out Loud, Spoons.
What does fit mean to you? How do you see healthy? Have you ever been told you need to lose weight to be ‘fit’?
I love how you put an awesome spin on this. The gym was clearly trying to sell something and needed you to feel like you were inadequate and in need of coaching. The whole food approach is the only way to live I love that you are a prime example of that! Kick ass vanilla gorilla!!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors recently posted…Scary Good Pumpkin Cookies
Thanks for your support. I’m with you. I strongly believe in a whole foods approach, and I attribute my great blood work to eating that same way.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Take anybody with less self knowledge than you and this kind of distorted feedback will send them right down the nasty path of disordered eating a psychological issues. This is not fitness… It’s sabotage.
Great post!
Your sentiment is 100% why I wrote this post. I was having a rough month when I took the test, and it rattled me big time. A week or so later, with a different mindset, I looked at the information again and got pissed. If this rattled me, what would it do to someone younger, more vulnerable, less sure of themselves? Someone who was already borderline on an eating disorder path? Nothing good would have come from it.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
That’s mad! Did the results even say why they scored you a ‘fair’? Ugh. That’s whay I kind of despise any generic fitness/health test (or those personality type ones) because they are made for the masses, and don’t take into account our little intricacies. BMI for example, is a shower of sh*t.
Fit for me is always dashing up the escalator when most others are standing, walking most places, having a fully functioning pain-free (mostly) body and not getting sick as soon as it gets chilly. I couldn’t claim these two years ago, so now I’m pretty proud of them!
Cat recently posted…Why Get A Personal Trainer?
And you should be proud of them. Pain free is an amazing way to be and a testament to your own fitness routine, regardless of what a silly scale says.
The results did go into detail about the fair assessment. I need to use less salt, switch to low calorie, low carb foods, and lose 9 pounds of fat. Shenanigans, I say.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Oh no! I feel like sometimes those free assessments are just designed to get you to sign up for the gym and CRAZY amounts of extras. And WHY do people never question where their food actually comes from OR how many ingredients are in them. More than 7 on the list and I’m out it’s a chemical shit storm. I wish that people would understand this. Great post and interesting commentary on what FIT looks like.
Renee @ Bendiful Blog recently posted…5 Lessons Learned from 6 Months Without Cable
Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.
I think for health and wellness we need to start looking at where the food comes from. That’s a huge thing and to completely disregard it makes me a little crazy.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
You are awesome…adore your attitude and of course you. It’s sad that the fitness industry gauges success by a certain size, and probably contributes to the growing incidences of eating disorders. Especially in both the HLB world & fitness industry , it’s easy to forget what “healthy” looks like- been an over-achiever is not always a good thing…looks like your gym needs to learn where to draw the line.
Now go kick more ass, friend!
Khushboo recently posted…Busting nutrition-related myths
Thanks Khushboo! I appreciate it. I can only imagine if I took their advice. I’d be eating two ingredient pancakes and wasting away, all while trying to build mass amounts of muscle. I’m good with my muscle tone as is.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
WTF?! (The F there stands for “Fair”) that makes NO sense. I cant-, I don’t-, what?? If you’re not in the fit or excellent category they’d have to make a whole new category for me below “needs work”. Something like “Ha ha good luck with that.” And yes, as a 5’0 human, I can attest that 9 lbs is the difference between normal and emaciated. that test is whack.
Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness recently posted…A National Geographicesque Look at Bloggers
Anything that renders me speechless has to be a pretty shocking. Ha!
You can join me on my Fair level. We’ll have a party and celebrate out fit asses off.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
This really is sad! I am glad for you that you’re such a strong personality to see the lack of sense here! But the shocking problem is that there are so many people that don’t! It just stuck to me while reading your post that I once had a comparable experience. When I got the go of my doctor to start working out again with my thrombosis I was a weak and frail little girl with no curves left and only 110 pounds on the scale. I went to my gym and asked for a training plan I could follow. They measured me and then told me I should aim to loose a 10 pounds of fat and gain muscle. I didn’t feel offended then because I think at that time I believed them. Now when I remeber I am actually outraged! Well I agree on the muscle thing because I had none left – but I was far far far from having to loose fat! HOW DARE THEY???
Fit and healthy goes hand in hand in my opinion. That means eating whole foods that make you feel good and find a sport you love so you don’t workout because you have to but because you want to!
Juli @1000lovelythings recently posted…Thinking Out Loud #38 – Let’s panick it’s Halloween
Wow, you’re experience actually sounds way worse than mine. That’s awful, and I’m sorry you had to go through that and I’m glad you’re in a far better place today.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
We are soooo always on the same wave length. I can’t stand things like this. This is why I avoid most fitness/health magazines, all diet trends and any hoopla/discussion of what fit is, what healthy eating is and why someone needs to lose 5 pounds. Most of the time, it’s all nonsense and media driven. When I didn’t get a regular menstrual cycle and the scale read 118 lbs, the dr assumed I was fine because that was a healthy weight for my height. But I wasn’t fine. That wasn’t fine enough for me at the time. We are all different and those cookie cutter tests and measurements don’t define fit. Ridiculous. I am proud of you for being better than those tests because hello, you are super excellent fit in my book.
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…TOL-Build-A-Bear, Maoz, Playing Hooky
Thanks Sunshine. I appreciate it.
I can’t believe a doctor said there were no issue when you weren’t getting a regular period. Shame on him/her. That’s awful, and I can only imagine how damaging that could be to someone with an eating disorder. Geesh, good for you for seeing through and past it and finding your own version of fit.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
First of all, I have to start by saying that I was kind of shocked when I met you in real life and found out you were so tiny, because you really are a huge vanilla gorilla in my mind… which I 100% credit to your amazing attitude. Second of all, if you need further proof that the fitness industry is all sorts of effed up, they actually told me that I was more ‘fit’ when I was in the depths of my eating disorder hell because my bey fat % was so much lower. I mean… no wonder so many people are struggling with food and body image issues! [Most of] the fitness industry can go to hell for all I care /endrant…
Being a vanilla gorilla for me is all mental. 🙂
I can’t believe the fitness industry said you were more ‘fit’ when your body fat was dangerously low. Good god, that is awful. They really need to rethink their standard tests because that’s horrendous.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
What. The. Heck!
How in the world do non-fit people score?!?!
I have a feeling that test is set up for failure as a way for the industry to make more money. There are people who probably do need tons of work in all of those areas, but for people who are doing everything right that is just terrible.
I remember having a survey at work for a health screening similar to that.. it said I need to eat more grains, eat less fat, reduce red meat and egg consumption. In my lifestyle, those are all perfectly fine!
Jennifer recently posted…Mental Toughness: Untrained 10k and Crossfit
I would disregard anything that tells me to eat less eggs. Then again, I have a major thing for eggs, yolks and all.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I would definitely take those test results with a grain of salt. First off, they are so generalized, it’s hard to speak to any individual’s fitness level with accuracy. Not to mention the more obvious reality that they need to frighten you a little to keep you as a customer.
The important thing here is how you feel about yourself, and knowing that you’re on the right track and feeling like a million buck, just the way you are.
Way to go!
No worries. I took them with a grain of salt. It made me sad though thinking about somebody who would hear that and immediately vow to lose nine pounds of fat to get there.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
WHAT! This makes me so mad. Though I guess it just goes to show that it really is a fitness industry – they are there to make money, no good classing anyone as excellent for that!
To me fit is your body being able to do anything you want it to do. Like waking up in the morning and deciding that you’re gonna cycling X miles for instance and it not being an issue, there is no thought of ‘will I make it’. And also I guess being active just being second nature to you.
Pip {Cherries & Chisme} recently posted…It’s been a year
I think your definition of fit is just as good as any and perhaps better than the fitness industry. Thanks for sharing it.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
The first time I was told I was “fat” was in fourth grade, doing one of those Presidential Fitness Award assessments (anyone remember those?). At the time I was active in dance and karate, but I failed almost all of the conditioning assessments, and them was told my BMI was “overweight”. Never mind I was always in the 5th percentile for height and my stumpy legs can’t keep up with the “normal” kids running and jumping. Cue the low-fat starvation diets, body shaming, and eating disorders all through high school and college. How ironic that a program and industry with the intention of saying “this is what healthy is” can get it so wrong for so many people. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to individual health!
Just laugh off what your gym assessment said. You are a strong person who has accomplished amazing things. No way a piece of paper that says “yay, you’re fit” can tell you what you already know about yourself.
Emily recently posted…A First-Timer’s Experience at Massage Envy Spa
I’ve long since laughed off that assessment. I really shared my story mainly because I was concerned other people would receive similar assessments and take them for gold. It’s damaging, as you know first hand exactly how destructive remarks like that can be. What an awful thing to say to a nine year old. Thank you for sharing a bit of your story.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I am a personal trainer and majoring in Applied Exercise & Health and have done countless Fitness Assessments on clients. We don’t do questionnaires about nutrition, but we do fitness tests, like body composition, step tests, push up, flexibility. I am surprised your gym does the nutrition survey and that question about low calorie foods just sounds ridiculous. Questions should have been asking regarding the USDA Dietary Guidelines (are 1/2 your grains whole? do you consume 5 servings of fruits and veg a day? do you consume lean proteins like poultry, fish, nuts, legumes, etc.?) I also don’t like how they classified your results in the Fitness Assessment. “Needs work” just sounds very short and not professional at all. Needs improvement is better, in my opinion. Also, I don’t think you should have one overall score or classification. Each test should have a classification. This bugs me. I wish things were more universal in the fitness industry. It also makes us fitness professionals look bad as a whole even if we are not individually.
I would say that if you exercise most days of the week (and that includes walking – it doesn’t have to be a giant sweat fest) , you eat healthy (which, I know you do!), and you aren’t overweight for your body type, then you are fine! Six pack abs are not worth the mental destruction that typically occurs. Fitness and healthy eating should be a maintainable lifestyle – it looks like you have that down pat! 🙂
Kate recently posted…It’s Okay to Give Yourself a Break
Thank you for your comment. I love hearing from you, especially when you rattle off those fabulous qualifications.
I should tell you I adore the instructors at my gym. They are friendly and helpful. I also happen to think the facility is fantastic, always clean and top notch.
My issue is more with the industry since this was a standard test. They did have categories for each of the different sections, but also an overall score as well. I didn’t score well in any of it, except the flexibility part. Ha. Go-go Gadget limbs.
Basically what I’m trying to say is despite the test, I still love my gym and the people there. I don’t hold them accountable for an industry standard test, although I think the fitness industry in general promotes being thin as opposed to being healthy and that needs to change.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
You are so tiny, this is just ridiculous that they gave you this assessment. Having said that, I do think there are different standards (obviously) for being fit vs being healthy and at times they even compete with each other. I also feel the fitness industries mindset is so far behind the health band wagon and has yet to modernize their way of thinking. Great post my dear!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…7 Ways to Stop Mindless Eating
Thank YOU for your lovely comment.
At the end of the day, I think the focus needs to be on healthy versus fit. If you’re healthy and active, then you are fit. Let’s ditch the skinny girl mentality and embrace health and wellness.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
You are in excellent shape, do not listen to these hogwash results.
Brittany recently posted…Starbucks Christmas Espresso Coffee Tasting
Hogwash. I need to use that word in a sentence today. Thanks Boo!
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
This irritates me so much. To tell someone who is at a healthy weight, who is active, and who eats healthily that they are not fit and that they need to lose weight is ABSURD.
The fitness industry’s idea of health/fitness is much different than general healthy standards. And I’d argue in many cases, it’s actually unhealthy. If someone’s genetics means they can have abs at a healthy body fat, then great, good for them. But the majority of us can’t, and we don’t need to be striving to achieve that.
Chelsea @ Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…Spooky chocolate soy nut butter cookies
I agree with you 100%, which is why I shared this story. I think for someone who isn’t as bull headed and confident as me, this test could have been very damaging and that isn’t at all healthy. The fitness industry needs to reevaluate their definitions of health and wellness.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I am so happy to have stumbled upon your blog today! You are hilarious and this post is fantastic. I have the same outlook as you – though I am not at my thinnest, I am definitely at my healthiest, at least in my mind, which is really all that matters, right? The fitness industry is so bad – but it is great to have people you you who see through it, because a lot of people will suffer if we don’t call this stuff out!
Lindsay recently posted…The Perfect Body
I’m thrilled you stumbled onto me too (wink, wink) and I do hope you come back for more merriment and amusement. Those are really my specialty when I’m not being so serious.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Oh, hell. That’s the oldest sell job in the history of sleazy sell jobs.
Generate a problem for the consumer to fret over, and then offer the solution for a fee. That’s exactly what your gym, and every other gym out there does. It’s criminal and obscene. AND, a bit offensive, in my stupid, humble opinion. You are a strong, healthy, deliberate, interesting, well adjusted person. Fuck those 9 pounds. Are they crazy?!?
Grumble, grumble, grumble.
I don’t think in terms of fit. I think in terms of wellness. Are you well rested? Are you mentally well? Is there lot’s of yummy food in your life? Do you have plenty of healthy personal contact with other people? Is your learning continuing? Do you feel like there is purpose to what you are doing with your short little life? Those are the questions I ask all the time – of myself, and everyone in my practice, and all the people I get to know.
Just barf all over those tests, really.
(Can you tell I don’t work out?!?)
Lindsey @HalfDimeHomestead recently posted…The Birth of a Low Tunnel
No worries my dear. I placed no value on those tests. I place value on me and how I feel, and at the end of the day, I feel healthy. That’s all the matters. 🙂
Love you.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
This. This post is a credit and needs to go mainstream as living proof of how irrational so many scales/numbers/metrics are- And the 9 lb loss to be considered ‘fit’?
Damn that. You know yourself. You know your health. You have a brain- If you know what works, roll with it.
The fitness industry makes me sad too.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Curried Salmon Patties
This is the post I mentioned a few weeks ago in our middle of the night text fest. Thanks again for that by the way.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
That test was dumb. punch it in the balls.
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed recently posted…I Need a Cocktail. Now.
Done.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
The test sounds completely ridiculous – there is no way to use a standardized test to gauge fitness levels.
And, body fat with skin calipers is never very accurate – too much room for user error:)
The main thing is you know that you are in the excellent/top notch category and that your body is strong and healthy which is really all that matters, right?!
Kim recently posted…Daily Moves (10/26 – 11/1)
Yep, feeling good, strong and healthy is all that matters. I know I’m fit, regardless of what some test says and I’m good with that.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Talk about the fitness industry being self serving! This is a prime example of attempting to get people hooked into believing that they need to spend more money and time to attain some unrealistic and unhealthy goal. I’m glad you see through this and realize that you don’t need a quiz to tell you that you’re healthy and fit. Good for you!
Thanks Pat. Yeah, I did see through it, but it still saddened me for all those young and susceptible people who might not realize it and even worse, who might buy into those test results.
Thanks for commenting.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Great story! Love your positive outlook! We need more people and more articles like this
I too have always considered myself fit……….yet I was struggling with an eating disorder all along the way. Sure EVYERONE thought I was Miss fitness, pure health yet I was so unhealthy
I may not be at the low body fat to be considered “Fittest” but I am getting healthier I am still not there but getting there
I think you are so right. The focus neeeds to be OFF of Low fat, fat free, etc and start looking at real, whole foods, stay away from chemicals and processed crap! You can Eat MORE and a lot of delicious, healthy, nutritious REAL food
I struggle with the fact that I am the odd one. At a party, i honestly do not crave or want the doritos, chips, and cheap store made cupcakes……I crave different things at different time. I am fortunate to enjoy, like and WANT real foods. I crave nuts, veggies, fresh fruit, exotic fruits , delicious prepped meals, SURE i like my sweets, but real ones, NOT processed packaged brownies!
keep up the good work <3
Diana recently posted…Weekend update and week ahead 11.02.14 (Part 1)
Yep, it’s pretty easy in my book: eat real food, move your body in ways which make you feel good, and rest. You have to treat yourself right and the rest will follow. Keep plugging along, and I bet you are healthier than you give yourself credit for.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
can i get on my soap box for a minute? …. stepping up now. ahem…
Fitness and food industries are so TAILORED to calories and weightloss. which I ABHOR. yes, i said abhor.
You are fit and healthy when your mind and body start to work together and appreciate movement and nourishment, ya know?
Preach away my friend.
I abhor it with you. Health should not be about calories, weight loss or scary low body fat. It was an eye opening and saddening experience for me. I’ve always seen the fitness industry as part of the solution to the obesity epidemic. Now I’m not so sure.
You on the other hand, I adore. Along with my fitness instructors at the gym. They are all fabulous and supportive ladies. Maybe you all can help reshape the fitness industry for the better.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
What an awesome post and message to get out there. Plus I love that you didn’t question yourself after the bogus result for even a second. Not sure when the focus really will shift to true health, but for now spreading the word this way is a pretty great start.
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Marathon Training Week 13 Update – Off Plan
Thanks, I really appreciate the comment. I’m all for spreading the word and shifting the focus to truth health. It’s what the message needs to be. Glad you’re on board. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I find that I have to ignore a lot of the photos out there and fake food recipes that the fitness industry is putting out there now a days, because it is not healthy and is giving the wrong image of what truly is being in good health. Healthy to me is to feel good mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is about staying active and enjoying those activities; eating well, but also enjoying life; and feeling confident and beautiful inside and out. Great post…Love your honesty and yes don’t loose the girls…ever!
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Perfect Pumpkin Smoothie + Ramblings
I really don’t even look at the food that comes from the gym. It’s generally processed meals, protein powder, muscle milk and those quick energy burst drinks, and this goes for almost every gym I’ve been to in the past few years. There has to be a better solution.
Don’t worry, I’ll hang onto the girls for dear life, or at least my very supportive bra will. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Thanks for sharing this! It’s shocking how the fitness industry works – don’t even get me started. Happy to be a new blog reader here!
Melissa @ Mango About Town recently posted…October Recap
I’m happy to have a new blog reader!. Thanks for coming over and commenting. I love hearing from new faces.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I’m glad I clicked over here from Amanda’s Link Love.
I’m so cynical about many things–the fitness industry being one of them! I think fitness is so much more than fitting a certain mold. You’re obviously living the right lifestyle and have a healthy mindset regarding fitness and what’s right for YOU. I’d be interested to see how I rank since I live a similar lifestyle. I’m glad you didn’t let the results get you down–keep doing what you’re doing! 🙂
Catherine @ foodiecology recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday+ A Day In the Life With a Newborn
Thanks Catherine. I appreciate the comment, and I’m glad you clicked over too. Amanda sure does sucker us in with all those links. I lose hours on those things. Ha!
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Wait you’re only 5 foot 2?!!? Sorry I know you said a lot of other things in there , but that totally stuck out because in my mind you are this tiara wearing, a** kicking, beast!
Anywho thank you for this, and for busting through their ridiculously generalized results with your usual charm. As someone who has bought into that kind of hype in the past (and is still occasionally susceptible)it is wonderfully refreshing to see REAL people talking about what REAL fitness looks like when you put in it in the context of living your best life. So basically thank you for being you and showing that test exactly who is in charge.
Sarah Pie recently posted…Lentil Veggie Soup
I am still a tiara wearing @ss kicking beast, just at 5’2. 🙂
Don’t buy the hype. It ain’t worth it, and at the end of the day, it’s not healthy either.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
You are a star for writing and sharing this – more us of need to stand up and show that the ‘fitness industry’s’ perception of fit must change.
It is so difficult for so many to see what being fit and healthy really is when the industry backed by media are promoting skinny over strong. I am a CrossFitter and so many women are scared to try it because they are afraid of becoming muscly and strong. But I say bring on the muscles!
You have an amazing attitude and will inspire so many to follow the path of health 🙂
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Thinking Out Loud – Rants and Raves!
Thank you for the lovely comment and all your support.
We need to start a new hashtag #bringonthemuscles.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Since when does losing weight make someone more fit? I’m fairly certain those two things aren’t necessarily correlated.
Laura recently posted…Learning to Accept Myself
I’d agree with you Laura. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
You make great points here. There’s a lot going on on the inside that those standard fitness tests don’t account for. There’s so much “information” out there that is flat out wrong, but is so engrained in people’s minds that it is followed almost religiously. Like, egg yolks are bad, calories are bad, fruits are equal to vegetables in terms of nutrition, fat is bad, etc etc etc. You should be proud of your fitness, which it sounds like you are!
Chris recently posted…Halo Headband Review (with Giveaway!)
I’m definitely proud of my fitness and I stand by my food choices 100%, even those tasty margaritas from last weekend. 😉
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I can’t imagine if you lost 9 pounds! Of JUST body fat? How can they even expect you to do that?
I totally agree with you that the questions they asked are awful.
I hate that the fitness industry is “one size fits all”. Different things work for different people (although I would agree with you that a low-fat, low calorie chemical shit storm is probably not the best way to go about things…). At the same time, there are different ways of measuring fitness and overall health. The test they gave you rated you “Fair”…but a different test might rate you “excellent”. What’s worrisome is that someone might take the test you took and take to heart that they have to excessively monitor calorie intake and go low fat and low carb and low everything to desperately try and lose weight.
Not to mention that how much you weigh and what you eat aren’t a measure of FITNESS…sure, your nutrition might affect your performance (and I truly believe the two go hand in hand), but shouldn’t the FITNESS test just be about PHYSICAL FITNESS?!
Okay, I’m done ranting in your comments. Keep being Vanilla Gorilla! You’re awesomely spunky and inspiring.
Chelsea F recently posted…Whole30 Week 2 Recap
Why thank you. I appreciate your lovely comment. It means a lot to me, and your concern (others who get this same news might take it to heart and go on a diet type bender) is the exact reason I decided to share my store. I have no problem calling bullshit when I see it, and I hope others can do the same.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Tried to comment on this on my phone over the weekend, but it would Not cooperate. Here’s my point…did these folks give you a clue as to how a person loses “9 pounds of pure fat.” I’m way older than you and I’ve been trying for years and years. You can’t just lose the fat. I have lots of pockets of it to prove that fact!! Like you, Meghan, I’m at a very healthy weight. Not quite as fit as you because you exercise more, but give me 6 months and I’ll be much fitter now that I can exercise like a normal person. I loved this post…as always you are so creative and make me Think! Hugs~
Fran@BCDC recently posted…Saturday Snapshot~November 1
We should workout together Ms. Fran. It’ll be walks galore and I bet Oscar will wait for both of us in the driveway. Hugs back atcha.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
And this my friend is what makes you so awesome. The fact that after having been told this, you stood your ground and didn’t for a second buy any of their bullshit! So many women, when faced with this sort of thing, take the industry’s word as golden and start hating themselves for not being society’s picture of perfection. It’s all about the low-carb, low-fat, high protein, sugar-free, and even sometimes calorie-free…unless of course it “fits your macros aka #iifym” then you’re allowed to jump off the fucking deep end while riding a rainbow-colored unicorn. I’m sorry but sugar from an apple is not the same as sugar from a cookie. I’ve been thinking for a long while about starting the hashtag #iyfwi for “if you fucking want it”. Don’t make excuses, people. Don’t feel you have to justify or EARN your treats. If you want a cookie, eat a damn cookie! One with butter and sugar and REAL chocolate…none of that fiber-filled, aspartame-laced frankenfood shit.
The world we live in is a messed up place. Too much of our lives revolve around food rules. I mean, fuck, the Italians and Greeks eat food every single day that is doused in olive oil and they serve wine with every meal…and they are some of the healthiest people on the planet. You know my stance on calorie counting and strict dieting. Right now I’m living an “ignorance is bliss” sort of life until I can get back into the habit of healthy eating without dissecting every single food label I come across. Sure I’ve put some junk in my trunk (and thighs and hips) but no one thinks of or loves me less for it. I am happy where I am in life and that’s all that matters. So fuck you, diet industry for trying to tell me and others like me to bend to your standards…too restrict our diets to empty calories WHILE training like a beast…a to lose years of our lives with our loved ones because we think we have to “earn” every bit of everything we put into our bodies. Because that brainwashing is hard to recover from and those years can never be given back.
Fit to me is even more of a mental thing than a physical. The body can be trained to get back into workouts than a mind can be trained to not overanalyze and feel guilty about eating certain foods. If you eat 100% healthy all the time yet you constantly feel restricted, that’s no way to live. It’s about balance. It’s about moderation. It’s about not putting your diet on a pedestal. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be stepping off my soap box so you can actually read this novel of a comment! Just one last thing…I love you! 🙂
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli recently posted…The Adventures of Lucky the Leprechaun
So that’s what #iifym means. Well snap, I say we start a new hashtag: #macrossmacroswhogivesashit I like it.
I also really appreciate your point about fit being more about mental health. I never really thought about it too much because I got all kinds of swagger, but you are dead nuts rights. Mental stuff can mess you up for a longer time and is a lot harder to overcome.
Love you right back.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
I’m playing catch up on blog reading but couldn’t pass by this without
comment. What utter bullshit! I’m happy to hear that whatever they were selling, you weren’t buying. But like you said, this could have easily had a terrible effect on someone less secure with their body.
Your attitude toward healthy living is truly inspirational!
Tara recently posted…Big Buddha on Lantau Island
Thanks Tara. Your comment means a lot.
Meghan recently posted…The Fitness Industry Makes Me Sad
Fuck yo gym. I think you’re excellent and fit and the sexiest vanilla gorilla I’ve ever seen.
Also, I’m so surprised that you’re only 5’2″. Your personality is 5’11”, at least.
Carly @ Snack Therapy recently posted…Transformation Tuesday: I’m Calling Bullshit
My personality might even be bigger than 5’11. Just sayin’.
Love you.
Meghan recently posted…Currently: November 2014
I forgot to tell you …… the gym I go to was handing out candy the entire week of Halloween.
Jerks.
Now that’s some serious sabotage right there. I call shenanigans. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Currently: November 2014
Holy crap I’m so glad I read this! I work at a gym and this is why I’m so wary of moving over into the personal trainer job…most gyms just don’t place what I think to be the proper emphasis on actual HEALTH not looking like a victoria secret model. I cringe when I hear trainers recommending low carb diets to clients…argh. I might need to open my own gym…
Thanks for sharing this, friend! You are definitely healthy in my book and I can’t even imagine you losing 9 pounds of fat?? (maybe it’s the twins’ fault?) Just rediculous!
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut recently posted…Did You Know #12: All About That BMI
I feel like fitness endurance is a better indicator of “healthy” than percent body fat. Feeling comfortable while doing exercise feels healthier than being ultra thin but winded during daily activities.
Holy crap I’m so glad I read this! I work at a gym and this is why I’m so wary of moving over into the personal trainer job…most gyms just don’t place what I think to be the proper emphasis on actual HEALTH not looking like a victoria secret model. I cringe when I hear trainers recommending low carb diets to clients…argh. I might need to open my own gym…
Thanks for sharing this, friend! You are definitely healthy in my book and I can’t even imagine you losing 9 pounds of fat?? (maybe it’s the twins’ fault?) Just rediculous!
Yes! You should definitely open your own gym. You could be the CHANGE in the fitness industry!
Meghan recently posted…Inuit Mothers Are Badass Bitches