Braxton Gilbert Fitness

CELEBRATING ALL BODY TYPES

Everyone is on his/her unique journey in life. For some, it’s to obtain that dream job, move to that dream city, or get that dream body. Most of us can all relate to wanting to see something a little different when we look in the mirror; whether it’s more muscles, more tone, or less fat. Maybe even all 3. When it comes to dreamy bodies though, there’s one thing we all struggle with at times: trying to obtain an unrealistic body image. It is so easy to see an image on the screen or on the cover of a magazine and immediately think, “Wow, I wish I looked like her/him.” However, we are all made completely different in ranging of sizes, shapes, colors, bone structures, and genetics. There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your physical and mental health but don’t do it with the end goal of trying to be or look like someone else. You are YOU, and your body is perfectly unique! We’re here to normalize celebrating ALL body types!

IS SOCIAL MEDIA HELPFUL?

We’ve all been there at some point in our life. We go onto any social media platform and see girls dressed up in full makeup with a small waist, or the guy that’s jacked with muscles and think, “Man! If only I could look like them.” A few minutes later you see an advertisement for the latest and greatest weight loss program that shows pictures of objectively beautiful people next to their old photos that make you want to change everything about yourself. Social media can be helpful and informative in a lot of ways, but it’s posts and advertisements like this that can be misleading and harmful. What a lot of people do not realize is that social media is fake. Anyone could be anything they want on social platforms, whether it’s tall, thin, tan, muscular, but at the end of the day it’s just a picture that has been edited for the benefit of your eyes. When we see these, we set overwhelming expectations that can’t be met. 

YOU ARE UNIQUE! 

Everyone feels insecure about some part of their body at some point. Some think they are too tall, too short, too small, or too big. Others wish they had a different nose, or different hair. There are some things about our bodies that we just simply cannot change. And that makes you unique. 

Ever heard of cellulite? Cellulite is one of the most common things that we want to “get rid of” or feel embarrassed about. The majority of people have cellulite, and it does not make you any less of a human being by having some dimples in your thighs. Stretch marks or scars? They’re just tiger stripes and lighting bolts that tell a story about your life. Loose skin? It is not a flaw or something that needs to be “fixed.” These things make you unique so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

MENTAL HEALTH & PHYSICAL HEALTH

Another important thing to remember on any fitness journey is to take care of your mental health first, which definitely includes NOT comparing yourself to others. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or gain weight, just focus on being the best version of yourself. It’s okay to want to strive towards making changes to your body. Please know that there are so many great benefits to fitness that have nothing to do with appearance. Exercise boosts mood (hello, endorphins!), increases energy levels, helps manage stress, improves sleep and brain function, increases strength and flexibility, and the list goes on! Find a friend who can help you with your journey. Talk to them about your highs and lows. Having a partner who knows what you’re going through is a good way to improve your mental health. Forms of meditation is also a great way to find your center and balance. There are many websites and apps for meditation like Calm, or here’s a link to a site.  Focusing and grabbing hold of your mental health will help you stick to your fitness goals long-term and will allow you to be proud of your progress no matter how fast or slow!