A Letter About Fat Shaming

Hi there. 
So if you have been following me lately, you'll know that I recently started a blog (that you are on) about overall health and wellness and began my journey as a fitness coach to help people achieve their goals. I have to stop for a minute here, and I should have done this before but it has occurred to me after a few comments that I've received (to my face or not) I don't think everyone fully understands what I'm doing and would really like to take the opportunity to explain myself in more detail, because I don't want anyone to feel offended by my recent posts.

Recently the topic of FAT SHAMING has come up. Let me be the first to say, this blog, and what I've done, has NO INTENTION of fat shaming at all. I hope you realize that as this blog progresses, and if you take the time to read it - that most of my posts are related to overall LIFE wellness as opposed to getting society's "desired body." I started INSANITY as a way of keeping up with the long and strenuous days at TAP where I was required to be active and have eyes at the back of my head 24/7. My performance classes became easier as I started to eat healthier and start practising yoga. Lifting weights has lead me to a MAJOR de-stress since I graduated university and have no idea where I'm going next. The RESULT of these things has lead to a smaller and more lean figure, which I cannot lie, I am proud of. But that does NOT mean that this is the reason why I continue this, and it certainly doesn't mean that I'm encouraging anyone to do this for that sole purpose. It hurts me to believe that some people would think of me in that way. I invite you to join my movement to overall wellness and confidence because I've noticed that over the past few months of eating clean and exercising a bit every day my energy levels have sky rocketed, I've become more motivated, and I have learned to take stress, inner anger and sometimes joy and EXCITEMENT out on weights and cardio. I do the same thing when I sing and play the guitar and it is slowly becoming a passion - NOT a way for me to get skinny or to get people to like me, or to reiterate social constructions that are pressuring people to have the tiniest waist. I love the way fitness makes me feel! 
The side effects of that will obviously be a gain in muscle mass and a breakdown of fat. I INVITE (not demand) that you join me on this journey because it has done nothing but improve my lifestyle since I started, and I think it could for anyone. I do NOT invite you to join this journey for the sole purpose of getting a  "sexy" body, but if you feel sexy afterwards as a result of this, that is totally okay, and I am SO happy for you :S. If you are offended by my posts, try to educate me, or don't read them. Some people are one hundred percent A.O.K with the state of their body, with no intention of changing it and thats okay too!? I STILL invite you to join me on this journey, if not for fitness tips, for tips on your overall health and maybe so that we can connect through music or art or on a different topic.

Another thing I've realized on this journey, is that if I'm not being accused of fat shaming, I myself am being shamed for losing TOO much weight. Because I decided, as a personal choice to become a physically stronger and mentally more in-tuned version of myself, people I know have senselessly gossiped about me starving myself or being self-absorbed. The sad truth of it is that, particularly as women, our bodies will always be under scrutiny by someone. Sometimes you are too fat, sometimes you are too skinny, sometimes you're too short...you get the picture. The number one thing I want people to take from this wellness blog is to, no matter what try your very hardest to be comfortable and confident in your own skin. If YOU think that losing or gaining some weight will help you get there - you are absolutely not superficial, self absorbed or a fat shamer. If health or fitness is not a priority for you, than that's okay too. You have a choice to take my words the way you want to, no matter what it will boil down to your perception. But it is my hope that you'll see this encouragement is coming from somewhere pure, and genuine.  Just do whatever you want and what makes you happy.

I think I've said all I need to say. You are beautiful inside and out, no matter what size you are. Please know that I NEVER doubted that.

Meaghan