Let's Stop Talking about Getting TONED.

This one is a spicy, ranty one ALL about the language we use around food and our bodies.

We moralise the food we eat. We talk about feeling 'guilty' if we eat something 'bad'.  Weight Watchers count certain foods as 'sins' and we identify ourselves as good if we've eaten in a certain way and 'bad' if we have dared to indulge in a food that might taste good or satisfy our taste buds.

What about bodies?  I want to get "in shape". I'm so "out of shape".  You look good, have you lost weight? (Yes I think we've all said and thought that one.)
How about "you're not fat, you're beautiful"? 
 What does that say about fat people in general?  Why can't we be fat AND beautiful?  Why is it that only 'thin' bodies are acceptable when it comes to societal beauty ideals?

One comment that was made to me in my teens really stuck with me: "Don't worry Christine, not everyone can have a perfect body". These words stick and they hurt and may have ramifications for many years.

How are we as women marketed to?   Get toned!  Do Pilates for those long lean muscles.  Get strong but not beefy. Not too strong.  Just strong enough. Take up space but not too much space.  Just the right amount.  Make sure you're not overdoing the cardio or lifting too heavy. Do Pilates, or hot yoga, make yourself smaller but stronger. 

It's ENOUGH!

We'd LOVE to know what you think about this episode so PLEASE drop us a review, share the podcast and keep listening. We appreciate YOU!

Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.

AND if you enjoyed this episode, please share and follow the 'Find Your Strong podcast' and if you have time, write us a short review. It would honestly mean the world. Love to you all, Ela & Christine x

Transcript

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Christine Chessman: They want to be in ship.


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Christine Chessman: But what does that mean? What do you? What does that conjure up for you?


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Ela Law: So I would say it. It probably used to mean in my head used to mean losing weight.


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Ela Law: I'm toning, toning up. I'm using air quotes here, because that's another quite problematic


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Ela Law: term, I think. I think


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Ela Law: what it ideally would mean is to


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Ela Law: probably because increase your fitness level to become healthier to be more in tune with your body.


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Ela Law: but the whole shape angle is such a misleading term, and it makes it literally all about your body shape, and we both know. And hopefully, some of our listeners will know as well that you can't really do an awful lot about your body shape.


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Ela Law: That's what you've been given. You've got to work with what you got. So it's just one of those things that you know. Getting in shape is


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Ela Law: pretty meaningless really that term. What would you say.


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Christine Chessman: Yeah, it just is very much use.


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Christine Chessman: Yeah around it's conflated with but weight loss and toning. Now toning. Steph Godrow always says he was the previous guest in the podcast. Toning is for printers, and she's Tony.


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Ela Law: If I.


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Christine Chessman: It's it's not about, you know. They don't use on them. Marketing is not get toned, you know. Photos get toned.


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Ela Law: Yeah.


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Christine Chessman: They want to get strong, and it's exactly you. You don't get toned. You build muscle.


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Christine Chessman: You either, do you? Don't? You can't build really lovely, lean muscle. You can't choose what kind of muscle you're going to build.


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Christine Chessman: But it's that. It's the use of language, isn't it? It's you look toned. What does that mean?


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Ela Law: What does that.


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Christine Chessman: About me.


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Ela Law: Yeah.


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Ela Law: yeah.


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Ela Law: but it's it's so common, isn't it? Oh, I've got to get get in shape. It's just


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Ela Law: just comes out, doesn't it?


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Christine Chessman: And have you ever said the words? You look good. Have you lost weight? Because I have?


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Christine Chessman: I have used that sentence not recently, not for many years, because I wouldn't dare comment on somebody's wit. Now.


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Ela Law: Yeah.


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Christine Chessman: But I have said the phrase, you look good. Have you lost weight? And that pains me to when I think that. But again, it's.