I remember so clearly 17 years ago, my Mum in her final days. After a lifetime of diets marketed for profit, cancer ravaged her body until she could no longer walk. As she said, "I had always longed to be skinny, and here we are." That experience ignited within me a fierce desire to cultivate my healthiest life. It’s far from perfect and always a work in progress, but my journey is no longer defined by self-idealisation or an all-consuming desire that dictates my worth and purpose.
For a moment, it seemed society was moving away from the heroin-chic, runway-thin ideal of beauty. I hoped women could embrace a weight that allowed them to eat well, feel strong, and pursue health. Yet, this past week, three conversations have left me disheartened. The obsession with being skinny remains a pervasive desire for many. The misconception that being underweight equals health is stronger than ever, despite the well-known drawbacks.
Regardless of the consequences, we still witness mood swings, muscle loss, brittle hair and nails, poor sleep, irritability, and sheer exhaustion caused by caloric deficits that dip far below our body’s needs. All too often, food becomes a battleground for control, leading to cycles of deprivation, binging, and emotional eating; it saturates our communities, affecting not just females but males, too.
I aspire to work with children, teenagers, and adults helping them to shed the labels of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food. To allow others to use food to nourish the body and energise the spirit for longevity and wellness. By promoting intuitive eating, we can emphasise the importance of nourishing foods. Pairing this with exercise can release endorphins, building strength, fitness, emotional wellness, and gut health.
Let’s shift the narrative towards empowerment, health, and true beauty.
With ALI BENNETT - Allied Fitness
