Why are we still trying to be small?

I recently heard a couple of influencers say that their new way of working out (not weight training) keeps them slim because they make them less hungry.

Honestly, I wanted to cry.

Why are we still trying to be small?

I get it. As women, we’re constantly navigating a world that places so much value on how we look. I’m not saying you have to completely reject society’s beauty standards - that’s easier said than done. But when we keep sharing and celebrating ways to “stay small” on social media, we become part of the problem.

The unfortunate thing about influencers is that it can be really hard to spot the negative influence they can have. And nothing personally against them, I don't believe they see it either. Especially if most of their messaging includes healthy incentives like 'eating wholefoods' and 'getting enough rest' or 'not over doing it.' General positive messages like this are great. It’s when an influencer starts giving information on how they 'got small,' you know that you need to be careful. 

Personally, I can't imagine the pressure of being an influencer. Especially in this industry. Because very often their audience follows them based on an appearance that they idealise. With that comes HUGE amounts of responsibility. Talking about such sensitive topics to mass audiences without training, it's going to be nearly impossible to get right. 

Then, just think about having to keep-up this appearance they're so well-known for online. If that's what you're admired for and making money from, how long are you realistically able to do it in a healthy way without restricting or at least feeling incredibly guilty when 'slipping up' on the current lifestyle or diet you recommend?

When we start following advice based on looks, it's easy to get misty glasses and forget: what's the healthy option in all of this? 

Take one of these influencers, for example, if she really is avoiding weight training to stay slim, then although she says she's not restricting her food intake, she's restricting one of the most important things of all. Avoiding weight training to stay small is a huge form of restriction. You’re restricting your body’s ability to grow - to build muscle and bone, to become strong and resilient.

And that's why I had to write this. For women to understand that weight training really shouldn't be a question. 

Globally, 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture. That means one in three of us will have bones so fragile that they will break - and once that happens, even something like pilates becomes out of reach. 

(Nothing against pilates. It’s just not an alternative to strength training.)

Our bones and muscles need impact and load to thrive. Without them, they weaken over time.

So you need to start building now. Already from around age 30, our bone density begins to decline, and that loss accelerates as we age. Strength training, resistance work, and proper nutrition are our most powerful tools to protect ourselves for the future - to maintain mobility, independence, and literally the quality of our life.

So if you’re following influencers who you like because they are small, I urge you to pause and reflect. Even if their advice sounds wholesome, if any of their message centers on shrinking, they are not guiding you toward true health.

We already battle the myth that strength training makes women “bulky” - which, first of all, isn’t true, and second, wouldn’t be a bad thing if it were. (Imagine the impact in society if when women trained, we did build muscle as fast as men?)

Now, we’re adding the nonsensical fear that lifting weights might somehow make us gain fat!?

Let’s change the conversation.

Lift heavy things.
Fuel your body.

REST.
Because you deserve more than small - you deserve strong.