20/11/2025
There are a lot of sayings in the fitness industry that I don't like (No Pain, No Gain! 😤)
The latest one to do the hashtags rounds again is 'Strong Not Skinny'
Whilst I'm all for encouraging people to get strong, it bothers me that it comes across as weight shaming.
When I was a 48kg ultra runner people actually thought it was ok to call me skinny, to my face. I never heard anyone say "skinny" without judgement, sometimes even venom.
We need to understand that you can be slightly underweight,strong and healthy, just as you can be slightly overweight, strong and healthy. You can also be within the weight guidelines and be weak and unhealthy, or strong and healthy. There are so many variables.
Whilst I'm no longer categorised as underweight, I'm still sometimes called skinny, but I'm stronger than ever and usually stronger than the person judging me.
The fitness industry should be all about encouraging, supporting and inspiring people to be as fit and strong as possible, for as long as possible.
POV Being strong, by the way, is about preventing osteoporosis, preventing falls in older age, preventing and coping with illness and disease better and enjoying life to the full, not aesthetics.
Let's stop the stupid hashtags!