An Open Letter to Weight Loss Coaches

By Elizabeth von Klan, Dietetic Intern

Dear online fitness trainers,

This open letter is inspired by the before and after photos I see saturating my Instagram feed, along with the countless “New Year New You” weight-loss challenges that ramp up this time of year. Progress photos from your clientele are meant to inspire consumers such as myself to be motivated to look like the after photo. However, as I have progressed in my body neutrality journey, I can more clearly see the negative effects of these photos on the psyche of others, and I feel encouraged to speak up on behalf of other people everywhere that feel the shame and immense pressure to fit a certain body type and size to feel accepted. 

“Zap that belly fat in 90 days!” 

“Arm exercises to get you bikini ready by summer!”

“Thunder Thighs to Slim Legs Challenge!”

I know you mean well. Hard work, diligence, and determination are all extremely admirable qualities, and I admire your efforts to influence others to live their best, healthiest lives. 

However, is it possible to still encourage these healthy lifestyle habits without utilizing body shame to sell an often unattainable image of perfection? 

Thankfully scientific studies have uncovered how often weight and size does not necessarily correlate to health status. It is a combination of healthy habits with positive mental health status that contribute to better healthspan, not slim thighs or chiseled abs. 

Also, what happens when life gets in the way of a perfected exercise regimen, and your clientele’s weights fluctuate? Surely, after receiving praise for attaining the all-coveted After photo, will your client feel the shame from not maintaining this figure? As I like to put it, it is not a dream body if it is a nightmare to maintain. 

There is no malice in this note, just a hope for a more body-inclusive fitness community. I truly hope you find a way to market your fitness business and understand yourself better to not use body insecurities as a selling point to gain clients. I am thankful to see that fitness is becoming more weight inclusive, and I hope your fitness practice and others like it will move forward from negative body focus, and one day before and after photos will be a thing of the past. 

Thank you for reading, 

Elizabeth