Gaining Weight Is Cool

by hannahandfitness

#gainingweightiscool.

It’s so refreshing to see that, finally, people are going against society and social media’s views of how women should be – skinny, beautiful, toned and cardio obsessed. Instead a more realistic and bolder approach has been trending on social media these past few days and that is, ‘Gaining weight is cool’ AKA, #gainingweightiscool

Vlogger and Instagram fitness girl, @ariannadantone recently took to social media and started the trend, #gainingweightiscool. She states the realities of the fitness lifestyle and how under estimated it is to achieve and maintain social medias look of ‘skinny/toned’.

“I didn’t gain weight because ‘thin bodies aren’t in’ and ‘thick bodies are the way to be’. I gained weight because eating 1,200 calories a day, being in the gym 7 days a week, and tracking everything I consume was not maintainable for me.”

She continues with…

“I gained this weight because I like to fuel my body, workout for fun and not as a chore, and because THIS IS MAINTAINABLE FOR ME.”

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Since then, over 4,000 girls have taken to social media (including myself) to share their own journey about how the look of being thin, rocking abs, and working out almost everyday really isn’t the best mentality to be in – nor is it a realistic lifestyle (to be in continually).

Gaining weight is cool

“Gaining weight is cool” – My journey this year.

For me, I love this message. I think it’s exactly what social media and society need more of – positive and realistic ways to approach fitness. In fact, I wish this kind of message was around when I began my fitness journey almost three years ago. It would have saved me a lot of time, wasted energy from excess cardio, fad diets, low carb meals and poor education. Back then, the look of being ‘skinny’ and rocking hardcore abs was very much the ‘in’ look and unfortunately, I took to the trend and worked my butt of to get to the way I looked.

Of course, I loved the way I looked in the left photo (above). I was amazed with the determination I had, not only with my fitness but keeping on track of my eating. It’s easy to get to the gym everyday (well, most of the time) but keeping on track of your food is the hardest thing. So in respect to that, I was impressed with my determination. However, for me it just wasn’t maintainable as a lifestyle. I stuck to a treat meal once a week, I worked out 6 days a week, I done HIIT three times a week along with 2 LISS sessions and I made sure I never missed a day. To me, that’s a lifestyle leading towards a unhealthy mindset – it just isn’t reality. Reality is about having some chocolate and not feeling guilty. It’s about eating a whole pizza on a saturday night and then asking “What’s for dessert?”. It’s about missing sessions and not batting an eyelid about it. To me, that’s a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Now, roughly 6 months after the photo on the left I still continue to life heavy, I still continue to eat healthy but I’m so much more relaxed. I’ll have some chocolate if I want to, I’ll stuff my face with a whole large pizza if I want to and I’ll miss a workout if I want to. I no longer obsess about food or what i’m going to be eating and most importantly, I’m much more happier within myself before. Sure, i’ve gained weight and loss my definition but you know what? Being healthy inside is just as important as being healthy on the outside.

Now, please don’t misunderstand the title of this new trend and think that gaining weight is the new fitness image, because it isn’t. Fitness doesn’t have a certain ‘look’ to it. The title simply represents the notion of loving yourself for whatever shape you are. Don’t fall behind the social media trend and think that you have to be skinny to be ‘healthy’. Health comes in all shapes and sizes – big, small, round, lean, tall, petite.

So, this is a message to all; If you’re in good shape that you’re happy with, eating well and exercising to a healthy level than you’ve already got it figured out, and that, well that is pretty damn healthy – inside and out.

Hannahandfitness,

x

PSTTT, click the girls photo’s above to head to their Instagram pages.

 

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0 comment

Laur January 6, 2017 - 12:52 pm

LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! Im trying to gain weigt become healthy happy fit strong and enjoy food and life again! Hard when everyone around you is on the need to loose weight eat lettuce live on 500 cal ect thing! Fab to have this gaining weight posts dont feel allown now! And you look amazing now not just in body but in life more happy less stress and having to do things! Now you enjoy life go with the flow thats what life about and also pizza and doughnuts ha ha. If have any advice for me id love to hear it cos not got much of a idea really! Thanks for a fab blog x

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hannahandfitness January 6, 2017 - 2:05 pm

Ah that was so lovely to hear! I’m glad you’re pushing on through despite your surroundings. I honestly would just say ‘ignore everyone else’! You know what YOU want and that is all that matters! Also, the fitness community online is massive and everybody is SO friendly so get yourself on there if you aren’t already 🙂 x

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Laura January 24, 2017 - 11:10 am

Thankyou so so much how canni join the fitness community? Also i track macros and stress if go over! But i have to keep in mind this app doesnt know me as a person doesnt know my situation all it know is my height current and goal is to gain! Still hard though and this is why it think apps like this can fuel a eating disorder more!

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hannahandfitness January 24, 2017 - 6:45 pm

Do you have Instagram? if you do then just use hashtags similar to fitness, fits, strength feed etc and find similar fitness accounts 🙂

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Laura January 25, 2017 - 11:04 am

Yep i do ill take alook thankyou

Manny January 23, 2017 - 7:40 pm

This is a lovely post Hannah! I think it’s really easy to get all caught up when it comes to losing weight. First it’s just a few pounds, then it becomes a few stones and before you know it you’ve developed an unhealthy association with food.

I track my macros to be aware of how much carbs I consume – I had pregnancy-related diabetes so my risk of Type 2 diabetes is very high and to make sure I’m getting plenty of protein as I want to put on muscle this year! 🙂 I think if people don’t have any health conditions that requires them to alter their diet, eat what you want (in moderation) and be happy!

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hannahandfitness January 24, 2017 - 9:54 am

That is so lovely to hear! You’ve really made my morning 🙂 I’m glad you can relate and that you’re on track to be the best, healthy version of you!

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