The truth is: There are different kinds of fitspiration. There are different approaches that all call themselves the same thing. And a common mistake that people make is not distinguishing between them. Because not all fitspo is bad. But some of it actually inspires more unhealthy habits than healthy ones. So be media literate and body-positive enough to know what you’re doing and why.

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Fat person looking absolutely happy

We all love a good, body-positive message, right? That is, if the woman behind the message is relatively thin. If she’s fat, or writes positively about bodies of all sizes, abilities, and more, she gets a tidal wave of criticism. Why? There’s a massive, toxic industry behind it. Here’s how and why we should reject the absurd notion that only weight loss means happiness.

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So much of what we find attractive is determined by the media we consume. This media has presented a very particular definition of beauty, part of which is thinness. So how do we, as body-positive feminists, move past this generalized and restrictive definition of beauty and start to find the beauty in fat? Watch Golda Poretsky present some helpful hints and tips for beginning this process!

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The individuals, companies, and media outlets responsible for the clamor of the War on Obesity would have us think about nothing more than the alleged “risks” of being fat. The last thing they want is for anyone to consider all the ways that the campaign has damaged the lives of fat people. Check out what six kickass fat activists have to say on the matter.

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I have become so accustomed to calling myself fat – and fat being a word that I associate with pride and joy – that at times, I forget how radical (and scary) an act it truly is. And I think that when we make room for only the most radical people or the most radical vocabulary, we leave many people behind. So I explored this feeling through conversations with women about what other words they love in describing their big bodies.

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“Being thin isn’t a privilege!” If you’ve reacted to the term “thin privilege” in this way, perhaps it’s time to examine what thin privilege actually is and why it’s just so hard for people to acknowledge.

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Thinspiration — images created and used to inspire its consumers to be thin — is now plastered all over every social media website. It isn’t confined to the realm of eating disorders anymore. It’s mainstream. And yet we’re not talking to consumers about it. But how do we talk to our friends, children, and students about it without being at war with them? Here’s a place to start.

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Unless you know queer men or you are one yourself, you probably have no idea just how many queer men struggle with eating disorders, exercise disorders, and/or incredibly negative body image. Fatphobia in gay male spaces is a social phenomenon, and it runs deep. This is a conversation we need to have both as queer activists and as feminists. Here’s why.

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“Lose 20 pounds, and you’ll feel better.” “If you started exercising, this wouldn’t be a problem.” If you aren’t thin, chances are you’ve gone to the doctor’s office about a lingering cold, or a hurt elbow and had to listen to comments like these from your doctor. These situations can be awkward, and triggering. So can we handle them in the moment?

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I like my body! I may even love my body! More days than not, I look at my reflection and smile with gratitude. And this is a huge deal – because for the majority of my life, I wanted to crawl out of my own skin. It was a long and complicated process that has taken me nearly two years of hard work, but here are some of the major factors that led me to where I am today.

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It seems that every year around this time, I get gazillions of e-mails from folks who are nervous about the holidays. Explaining to your family that you don’t want to know the number of calories in pecan pie, or that – yes – you have put on a little weight, and it’s totally okay, may not be your idea of a fun holiday. So what can you do to survive through it? I’ve got some ideas.

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Here’s the thing: Fat-shaming is not about health. And navigating a health issue while being fat (or supporting someone who is) can be a difficult journey. But realize that there is hope and that you deserve to be treated with respect by all health professionals. So how, exactly, can we navigate fat-shaming from health professionals when it’s not the fat’s fault?

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There’s a midpoint between the lazy and feminist portions of my brain that wants to say, “This thing is feminist because I like it.” But I can’t do that. Because then I wouldn’t have to be critical. This is the problem I have with centering conversations around whether something is feminist: It’s the wrong question to be asking about feminism.

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