Lifestyle

Shake The Haters Off: Why Your Fitness Plan Is Your Business Only

by Rebecca Illson
Stocksy

When it comes to diet and exercise, it seems everyone and their mother has an opinion about what works and what doesn’t.

From CrossFit to clean eating, everyone will offer you an opinion on what you choose to do for your body.

This is particularly frustrating because more often than not, you don’t want to hear what someone else thinks is good or bad for you.

For some, working out and having a healthy, consistent diet is a lifestyle. For others, working out is something that is more of an occasional hobby.

No matter what path you choose to take with your workout and diet, someone will make a comment.

I’ve found that people frequently comment on my diet and exercise habits because they either do not understand why I choose to live the lifestyle I do, or they feel guilty about their own habits.

In reality, what you do for your body shouldn’t matter to anyone else.

If you choose to eat four doughnuts every day and not workout, guess what? That is your choice, no one else’s.

If you are a female powerlifter, more kudos to you. How you want to look and feel is entirely up to you, too.

But, no matter what, the moment you tell someone your activity or diet of choice, he or she will always have a comment, be it good or bad.

People often forget that one of the key components of exercise and diet is that it makes you feel good.

What makes you feel strong, happy and empowered may not make someone else feel that way and vice versa.

We are not all the same and ultimately, your diet and workouts should be specifically tailored to you and whatever goals you have set for yourself.

For me, lifting weights and flexible dieting (aka, counting my macro-nutrients) makes me feel good.

The sense of pride and accomplishment I get after achieving a new personal best on squats or barbell rows is something that’s really hard for me to beat.

Flexible dieting has allowed me to live a normal life without ever feeling as though I am on a diet.

But, without fail, every time lifting weights gets mentioned in a conversation, I am told to watch what I lift and how much I lift because I’ll get “too manly.”

Apart from the fact that it is literally not possible for me to become “too manly,” why do others care?

If that happened to be my goal, let me strive to accomplish it.

The same thing goes for what I eat; the moment I eat something considered “unhealthy,” people immediately tell me my diet will be ruined.

Well, I didn’t ask for your opinions, and I certainly do not care to hear them.

If you want to lift heavy weights, go for it! If you want to run a marathon, do it. Paleo diet enthusiast? That’s fantastic!

If you have been lucky enough to find an activity or a diet that motivates you to work out and eat healthfully, then own it.

Stop caring what anyone else thinks about your workout regimen and lifestyle.

When it comes to health, the only person you need to satisfy is you.

No one else will love your body as much as you do.

The goals you have set for yourself belong to you, and there is nothing more empowering than accomplishing an objective you have set for yourself.

At the end of the day, your workout and diet should leave you happy and fulfilled.

The next time someone offers an unsolicited opinion in regard to your workout or diet habits, explain why it leaves you feeling so great.

After all, you are the only person who has to take care of your body.

You do you and enjoy every minute of it.