04/09/2026
Between the school run, a mini gym session and getting to my first work session of the day, I passed through Asda to pick up a banana, a little fuel to keep me going. As I was at the till, the staff member gave me a compliment, ‘I’ve seen you before, out running and in here, you always look so healthy, so strong, you’ve got a lovely body!’
I was a little taken aback. It was unexpected but also did feel good… we chatted for a little bit about exercise and training. And off I went for my day. The interaction made me smile.
I’m generally wary of commenting on people’s bodies. That weight loss or weight gain you envy or judge could be the result of the grief someone is carrying, trauma they’ve been through or an illness they’re fighting. You just never know…
But this felt different. I wasn’t being complimented for being small, for taking up less space. She saw my strength!
Years ago, when I was caught up in toxic dieting and trying to be as small as possible, the compliments I so desperately wanted would have been all about being slim, the weight I’d lost. And I did receive plenty of them, lots of envy for my small frame. But it wasn’t enough. I didn’t feel enough.
Now, as I gear up for my second Gymrace event tomorrow, my goals and the way I feel about my body are totally different.
I want to lift heavier. Be stronger, fitter. I’m excited to see what my body can do.
And chasing that is SO much more fulfilling than chasing a smaller body or a lower number on a scale.
That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the physical changes that come with training. I can see the strength I’m growing. Looking strong is a by-product of being strong. It’s an added bonus rather than the end goal. It feels good to feel comfortable in my own skin and go about my day, I can enjoy movement without worrying how my body looks. This version of myself knows that my value isn’t defined by my size.
And I genuinely love seeing more women embracing that too, feeling empowered by strength in others -fuelling themselves, lifting weights, running, moving to feel good, building muscle and wanting to feel capable and powerful.
For so long, women were encouraged to chase being as small as they could be, to take up less space in this world. But now women are seeing what they can gain from fitness… and I love it!