fitness, health, and gender

to celebrate the start of this new year, i felt like i would share some of the things i personally learned and some of the challenges i think many of us face as queer people.

largely i think we are discouraged and pushed out of spaces promoting healthy behavior and exercises. these spaces are often co-opted by conservative and anti-trans rhetoric and many of us have suffered from fitness/gym related trauma due to childhood bullying and other negative experiences. the first photo is of me the other day, a full year since i decided to quit vaping, try my best to eat healthy, and exercise regularly. i used to feel like there was no point to these things, that they were not “for me.” what i have learned over the past year is that movement, wellness, and exercise are vital to our wellbeing. i grew up being made fun of in gym classes and feared physical activity for most of my life. this past year of strength training and cardio has taught me that not only i am i strong, but i am also deeply deserving of a safe space to move my body. as we all should be! so if you are an able-bodied person who has always wanted to be active but was scared of judgement just know that it is worth pushing past that fear and doing it! all it takes is a start!