Why I no longer weigh or measure my clients
(CW: disordered eating)
Truth time…
As part of my assessment process as a physiotherapist and postpartum fitness coach, I used to weigh my clients, and take measurements of their waist circumference. I would use this information as objective “progress markers” in their time working with me.
Even when I thought I was doing it for “health” reasons, I always felt weird and awkward about it.
I thought it was because I could sense my clients’ discomfort (which was probably true). But after doing so much learning/ unlearning over these past 3.5 years, I realized it also made ME feel very uncomfortable.
A bit about me…
I come from a history of disordered eating. As a young gymnast I engaged in very restrictive eating patterns. This evolved into binge/ restrict behaviour in my early 20s to mid 30s.
And the tricky thing about diet culture is that I was engaging in these behaviours to be “healthy”. Meanwhile, I would get obsessive about my food choices, say “no” to certain foods when I was out with friends/ family, check calorie counts on menus, and was often very irritable. So in the end, I may have “looked” healthy according to society’s standards, but my mental health was not ok.
When I made the shift to break up with diet culture…
After my daughter Teagan, I decided to go on my 1 millionth fad diet (not actually, but it may as well have been). Not to get into too many details, but this was my rock bottom. I almost had to call 9-1-1 with how awful I felt. And this was at 10-weeks postpartum. I’m crying right now typing this because I just want to go back in time and give that Rhonda a hug.
(If it’s not too much of a trigger for you and you want to hear more about this story, listen to this podcast episode on the Diet Diaries and this Pelvic Health and Fitness Podcast episode with my friend Jordana).
After hitting rock bottom, I decided I would NEVER go on a diet again in my lifetime. And I began my healing journey with food, exercise and my body.
What helped me…
The most meaningful change happened for me with therapy, journaling, curating my IG feed, reading books and listening to podcasts.
Here are a few resources/ people to follow to get you started:
What I learned…
I learned about fatphobia, thin privilege, the thin ideal and its ties to racism, fat stigma in the medical field, and how using body size as a measure of health may be more harmful than helpful.
This is when I also decided I would NEVER weigh or measure my clients again. Or use their body size as a measure of progress to assess whether my fitness programs were “working”.
This is also why I will NEVER use before and after pictures in my marketing material. I will also NEVER use MY body as a billboard for my business.
Important side note:
I fully acknowledge my unearned privilege as I discuss body image. I live in a body that closely matches what society deems “acceptable” - white, thin and able-bodied. Yes, I struggle with body image. But no, I don’t face fatphobic discrimination on the daily.
To my current/ future postpartum clients:
I believe in body autonomy, so if your desire is weight loss, I will absolutely give you space to voice your concerns and goals. AND I will help challenge you to look for other "whys" with exercise.
Will I help you feel stronger? Absolutely!
Will I help you feel empowered and confident in your body? 100%!
Will I provide you with strategies on weight loss and fat loss? No I will not.
This is a boundary in my business that I will not cross. Not only for my client’s sake, but for my own. My disordered eating history runs too deep and it’s not worth it to mess with all the healing I have done.
I feel confident that I can support you in other ways and help you see progress without using body size as a measure of success.
Where to now?
If this resonates with you, I just want you to know that you’re not alone. And there is help.
If you’re looking for a support in your fitness journey with zero focus on weight loss, I would love to work with you.
About the Author
Rhonda Chamberlain (PT) is a mom to 2 girls, physiotherapist and postpartum fitness coach.
She helps busy moms return to exercise with realistic, sustainable fitness plans that they can FINALLY stick with!
She has been practicing as a physiotherapist since 2010. She started her own virtual physiotherapy and fitness coaching business in May 2020 with a focus on postpartum women.
She attained her Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism (P&PA) Coach Certificate in March 2020 and she has continued to learn and expand into this specialty since.
Her mission is to help busy moms return to exercise feeling supported and encouraged. She can help you to ditch the all-or-nothing mindset and show you that it is possible to fit exercise into your busy #momlife!
