In today's society, it's easy to get caught up in the unrealistic beauty standards and expectations that surround us. Everywhere we look, we're bombarded with images of perfect bodies, flawless skin, and seemingly effortless weight loss success stories. It's no wonder that many of us feel pressure to conform to these ideals, often leading to a negative body image, low self-esteem, and a host of other mental and physical health issues.

In a traditional fitness mindset, exercise is often viewed as a penalty for eating or a tool to alter your appearance. A body-positive approach reclaims fitness as "joyful movement."

The old paradigm of "lifestyle change" was often rooted in self-loathing. We exercised to burn calories, to "erase" a weekend of eating, or to shrink ourselves into smaller jeans. This approach treats the body as an adversary to be conquered.