{"id":444333,"date":"2026-07-16T09:52:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T07:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=444333"},"modified":"2026-07-16T09:52:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T07:52:40","slug":"pas-peur-etre-la-plus-grosse-salle-de-sport-elle-remet-question-prejuges-poids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/not-afraid-to-be-the-biggest-gym-it-challenges-weight-prejudices-444333","title":{"rendered":"&quot;I&#39;m not afraid of being the biggest person at the gym&quot;: she challenges prejudices about weight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Walking into a gym can be intimidating, especially when you&#39;re worried about what others will think. Content creator Ashley (@lightenupash) proves that it&#39;s possible to change your perspective. With a message that&#39;s both sincere and encouraging, she reminds us that working out has nothing to do with your clothing size.<\/p>\n<h2> A message that speaks to thousands of people<\/h2>\n<p> On social media, the content creator known as @lightenupash shared a thought that quickly resonated with many users. Her idea is simple: being the curviest or fattest person at the gym doesn&#39;t scare her. What really worries her, she explains, is not taking care of her health.<\/p>\n<p>For Ashley (@lightenupash), the issue goes far beyond physical appearance. It&#39;s primarily about feeling good, preserving one&#39;s well-being, and fully enjoying life with loved ones. This message moves away from discourses focused on performance or physical transformation, refocusing on an essential motivation: taking care of oneself. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DVy1X6IEon3\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\"> View this post on Instagram <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"> <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DVy1X6IEon3\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by LightenUpAsh (@lightenupash)<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> Gym fear is real.<\/h2>\n<p> Her story also highlights a well-known phenomenon: the fear of walking into a gym. Often called &quot;gym timidation,&quot; this apprehension affects many people, especially those who feel they don&#39;t fit the image often portrayed in the fitness world. The stress before a first session, the fear of being watched, or not knowing how to use the machines can become real obstacles. Ashley (@lightenupash) admits to having felt these emotions, reminding everyone that they are perfectly legitimate.<\/p>\n<h2> The gaze of others is often less present than one might imagine.<\/h2>\n<p> Over time, Ashley (@lightenupash) says she&#39;s realized that most people at the gym are primarily focused on their own workout. Everyone is pursuing their own goals, program, and pace, without paying as much attention to others as one might think. Her advice is therefore not to let the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\/peur-jugement-souffrez-peut-etre-scopophobie-317526\">fear of judgment<\/a> prevent you from starting. Everyone deserves to take care of their body, health, and well-being, without having to wait to conform to some standard.<\/p>\n<h2> Every silhouette has its place<\/h2>\n<p> Beyond her personal experience, this statement invites us to question some still prevalent prejudices. The idea that only certain body types are &quot;legitimate&quot; in a gym can discourage people who simply want to get moving, gain confidence, or adopt a regular exercise routine. However, a gym is precisely a place where everyone comes to progress according to their needs and desires. There is no &quot;ideal figure&quot; for starting a physical activity, only different paths and personal goals (or lack thereof).<\/p>\n<h2> An invitation to move forward at your own pace<\/h2>\n<p> The success of this story shows that many people recognize themselves in this fear of others&#39; opinions. By authentically sharing her experience, Ashley (@lightenupash) encourages everyone to prioritize their well-being over comparisons.<\/p>\n<p>His message thus underscores a crucial idea: taking care of yourself is a right, not a reward. Regardless of your physique, fitness level, or experience, you have every right to be in a gym. The important thing is not to look like others, but to build a positive relationship with your body and progress, one step at a time, at your own pace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Walking into a gym can be intimidating, especially when you&#39;re worried about what others will think. Content creator...","protected":false},"author":8264,"featured_media":444334,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-444333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bodypositive"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Je-nai-pas-peur-detre-la-plus-grosse-a-la-salle-de-sport_-_-elle-remet-en-question-les-prejuges-s-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Je-nai-pas-peur-detre-la-plus-grosse-a-la-salle-de-sport_-_-elle-remet-en-question-les-prejuges-s-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Je-nai-pas-peur-detre-la-plus-grosse-a-la-salle-de-sport_-_-elle-remet-en-question-les-prejuges-s.jpg","author":{"name":"Ana\u00eblle Gayon","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Agayon-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":6140,"name":"Body positive","slug":"bodypositive","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6312,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Body positive section of The Body Optimist celebrates every body: plus-size or slim, young or older, disabled, marked by stretch marks, scars or illness. Portraits, personal stories and explainers question beauty standards to help you feel more at peace with your appearance, with no pressure to lose weight or to love yourself no matter what.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Body positive section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beauty standards<\/strong>: stretch marks, cellulite, hip dips, body hair and wrinkles, demystified, as in our story on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/hip-dips-heres-why-hollow-hips-are-an-asset-not-a-flaw-428176\">hip dips, a natural feature rather than a flaw<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portraits<\/strong>: plus-size models, athletes, women over sixty and disabled people who are changing who gets seen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and society<\/strong>: fashion that doesn\u2019t cater to every size, the constant scrutiny of women\u2019s bellies, echoing our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Self-acceptance<\/strong>: quotes, exercises and stories to make peace with your reflection, alongside our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is body positivity and where does it come from?<\/h2>\n<p>Body positivity is a movement built on the idea that every body deserves respect and representation, regardless of size, skin color, age, gender or disability. Its roots lie in the fat acceptance movement, which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s to fight weight discrimination. The term later took off on social media, at the risk of being co-opted by brands and refocused on bodies close to the norm. Going back to its activist origins is a reminder that it\u2019s not only about \u201cloving yourself\u201d but also about fighting fatphobia.<\/p>\n<h2>Body positivity vs. body neutrality: what\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n<p>Body neutrality takes appearance out of the spotlight: instead of striving to love your body, you respect it for what it lets you do, such as walking, dancing or resting. It suits people for whom the pressure to \u201clove yourself\u201d adds stress, or whose relationship with their body has been shaped by illness or an eating disorder. The two approaches aren\u2019t opposites. On tough days, a few habits help: unfollow accounts that make you feel guilty, wear clothes that fit the body you have today, and thank your body for something it did rather than judging how it looks. Here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/why-body-neutrality-is-increasingly-appealing-to-women-446685\">why body neutrality appeals to more and more women<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Our commitment<\/h2>\n<p>Accepting all bodies has been at the heart of our editorial line since our beginnings in plus-size fashion. We show bodies that are rarely seen without reducing them to a \u201cbefore and after\u201d or a heroic feat, and we reject any message that equates health with thinness. Our portraits let people speak for themselves, and never describe anyone as a \u201cflaw to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/she-is-told-to-correct-her-asymmetrical-chest-to-choose-to-love-her-as-she-is-428203\">Embracing asymmetrical breasts<\/a>: the story of a woman who was told to \u201ccorrect\u201d her chest and chose not to.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/nose-stomach-arms-how-complexes-shape-life-choices-432126\">How body insecurities shape our choices<\/a>: nose, belly, arms, and the decisions we make around them.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/this-plus-size-model-denounces-the-silent-demise-of-inclusive-fashion-431725\">The quiet retreat of inclusive fashion<\/a>: a plus-size model calls out the industry for leaving bigger bodies behind.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/taboos-surrounding-stretch-marks-model-kelly-brook-decides-to-speak-out-428667\">Breaking the stretch mark taboo<\/a>: why one model decided to speak openly about hers.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/im-not-a-fit-girl-she-challenges-preconceived-ideas-about-the-athletic-body-447083\">Athletic bodies come in every shape<\/a>: a woman who challenges assumptions about what a sporty body looks like.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Does accepting your body mean neglecting your health?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The movement challenges the idea that thinness proves good health and that fat people deserve less respect or care. It calls for health care free of weight stigma and aligns with the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach, which focuses on habits rather than the number on the scale.<\/p>\n<h3>Do you have to love your body every day?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Self-acceptance doesn\u2019t demand constant love: it means every body, including yours, deserves respect, even on days when you don\u2019t like it much. Body neutrality offers a gentler path for those days, focused on what your body does rather than how it looks.<\/p>\n<h3>What does \u201cbopo\u201d mean?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cBopo\u201d is short for body positive or body positivity. It\u2019s widely used on social media, especially as a hashtag, to share unretouched photos and messages of self-acceptance. By extension, it also refers to the content and creators who champion body diversity.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a>, family life in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\">Parenting<\/a>, and body diversity on the runway in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/mannequinat-inclusif\">Inclusive modeling<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":6138,"count":679,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6140,"category_count":679,"category_description":"<p>The Body positive section of The Body Optimist celebrates every body: plus-size or slim, young or older, disabled, marked by stretch marks, scars or illness. Portraits, personal stories and explainers question beauty standards to help you feel more at peace with your appearance, with no pressure to lose weight or to love yourself no matter what.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Body positive section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beauty standards<\/strong>: stretch marks, cellulite, hip dips, body hair and wrinkles, demystified, as in our story on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/hip-dips-heres-why-hollow-hips-are-an-asset-not-a-flaw-428176\">hip dips, a natural feature rather than a flaw<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portraits<\/strong>: plus-size models, athletes, women over sixty and disabled people who are changing who gets seen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and society<\/strong>: fashion that doesn\u2019t cater to every size, the constant scrutiny of women\u2019s bellies, echoing our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Self-acceptance<\/strong>: quotes, exercises and stories to make peace with your reflection, alongside our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is body positivity and where does it come from?<\/h2>\n<p>Body positivity is a movement built on the idea that every body deserves respect and representation, regardless of size, skin color, age, gender or disability. Its roots lie in the fat acceptance movement, which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s to fight weight discrimination. The term later took off on social media, at the risk of being co-opted by brands and refocused on bodies close to the norm. Going back to its activist origins is a reminder that it\u2019s not only about \u201cloving yourself\u201d but also about fighting fatphobia.<\/p>\n<h2>Body positivity vs. body neutrality: what\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n<p>Body neutrality takes appearance out of the spotlight: instead of striving to love your body, you respect it for what it lets you do, such as walking, dancing or resting. It suits people for whom the pressure to \u201clove yourself\u201d adds stress, or whose relationship with their body has been shaped by illness or an eating disorder. The two approaches aren\u2019t opposites. On tough days, a few habits help: unfollow accounts that make you feel guilty, wear clothes that fit the body you have today, and thank your body for something it did rather than judging how it looks. Here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/why-body-neutrality-is-increasingly-appealing-to-women-446685\">why body neutrality appeals to more and more women<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Our commitment<\/h2>\n<p>Accepting all bodies has been at the heart of our editorial line since our beginnings in plus-size fashion. We show bodies that are rarely seen without reducing them to a \u201cbefore and after\u201d or a heroic feat, and we reject any message that equates health with thinness. Our portraits let people speak for themselves, and never describe anyone as a \u201cflaw to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/she-is-told-to-correct-her-asymmetrical-chest-to-choose-to-love-her-as-she-is-428203\">Embracing asymmetrical breasts<\/a>: the story of a woman who was told to \u201ccorrect\u201d her chest and chose not to.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/nose-stomach-arms-how-complexes-shape-life-choices-432126\">How body insecurities shape our choices<\/a>: nose, belly, arms, and the decisions we make around them.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/this-plus-size-model-denounces-the-silent-demise-of-inclusive-fashion-431725\">The quiet retreat of inclusive fashion<\/a>: a plus-size model calls out the industry for leaving bigger bodies behind.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/taboos-surrounding-stretch-marks-model-kelly-brook-decides-to-speak-out-428667\">Breaking the stretch mark taboo<\/a>: why one model decided to speak openly about hers.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\/im-not-a-fit-girl-she-challenges-preconceived-ideas-about-the-athletic-body-447083\">Athletic bodies come in every shape<\/a>: a woman who challenges assumptions about what a sporty body looks like.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Does accepting your body mean neglecting your health?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The movement challenges the idea that thinness proves good health and that fat people deserve less respect or care. It calls for health care free of weight stigma and aligns with the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach, which focuses on habits rather than the number on the scale.<\/p>\n<h3>Do you have to love your body every day?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Self-acceptance doesn\u2019t demand constant love: it means every body, including yours, deserves respect, even on days when you don\u2019t like it much. Body neutrality offers a gentler path for those days, focused on what your body does rather than how it looks.<\/p>\n<h3>What does \u201cbopo\u201d mean?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cBopo\u201d is short for body positive or body positivity. It\u2019s widely used on social media, especially as a hashtag, to share unretouched photos and messages of self-acceptance. By extension, it also refers to the content and creators who champion body diversity.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a>, family life in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\">Parenting<\/a>, and body diversity on the runway in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/mannequinat-inclusif\">Inclusive modeling<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Body positive","category_nicename":"bodypositive","category_parent":6138}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8264"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444333"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":446146,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444333\/revisions\/446146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/444334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=444333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=444333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}