Unpopular opinion but telling people that “fat is not a feeling” isn’t actually helpful

Hear me out on this one…

Hearing people say that they “feel fat” is incredibly common in fitness spaces. As a coach and psychologist working in the industry, I’ve heard this countless times from clients. I’ve also felt fat many many many times.

Another thing I’ve heard a million times is coaches telling their clients/the internet that “fat isn’t a feeling”.

And if you ever have had that feeling of “feeling fat”, be honest with me: how helpful has it actually been to have someone tell you that “fat isn’t a feeling”?

My guess is that it might make you pause and reflect for a second, but actually it won’t do much at all in terms of helping you feel less shit in that moment.

And that’s what I’m trying to get across here: if someone describes feeling fat, and yet we turn around and tell them that “fat isn’t a feeling”, it completely invalidates their experience and actually can make them feel worse…

“Because if fat isn’t a feeling, then why is it that I still feel fat?!”.

See what I mean?

If you experience that feeling, I’d encourage you to get curious and ask yourself what that is about – what does that feeling look like? Where do you experience it? Does it make sense in context? What function does it serve you?

& if you’re a fitness coach and a client describes feeling fat, instead of giving them a lazy and dismissive response like “fAt IsNt A fEeLiNg”, get curious with them too.