Jameela Jamil Says Exercise Isn’t About Weight Loss
A healthy lifestyle is just as important as a healthy diet. Whatever you can do to keep your body moving, whether it be taking walks or strength training, is beneficial for not only muscle growth and weight maintenance, but also your mind. And The Good Place actor Jameela Jamil just addressed how the importance of exercise goes beyond the scale.
In a recent episode of her podcast I Weigh with Jameela Jamil, Jamil hints at a new project she’s working on to “get people moving.” From there, she digs into how exercise is more than just about physical fitness and that its benefits exceed body results.
“It’s not about weight loss,” she explains. “It’s not about calories in, calories out. It is democratizing exercise.”
From body type to activity level, fitness does not have to look a certain way. That is why accessible exercise is so important, as it allows people of most forms of mobility to be able to include activity in their daily routines. Plus, exercise being accessible for all means that it’s accepted for all. The gym can be an intimidating place for those just starting their fitness journey, so having spaces that are inclusive and welcoming to beginners is essential.
Jamil goes on to explain that exercise is commonly linked to the diet industry, which adds to this pressure that weight loss should be prioritized in health goals, when it doesn’t always have to be.
“They have not only excluded all of us, but they priced everyone out of being able to exercise,” she says on diet culture. “They’ve made people feel ashamed that they’re not even fit enough yet to start exercising. There are pictures of people with 18 abs on the walls of the gymnasiums, and I’m f*****g sick of it.”
Health and wellness comes in all shapes and sizes, so we fully agree with the actor’s sentiment. And it comes in all abilities, as Jamil opens up about her diagnosis that has made her want to take action.
“I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. That means that sometimes I don’t always have the movement that I wish I could have, but I find different ways to move my body all of the time,” she explains. “So I’m building an accessible, like, fully inclusive movement.” While we don’t know the exact project Jamil is working on, she emphasizes that it highlights the connection between movement and mental health. We can’t wait to see what the star has in store. It’s crucial to enjoy your exercise to stay consistent, so do what you love—running, lifting or even watching TV on a walking pad—when you can for an active groove.
link