EMPOWERING WOMEN ON NATIONAL FITNESS DAY

In a recent Instagram post, Nadiya Hussein, TV presenter and winner of ‘The Great British Bake Off’, shared a troubling experience that resonates with many women today. After joining a local women’s gym, Nadiya received an email that left her feeling disheartened and angry. The email guilt-shamed her and others for enjoying a few too many ice creams over the summer, suggesting they had likely gained weight and should, therefore, join their gym.

Nadiya’s response was powerful and on point: “There is no need to shame women to get them to go through your door. Shaming women so you can benefit financially is just the worst thing ever… We should be empowering women, not taking them down.”

As a health and fitness professional working specifically with women, I couldn’t agree more with Nadiya. Many businesses are pushing their transformational programmes with a focus on before-and-after photos, promoting the idea that true health is defined by body shape and the number on the scale.

It’s time we created a world where women can embrace their natural shapes and be proud of their bodies, wobbles and all, understanding that how they feel is what truly matters.

We need to shift the narrative in the fitness industry. It’s not about shaming women into action; it’s about empowering them to find strength in how they feel and the lives they lead. As Nadiya wisely pointed out, “We should be empowering women, not taking them down.” At We Are Fit Attitude, that’s exactly what we strive to do every day. 

HOW TO INTRODUCE STRENGTH TRAINING INTO YOUR EXERCISE REGIME

Exercise, when prescribed correctly, can alleviate joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, low confidence, energy dips, and mobility issues. However, it’s crucial that women are introduced to strength training in a way that meets them at their current level and ability, allowing them to build strength at their own pace.

Pushing a woman too far before she’s ready can lead to a loss of confidence or, worse still, injury. While these women don’t need to be treated as incompetent, they do need a safe and supportive path to learn how to strength train properly. Strength training isn’t just about lifting the heaviest weights—bodyweight exercises, a chair, and a set of dumbbells are excellent starting points.

Where to start? Do a Google search to find a gym that offers strength training and visit them. Ask how they support total beginners, and remember that it’s perfectly fine to start at any stage. The person you’re speaking with once didn’t know how to squat or lift a weight either. If the gym only shows you how to use machines, it might not be worth the investment. While there are many beginner workouts on YouTube, they can’t check your form. A personal trainer is an excellent option if you have the funds, but you can also explore independent gyms or online programmes like We Are Fit Attitude (WAFA), where you’re fully coached live in real-time with group classes among women only.

These environments are key to making strength training safe, fun, and effective, allowing women to progress clearly from the basics to more advanced levels—so that the result is they positively grow and glow! Ultimately, it’s about being seen again and understanding that ageing isn’t a barrier. Women can be unstoppable with age, rather than age stopping them.

Anna Jenkins is the founder of a women-only health and fitness club called We Are Fit Attitude (WAFA), dedicated to empowering women to bring back their strength and confidence.