Before you get started with the course, it will be helpful for us to have a defined set of terms. This will help you understand how I use certain words and phrases if the body positive context is unfamiliar to you.

Body Positive (body positivity): If you're familiar with the body positivity movement, you may know that this way of thinking accepts all bodies as they are. Body positive fitness is a way of thinking about fitness that doesn't exclude people from participating based on their body size, shape, or configuration. This doesn't necessarily mean that "positive" means you have to be happy about your body all the time. For me, body positivity is all about presence, so when I use the term "body positive," I'm referring to a way of thinking that includes as many people as possible.

Exercise: Any intentional movement. I encourage you to consider this broadly, from walking the dog to running a marathon to gardening to climbing a mountain and everything in between.

Fitness: For the purpose of this course and all the work that I do, fitness is an exercise practice. It's not a goal or a reward or something you do to achieve a certain type of body. If you make exercise a regular part of your life, you are a fit person!

Health (healthy): the overall wholeness of your mind, body, and spirit. Health is more than your diet and exercise program. It feels different for everyone, and what health means will change for each person throughout their lives. You are not obligated to be healthy to be worthy of love and care, but many people have fitness goals as a way to improve their health.

Self-Care: anything you do to attend to your health and wellbeing. This can include exercise, seeing a mental health professional, taking prescribed medication regularly, getting your nails done every week, keeping a journaling practice, having lunch with a friend, setting boundaries, turning off your phone at a certain time of day, wearing your seatbelt, praying, meal prep, taking a vacation, volunteering...the possibilities are endless!

Shame-based Messaging: any health, wellness, or fitness messaging that bases its premise on telling you that you need to fix something about yourself. This can include online "fitness inspiration" memes, advertisements, social media posts and blogs, or any other message that makes you feel bad about yourself in order to sell you something.