Sorry Diet Culture, but we are too busy building strength and self love!

At PDXSTRENGTH, we believe in breaking free from the toxic gym culture that perpetuates the idea that weight loss and calorie counting should be the primary focus of fitness. We prioritize fostering a healthy relationship with food and exercise rather than promoting restrictive diets or weight-centric goals. In many fitness spaces, coaches often prioritize weight loss over overall well-being, putting clients on strict diets and pushing them to burn as many calories as possible. This approach not only creates a negative relationship with food and exercise but also fails to address the holistic aspects of health. At PDXSTRENGTH, we reject this harmful mindset and instead focus on promoting body positivity, self-acceptance, and overall well-being.

In addition to fostering a healthy relationship with food, we also prioritize exercise as a means to feel good and improve overall well-being, rather than solely as a tool for weight loss. Our coaches focus on functional fitness, helping individuals build strength, flexibility, and endurance to support their daily activities and enhance their quality of life. We offer a variety of classes and training programs that cater to different interests and abilities, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and empowered at our gym. At PDXSTRENGTH, we understand that each person’s journey is unique, and we celebrate diversity in body shapes, sizes, and abilities. We create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and supported, free from judgment or unrealistic expectations.

Our coaches prioritize mental health and self-care, encouraging individuals to listen to their bodies, set realistic goals, and celebrate their achievements without comparing themselves to others. In conclusion, PDXSTRENGTH is an anti-diet culture gym that rejects the toxic mindset of weight loss and calorie counting. We prioritize fostering a healthy relationship with food and exercise, promoting body positivity, self-acceptance, and overall well-being.

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The fitness industry can at times  be toxic and unhealthy

 The fitness industry can at times  be toxic and unhealthy.  We don’t believe in gimmicks or using diet culture to sell memberships. Remember these key points below.
1️⃣ You can’t lengthen your muscles. They attach at fixed points via bones and tendons. “Getting toned” means building muscle. Which requires weight training. Period. This is all just a bunch of misleading marketing mumbo jumbo.
2️⃣ Muscles can’t be confused. They actually respond much more favorably to repetition…meaning endless variety within your workout and constantly switching it up is just going to leave you spinning your wheels.
3️⃣ “Eat less, move more” is an overly simplified approach perpetuated by diet culture. We find that this piece of guidance often leads people to overtrain and under-eat, which will 100% hold you back from meeting your goals. Our members find the greatest success when they strength train 2-4x/week, don’t skip rest days, and actually eat enough.
4️⃣ We absolutely do not stand with the fitness industry’s ongoing obsession with “summer bodies.” The implication that you need to make yourself smaller in preparation for BiKiNi SzN is about as cringey as it gets. We don’t train for a season here. We train for strength, for life. We want you to take up more space, not less. And f*&$  anyone who tells you otherwise.
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How’s your Fitness Journey coming along?

Hello Strength Squad!

I apologize for not being consistent with my monthly check in.  How has your fitness been treating you lately? Any goals attained? Milestones met? Frustrations? Set backs? I’m here for it all. Please never hesitate to reach out and share with me.  The journey is all about the ups and downs.  It ebbs, it flows…sometimes it comes to a halt, and then we dust off our shoulders and get back up.  I posted something on Instagram the other day that I wanted to share:

Fitness is NOT. EASY.

But shifting your mindset can make all the difference. When motivation isn’t enough, remember:

💪 Something > nothing. Don’t worry about making every workout 110%. Just show up and your effort will follow.

💪 I HAVE TO vs. I GET TO. You have a strong and capable body. It’s not an obligation to use it, be grateful you get the opportunity to use it.

💪 1% better every day. Consistent, small efforts every day are more effective than striving for perfection overnight.

🔥 This is going to be FUN. Tell yourself it is, and it will be. With this community, it truly always is.

Thanks for being apart of our small but mighty community. I’m always here for you, so please reach out.

See you in the gym! 💪🏼

Jossy

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It is time to start treating our training as a privilege, NOT a punishment! 

With so much stress and chaos surrounding our every day lives, sometimes we just need to take a step back and be grateful for what we have…

And that includes the ability and opportunity to EXERCISE.

For anyone who’s ever dealt with a debilitating injury or medical issue that kept them from being able to be physically autonomous, they know the pain and frustration that comes with it…

And the harsh reality of life for many is that we don’t know what we have until we lose it. And it takes a travesty to make a mental paradigm shift in how we value our abilities and opportunities.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. As you’re in control of your mind, body and soul. But how do you stay in control? That’s the question…

Fuel your focus your lifestyle with proactive health habits that create strength, resilience and confidence to not only stave off preventable diseases and health problems, but also give you the fortitude to step up to the natural challenges of life that are guaranteed to be thrown your way.

And more than anything, be thankful for what you have, as you never know when you may be in the fight of your life to keep it. It should always be worth fighting for. Every single day.

Everyone has an opportunity to reflect, rearrange the thoughts in their head and restore their heart back to a place of humble thankfulness.

Spend a few minutes a day devoted to defining your purpose, giving thanks to what you have, and planning on proactive ways to keep pushing forward no matter what’s ahead in your path.

Ultimately, you must change the way you THINK, to change the way you FEEL and change the way you LIVE. It all starts with you 🙏

Thank you for trusting us with your fitness journey. We strive to offer inclusive, fun, educational and safe classes for all levels.
On the fence? Your first class is always free.
Jossy and the PDXstrength Coaching crew
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ED Awareness

It’s national eating disorders awareness week. Sharing our stories is a powerful way to connect with others that are on the same journey and help educate those that are unfamiliar with eating disorders. I battled exercise bulimia for over ten years. Hiding it very well behind training for triathlons and working in the fitness industry. It would snowball the more compliments I received for being so disciplined and fit. I would exercise 2-3 hours a day and limit my calories intake for fear of gaining weight. Behind it all I was very sick. I also dealt with Orthorexia Nervosa and was obsessed with planning a perfect diet and would not eat certain foods, for example there were years I would not eat a fat, then some years I would not eat carbohydrates or freak out if something wasn’t organic. I still struggle everyday, but I am proud of far I have come. I know my triggers and I’ve learned that my weight and my body do not define me. I am always here to talk and share, and want our space at PDXSTRENGTH to be a place that does NOT perpetuate ED and is a welcoming place for those that are battling. ❤️💪🏽

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