Wellness reminds me of those elite nightclubs where you have to wait on long lines for entry. Then once you are let inside, you realize it is all smoke and mirrors and more of a status symbol.
“For the record, I want to say that wellness does, in fact, exist, and there is a place for it.”
I appreciate this so much as someone who has a business with the word wellness in it. It’s become a red flag. I often fear that the people I follow and admire dismiss me almost immediately because they think I'm a huckster out there trying to make a buck. The truth is I'm an old lady who has lived through the worst of diet/wellness culture. I'm tired of seeing real opportunity and possibility stunt women because society wants to shrink them away. It does my heart good to see you and others pick up on this and speak out. Those voices are getting louder and it’s so necessary! I work with older women with a focus that we have to work to wade through the BS out there. We talk to discover what they really want; how to define their own “well," move beyond appearances and learn to respect what the body does for them. It’s not an easy fix. I don’t get many clients. And I never got into those exclusive clubs.
Exactly it, it’s a nightclub where only the richest and most genetically blessed (ie already skinny and beautiful) may enter. Except when you enter, it’s a cult. Blows my mind.
Also what struck me about people who partake in or actually actively perpetuate this “wellness” lifestyle after reading this is that they are utterly devoid of humour. I don’t think I could stand to take myself that seriously, even if it meant I had no anxiety (which is also just delulu).
I really appreciate what you wrote. I’ve been a voracious reader of health (not diet!) books in the last few years, mostly in the functional medicine area and have seen positive changes in how I feel and function by changing what I eat. I’m not much a social media person so I rarely see the ridiculous posts and trends until someone in my daily life mentions something. But sometimes I get pushback from well-meaning people who think what I eat is “too fattening” (nuts, seeds, avocado and coconut) and must be unhealthy or too expensive because my home made morning protein shake costs more than their store bought bagel (but if I ate bagels every day, the stomach issues would call for a sick day from work, so is my Amazon chia and hemp and store brand protein powder really more expensive 🙂?). It’s just unfortunate that so-called expert health advice is in our faces every moment and anyone can post whatever they want.
And speaking of wellness - in my tiny downtown area, there are at least 10 “wellness” spas. I’ve never been in but from the signs and ads I’ve seen, they’re really just selling expensive Botox, so just perpetuating the idea that wellness is linked to how we look and it’s not for everyone.
I find it a source of dark humour that I spent decades of my life switching from diet to diet because every authority in my life from family to doctors assured me being thin would ensure I avoided health issues. Well, I got hit by a car, got an undiagnosed concussion and am finally going through rehab to recover. Now I understand that being well is being at a state of peace within your body, mind and soul. Health isn’t always attainable or within our control but to me, it’s possible to be well and live well without necessarily being healthy.
Nicely said, all the way through. So much of today's "wellness" ethos has more to do with appealing to philosophy and ideology, and the "perceived value". The sad part is that people low on funds also perceive that wellness can't be theirs unless they spend a ton of money. Years ago, as a grad student on a VERY tight budget, I took up jogging, because all I needed were sneakers, which I had anyway. I also would meet other friends on budgets and we'd just go for hours-long walks throughout Manhattan neighborhoods (I live in NYC too), while we enjoyed yakking away about everything. Came home feeling energized, socialized, and happy. That -- to me -- was also wellness. Spent nothing. Maybe that's not everyone's way, but I was glad that, even though I had very little money, I wanted physical and mental wellness that day and did the best with what I had. I use those experiences even now. During COVID that experience was especially useful!
I decided I don’t even like either of those words. Health or Wellness. I cut the -ness off and just use “well” now. My situation just fucks with my head on the regular. I was brought up in heavy diet culture, Almond Mom adjacent. I was a straight sized person till I had kids. La la passing time and now I’ve been through treatment for anorexia and been diagnosed with a chronic illness. I’m definitely a fat person, that isn’t solely body dysmorphia. Anorexia TRASHED my systems. Chronic illness isn’t helping them come back up any faster. My mother gets after me every chance she gets, and my SO has forgotten that I don’t want to talk about “nutrition/wellness/health /diet” EVER. He is BIG into nutrition as it’s held in diet culture, and big into “you can exercise/eat right anything away”. He’ll start nattering on, and if I call him out, he says “For ME, for ME, I’m talking about MYSELF, you do your own thing” at best this feels unsupportive to me. Especially since he can rant about aches/pains/digestive issues/chest pain etc but DO NOT go see a physician and at least have some labs run. But don’t I say anything.
ANYWAY wow sorry I totally got into the heliopause!
My best friend and my husband constantly talk about health and wellness and how food in Europe is better and blueberries are super food and how fat ppl are all lazy and could do something about it. I finally told them both I can’t talk about it any more so now when they do it they justify it by saying “I’m juts talkinf about how I can’t eat bread. (Or whatever). But you do whatever you want”. It’s so hard to heal in such a broken world.
The 'wellness' industry is predicted to hit a value of 7 Trillion dollars by 2025. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Just saw an ad that ALO is now selling wellness products, skincare etc. 🙄 I agree with you that 'Health is individual, and it will look different on everyone, and because of this, wellness will be individual and look different to everyone.' We just all need to learn to decipher all the information that comes at us.
“For the record, I want to say that wellness does, in fact, exist, and there is a place for it.”
I appreciate this so much as someone who has a business with the word wellness in it. It’s become a red flag. I often fear that the people I follow and admire dismiss me almost immediately because they think I'm a huckster out there trying to make a buck. The truth is I'm an old lady who has lived through the worst of diet/wellness culture. I'm tired of seeing real opportunity and possibility stunt women because society wants to shrink them away. It does my heart good to see you and others pick up on this and speak out. Those voices are getting louder and it’s so necessary! I work with older women with a focus that we have to work to wade through the BS out there. We talk to discover what they really want; how to define their own “well," move beyond appearances and learn to respect what the body does for them. It’s not an easy fix. I don’t get many clients. And I never got into those exclusive clubs.
Shrinking is always the underlying message
I was just thinking the same thing, after reading this article: https://torontolife.com/deep-dives/the-cult-of-wellness-othership-nutbar/
Exactly it, it’s a nightclub where only the richest and most genetically blessed (ie already skinny and beautiful) may enter. Except when you enter, it’s a cult. Blows my mind.
Also what struck me about people who partake in or actually actively perpetuate this “wellness” lifestyle after reading this is that they are utterly devoid of humour. I don’t think I could stand to take myself that seriously, even if it meant I had no anxiety (which is also just delulu).
Haha agreed!
I really appreciate what you wrote. I’ve been a voracious reader of health (not diet!) books in the last few years, mostly in the functional medicine area and have seen positive changes in how I feel and function by changing what I eat. I’m not much a social media person so I rarely see the ridiculous posts and trends until someone in my daily life mentions something. But sometimes I get pushback from well-meaning people who think what I eat is “too fattening” (nuts, seeds, avocado and coconut) and must be unhealthy or too expensive because my home made morning protein shake costs more than their store bought bagel (but if I ate bagels every day, the stomach issues would call for a sick day from work, so is my Amazon chia and hemp and store brand protein powder really more expensive 🙂?). It’s just unfortunate that so-called expert health advice is in our faces every moment and anyone can post whatever they want.
And speaking of wellness - in my tiny downtown area, there are at least 10 “wellness” spas. I’ve never been in but from the signs and ads I’ve seen, they’re really just selling expensive Botox, so just perpetuating the idea that wellness is linked to how we look and it’s not for everyone.
I’m looking forward to reading your book!
Thank you!
I find it a source of dark humour that I spent decades of my life switching from diet to diet because every authority in my life from family to doctors assured me being thin would ensure I avoided health issues. Well, I got hit by a car, got an undiagnosed concussion and am finally going through rehab to recover. Now I understand that being well is being at a state of peace within your body, mind and soul. Health isn’t always attainable or within our control but to me, it’s possible to be well and live well without necessarily being healthy.
Yes definitely and thank you for sharing!
Nicely said, all the way through. So much of today's "wellness" ethos has more to do with appealing to philosophy and ideology, and the "perceived value". The sad part is that people low on funds also perceive that wellness can't be theirs unless they spend a ton of money. Years ago, as a grad student on a VERY tight budget, I took up jogging, because all I needed were sneakers, which I had anyway. I also would meet other friends on budgets and we'd just go for hours-long walks throughout Manhattan neighborhoods (I live in NYC too), while we enjoyed yakking away about everything. Came home feeling energized, socialized, and happy. That -- to me -- was also wellness. Spent nothing. Maybe that's not everyone's way, but I was glad that, even though I had very little money, I wanted physical and mental wellness that day and did the best with what I had. I use those experiences even now. During COVID that experience was especially useful!
I decided I don’t even like either of those words. Health or Wellness. I cut the -ness off and just use “well” now. My situation just fucks with my head on the regular. I was brought up in heavy diet culture, Almond Mom adjacent. I was a straight sized person till I had kids. La la passing time and now I’ve been through treatment for anorexia and been diagnosed with a chronic illness. I’m definitely a fat person, that isn’t solely body dysmorphia. Anorexia TRASHED my systems. Chronic illness isn’t helping them come back up any faster. My mother gets after me every chance she gets, and my SO has forgotten that I don’t want to talk about “nutrition/wellness/health /diet” EVER. He is BIG into nutrition as it’s held in diet culture, and big into “you can exercise/eat right anything away”. He’ll start nattering on, and if I call him out, he says “For ME, for ME, I’m talking about MYSELF, you do your own thing” at best this feels unsupportive to me. Especially since he can rant about aches/pains/digestive issues/chest pain etc but DO NOT go see a physician and at least have some labs run. But don’t I say anything.
ANYWAY wow sorry I totally got into the heliopause!
Thank you for this. I’m interested in reading.
My best friend and my husband constantly talk about health and wellness and how food in Europe is better and blueberries are super food and how fat ppl are all lazy and could do something about it. I finally told them both I can’t talk about it any more so now when they do it they justify it by saying “I’m juts talkinf about how I can’t eat bread. (Or whatever). But you do whatever you want”. It’s so hard to heal in such a broken world.
Yes, wellness is meant for everyone, though the approach varies based on individual needs and preferences.
The 'wellness' industry is predicted to hit a value of 7 Trillion dollars by 2025. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Just saw an ad that ALO is now selling wellness products, skincare etc. 🙄 I agree with you that 'Health is individual, and it will look different on everyone, and because of this, wellness will be individual and look different to everyone.' We just all need to learn to decipher all the information that comes at us.