#47 Gill & Andrew. The Body Image Industry

#47 Gill & Andrew. The Body Image Industry

It's one of the questions we're asked most often, especially around our strength courses. Will I lose weight? Will I tone up? Will this change my body? In this episode, Andrew and I go for a walk and talk through the many reasons why we deliberately avoid making those promises. We talk about growing up in the 90s and the era of Heat magazine, celebrity "circle of shame" features and the diet culture, before exploring how today's fitness industry continues to market health through insecurity, before-and-after photos and unrealistic body ideals. Drawing on Andrew's experience working in commercial gyms and then moving into public health, we discuss the difference between pain-point marketing and what the evidence tells us about lasting behaviour change.  We ramble around a few bit and touch on bodybuilding, social media, steroids, GLP-1 drugs, optimisation culture, AI-generated fitness content. Rather than asking "How can I change my body?", perhaps a better question is: "What do I want my body to help me do?" In this episode * Why WildStrong doesn't use before-and-after photos * Growing up with 1990s diet culture and celebrity magazines * How commercial gyms are taught to market through people's insecurities * Pain points versus opportunity: what behaviour change research actually says * The illusion of control in modern fitness culture * Orthorexia, optimisation and the "spreadsheetification" of health * Why today's physique standards are so different from previous generations * Steroids, bodybuilding and changing expectations * Hugh Jackman, Hollywood and social media physiques * GLP-1 drugs, AI influencers and the future of body image * What people really mean when they ask if a programme will "tone" them * Why capability may be a more meaningful goal than aesthetics Mentioned in this episode * Heat magazine's "Circle of Shame" * Kate Winslet and media coverage following Titanic * Joe Wicks * Eugene Sandow * Mr Universe and Mr Olympia * Hugh Jackman * GLP-1 medications (including Ozempic) * Orthorexia * COM-B behaviour change model * Social determinants of health * Kill All Normies by Angela Nagle If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you subscribed, left a review or shared it with someone who might find it useful. Thank you!

#46. Dr Nikita Rowley. The Gap Between Knowing & Doing

Why do so many of us struggle to become more active when we already know exercise is good for us? In this episode, Andrew speaks with Dr Nikita Rowley, Chartered Psychologist and researcher at Coventry University, about the psychology of behaviour change, exercise referral schemes, physical activity pathways and which interventions help people move more. Drawing on her PhD research evaluating exercise referral schemes across England, Nikita shares surprising findings about who these programmes are reaching, why confidence may be one of the most important outcomes we can measure, and why a gym membership isn't necessarily the answer for everyone. The conversation explores the gap between intention and action, the importance of creating multiple pathways into movement, and how healthcare professionals, coaches and communities can better support people to become more active. Towards the end of the episode, Andrew and Nikita discuss GLP-1 medications, sustainable behaviour change and why meaningful activities often matter more than fitness metrics. If you’re a practitioner, this episode is a great listen. Resources that came up: * NICE PH54: Exercise Referral Schemes to Promote Physical Activity - NICE PH54 Exercise Referral Schemes Guidance [https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph54?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Physical Activity Guidelines - World Health Organization (WHO) Physical Activity Guidelines - WHO Physical Activity Guidelines [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Susan Michie and the Behaviour Change Wheel - Nikita and Andrew discuss the challenge of turning intention into action. Behaviour Change Wheel [https://www.behaviourchangewheel.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) - One of the tools discussed in relation to measuring physical activity levels within exercise referral schemes. ⁠International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)⁠ [https://sites.google.com/view/ipaq?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone interested in movement, health, behaviour change or helping more people become active.

#45. Dr Sarah Court. Fear, Fitness & the Optimisation Trap

In this episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, Andrew is joined by Dr Sarah Court, physical therapist, co-founder of Movement Logic [https://themovementlogic.com/], and co-host of the Movement Logic podcast [https://themovementlogic.com/podcast/]. Together they explore the modern fitness and wellness landscape, particularly the abuse of scientific-sounding claims, ageing, strength, pain, and “optimisation”. They talk about fear-based marketing, the pressure to constantly improve ourselves, and the way social media amplifies insecurity in both fitness and health culture. The conversation touches on: * when doctors act as brands rather than professionals * menopause and the rise of the wellness industry * osteoporosis and strength training * fearmongering in fitness * the misuse of scientific research online * certifications and scope of practice * the pressure to be “optimal” * women’s strength and capability * and how evidence-based thinking requires the willingness to change your mind How do we help people feel stronger and more capable without making them afraid of their bodies first? Further reading mentioned in this episode: * Position Statement: Resistance Exercise for Osteoporosis [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975661/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * WHO Physical Activity Guidelines [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Music: Exercise by Mary Erskine (Me for Queen)

#44. Graham Tuttle. Building capabilities over optimisation

In this episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, Andrew is joined by movement coach and author Graham Tuttle, aka The Barefoot Sprinter. [https://www.instagram.com/thebarefootsprinter] They discuss what it means to be capable and how we can reframe the idea of exercise and movement around real life abilities. The conversation moves through athleticism, capability, pain, fitness culture, meaning, modern society, and the difference between training for life versus training as an escape from it. Graham reflects on his own journey from chronic pain and rigid training systems towards a broader understanding of movement, one rooted in adaptability, resilience, play, and utility. They discuss: * why many people feel disconnected from their bodies * the limitations of hyper-quantified fitness culture, but not throwing the baby out with the bathwater * training for real life * the importance of real-world capability * community, usefulness, and feeling connected to something bigger than yourself This episode asks an important question: 👉 What if strength wasn’t measured just by numbers in the gym, but by how fully you can engage with life? Further Reading & References Mentioned * Anatomy Trains — Thomas Myers⁠https://www.anatomytrains.com⁠ [https://www.anatomytrains.com] * Green Gym programme (The Conservation Volunteers) ⁠https://www.tcv.org.uk/green-gym/⁠ [https://www.tcv.org.uk/green-gym/] * Born to Sprint — Graham Tuttlehttps://www.amazon.com/Born-Sprint-Graham-Tuttle/dp/B0D6XWQWQ8 [https://www.amazon.com/Born-Sprint-Graham-Tuttle/dp/B0D6XWQWQ8]

#43. Gill & Andrew. Building strength that shows up in real life

This episode starts under a heron’s nest (with a slight risk of getting drenched) and turns into a walk and talk on what strength training is really for. After wrapping up another Strong for Life course, we reflect on what changes for people - it's not just strength, it’s confidence. and permission. It's very joyful watching people move from “I can’t” to “I’ll give it a go.” From there, we explore the idea of real-world strength - not just lifting weights, but being able to get down to the ground, jump a wall, play with your grandchildren, or move without hesitation. Along the way, we unpack concepts like affordances, why gym-based thinking can sometimes limit us, and how fear, not physical limitation, is often the real barrier. This episode is about moving beyond exercises and into capability - starting to see the world differently, and realising just how much is available to you once you start. Link to the blog and webinar we ran: https://wildstrong.co/news/gym-strength-and-life-based-strength Core ideas: * Affordances: Seeing opportunities for movement in your environment * Virtuous cycle: Confidence → more engagement → more capability * Task-based thinking: Start with what you want to do, not the movement itself * Constraints-led approach: Individual × task × environment * Limitations of gym models: Machines prescribe movement but reduce exploration Practical takeaways: * Start with real-life tasks you care about * Build options, not perfect technique * Confidence often comes before capacity * Movement becomes more engaging when it’s contextual * Look for opportunities, not exercises