How you can make a difference this International Women's Day

I'm a massive feminist.

Always have been and always will be.

So International Women's Day is music to my ears.

As you read this I have popped on a special FREE Virtual Pilates class this morning and I will be standing in Wem Town Hall at the IWD fair all today.

As the name suggests "international" feels quite big so I wanted to discuss with you how you can play your part in promoting women all year round, daily and making real change.

And because it's me I want to make this relevant to diet culture (which is the toxic energy which tells you that your body needs to be fixed).

So here's how you can promote women, raise them and change the story for the next generation.

1 -  Change your language around food and notice food rules around you. No more "good", "bad", "treat" or "earned". The patriarchy wants women to be focused on making themselves smaller (could you imagine how good the world would be if we ruled it?) and they do this by dieting.

Change your language, use descriptive words instead.

2 - Don't comment on other women's bodies. This includes watching reels on social media about celebrities and reading the Daily Mail. 

Just don't comment on weight loss as a compliment, don't talk about what other people are eating or talk about your own food choices with shame and guilt (I haven't eaten ALL day...).

Honestly, just don't do it. 

When you give a non appearance based compliment, you will notice how much they love it!

3 - Curate your social media, anyone who pushes diet culture - get rid of.

Anyone who says that you must do this or this and buy that to lose weight - get rid of.

Add in people who are body neutral or diverse, follow women for what they do and not what they look like.

Your "normal" will shift and so will how you see yourself.

4 - Move your body in a way which feels good. Celebrate her for what she does for you and not what she looks like. Those Shape, Sculpt, Legs, bums and tums classes can get in the bin too.

Have you ever noticed that they aren't directed at men? All about exercise to change shape instead of being the healthiest version of you possible.

These are 4 things you can do every day, with people who you see on your phone, with family and friends which will make a difference.

Let's change the narrative, one conversation at a time.

Happy International Women's Day.

For more on this please listen to this weeks Chatting with Cara Podcast, which can be found