Fitness influencer reveals why you should never call someone ‘brave’ for going to the gym

A fitness fanatic woman has taken to social media to slam the use of the word “brave”.

Sydney-based influencer and body positivity advocate Elloise (Elloise Fit) took to TikTok to denounce the use of the term, particularly in the context of gym and exercise-related activities.

In a video that has reached over half a million people, the young woman explained why she believes the word, which is commonly used to motivate and uplift, should be dropped in the fitness industry.

“I hope this helps people understand why you should keep your opinions to yourself,” she captioned the video.

“This is why being called brave at the gym has absolutely destroyed me.”

To preface the video, the 24-year-old explained she had lost 66 pounds in the last four years through hard work at the gym.

“Ever since then, I have just been enjoying my time at the gym, I love to lift weights, I love going to classes,” she said.

“As a result of that weight loss, I have a lot of loose overhanging skin … in the lower part of my torso. I got told it was going to go away, never has and it’s something I’ve just accepted and it’s just a part of me.”

The gym fanatic also said she enjoyed wearing bright and colorful outfits when she trained “often with a crop and shorts.”

Last week the TikToker posted a video about being motivated to visit the gym which she said “reached the wrong side of TikTok” as she received hundreds of “vile” comments about her body which triggered negative thoughts.

“That started to break me down and I was feeling horrible, but I was still hanging on by a little thread, going to the gym and enjoying my life,” she said.

Elloise then said she received a message from a social media user she had previously seen in person saying that they thought she was “so brave for going to the gym.”

“This may be enough for some of you to understand exactly why this is so hurtful and absolutely destroyed my self-confidence,” she said.

“You may think that you’re doing me the biggest favor and giving me so much self-confidence, why am I brave going to the gym, why am I brave, you know why you think I’m brave, go on, tell me.”

“This skinny girl thinks I am so brave for going to the gym because my body composition is a little bit different to hers and it’s not the norm and I get a lot of hate for it. So I’m so brave to be able to put on tights or shorts or a crop top and go to the gym and work out because it’s so scary,” Elliose said sarcastically.

“In reality, I am just wearing clothing and I am just going to the gym to work out.”

“I am just here to fuel skinny people’s egos because they may have struggles in the gym but they will look at me and they will go God I am having a bad day but at least I don’t look like her going to the gym and she’s so brave and she’s so great because she is there to lose weight because she’s so fat and she needs to lose weight.”

“So now for the first time ever in my life, every time I walk into the gym I feel so self-conscious because I think all these fit skinny people are looking at me and pitying me for just going to the gym and doing whatever I want and that’s why it has broken me,” she said through tears.

Hundreds of TikTok users backed the suggestion from the fitness influencer, questioning why people use “brave” to describe an activity that is undertaken each day.

“I’ve always been a mid-plus size but actually always been relivately sporty and fit. Why are you surprised I like the gym and why is it “brave”, follower Abygail Hobday said to which Elliose agreed and said “this is my point, we’ve been active for years, why are we brave for something we do everyday.”

“Biggest pet peeve, and when people say I wish I had your confidence,” said user Tegan Moloney.

Others praised the TikToker for speaking out on the topic and encouraged her to continue visiting and enjoying the gym, regardless of comments from others.

“Not brave – FIT! You are awesome,” commented TikTok user Tee Bailey.