Daily Inspiration: Meet Anne Bradley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Bradley. 

Hi Anne, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Accepting my body has been a lifelong journey. For as long as I can remember, I felt fatter than the people around me, but I think what cemented the idea that I was supposed to feel ashamed in my body was joining Weight Watchers when I was in middle school. There, I was indoctrinated in diet culture at my most impressionable age. The rest of my years in middle school, high school, and college were filled with disordered eating and grueling exercise with variable effects. I cycled between weights, filled with shame as I trended higher, then pride as I lost more pounds. These feelings were only compounded when it seemed that everyone around me was not only prouder of me but nicer to me as I was skinnier. 

The only place where I felt I could be accepted regardless of my weight was the punk rock community. I felt represented by the music I listened to, screaming at the society and diet culture that only seemed to value me when I was at my thinnest. I was never the most athletic, but it took me years to realize that the reason that mainstream exercise felt so draining was because I was looking at skinny women doing exercises that I knew wouldn’t be effective, yelling about weight loss goals, soundtracked to music I hated. 

I can’t believe it took me as long as it did to realize that I should apply the attitudes I learned in the punk scene to exercise. When I finally did realize it, my mindset makeover began. I began attempting to accept my body at any weight, fitness level, or pants size. I launched a blog, as well as studying to get my group exercise leader license. I began hosting classes at a punk event space in Detroit, emphasizing exercise that makes your body stronger and healthier with kick-ass background music. The pandemic slowed down my group exercise classes but also provided me with the time and energy to launch Fat Fit Punk. 

My mission at Fat Fit Punk is to bring punk attitudes to exercise culture—radical body positivity and realistic expectations. I’m determined to make a difference, and if I can at least one person struggling with their fitness journey, Fat Fit Punk will have been successful. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working through any issues will always be challenging, but body image is especially difficult. Our culture is steeped in fatphobia (not to mention all the -isms and -phobias intersecting with fatphobia), and it’s so pervasive and accepted to live in a different way can feel both isolating and absolutely bonkers. 

Anyone who’s ever dieted (I’m guessing almost everyone, through your own decisions or not) can recognize how CRAZY diet culture can be. I think my own weight/shame cycle would have continued forever if I hadn’t had my radical body positivity breakthrough when I realized just how miserable I was all of the time. 

I have been lucky enough to work with an incredible eating disorder therapist, who has been integral to my own ED recovery as well as helpful in developing my views and passion around fat positive thinking. 

It’s been challenging to find a niche and get the word out about Fat Fit Punk, but the response has been incredibly positive. I think this is because lots of us, perhaps even most of us, will never be fitness models. We have a very limited ability to influence our appearance or overall health. We are flawed, we are busy, we have shifting priorities, and we ultimately want to be around things that make us feel good. Having the option for movement that is welcoming, non-judgmental, and a bit different is something the fitness industry has been missing for a long time. 

However, the biggest challenge I anticipate is being in the public sphere. It’s a frightening thing to put oneself out into the world. Polarization is everywhere, people are getting called out in both productive and harmful ways, and I know I’m not (nor have I ever been) a perfect human, ally, or fat activist…so being part of the conversation is terrifying. I truly believe it’s important to center fat voices in all conversations about fat people, and since few fat voices have been heard or respected in health and wellness, I consider it a responsibility to stand up and be counted – regardless of what vitriol may ensue. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Fat Fit Punk is radical, DIY, fat-positive fitness & cheeky cultural critique. Our mission is to make movement accessible and fun to all, and to cultivate a can-do, f* you attitude in fitness spaces and beyond, 

Our vision is to create a community focused on health behaviors within our control, elevate fat voices in the wellness and punk communities, and build agency for all people to add wanted, meaningful movement to their lives. 

We are known for our unique soundtracks, fat positive attitude, silly TikToks, and close-knit community. If people want to dance around to the Ramones, make friends, and reconnect with their bodies, Fat Fit Punk is the place for them. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice would be to use the resources available to you. With the internet comes all kinds of knowledge and resources – so if there isn’t anything in your town, find a forum! Watch some YouTube videos from influencers you believe in – of course, I’ll recommend myself (shameless plug!), but there’s all kinds of fat positive or at least body-neutral fitness professionals out there. People like Louise Green (@BigFitGirl) and Healthy with Kelsey is a great starting points. 

At heart, though, I hold DIY values. Your town doesn’t have fat fitness instructors? Get certified! You can’t afford the gym? Work out in your basement! You don’t know where to buy weights? Use soup cans, cat litter containers, paint cans, gallon jugs…the list goes on. 

If you want something that doesn’t exist yet, do it yourself (and use the internet to find inspiration and community while you do it). If you’re passionate about something, the people will come. 

Pricing:

• Monthly Patreon: from $5 – $50

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fatfitpunk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatfitpunk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FatFitPunk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYFAy9MF4JkdZh946Rq_HaA
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/fatfitpunk