Why We Stand Firm: No Weight Loss Challenges at Geelong Boxing Club

Over five years ago, we made a deliberate and unwavering choice: we no longer facilitate, co-sign, or normalise weight loss challenges of any kind at Geelong Boxing Club. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly, nor was it one influenced by trends or fleeting opinions. It was a decision rooted in ethics, evidence, and lived experience, a commitment to fostering an environment where movement is about strength, resilience, and confidence rather than shrinking bodies or chasing numbers on a scale.

The Problem With Weight Loss Challenges

Weight loss challenges are often presented as a way to "motivate" people, but what they really do is reinforce harmful narratives around body image, self worth, and health. Challenges fuel disordered relationships with food, exercise, and body image, issues we refuse to perpetuate in our gym.

1. Body Dysmorphia & The Harm of "Before & After" Culture

When weight loss is positioned as the primary goal, people are encouraged to hyper focus on their physical appearance rather than how they feel or function. Many develop body dysmorphia, where they become fixated on perceived flaws that others may not even notice.

The "before and after" transformation culture only worsens this. It suggests that the "before" version of someone is inherently less valuable, that their worth is tied to a smaller size. This is a damaging and deeply flawed message, one we will never endorse.

2. The Link Between Diet Culture & Disordered Eating

Research continues to show the direct link between dieting and disordered eating behaviours. Restrictive weight loss challenges often encourage extreme calorie deficits, excessive exercise, and an unhealthy preoccupation with food.

These patterns can lead to binge eating, orthorexia (obsession with "clean" eating), and even long term metabolic damage. Instead of celebrating unsustainable weight loss, we encourage long term, nourishing habits that support both mental and physical well-being.

3. Fitness Should Be About Strength, Not Shrinking

The reality is, weight does not define fitness. At Geelong Boxing Club, we celebrate what bodies can do, not just how they look. A person’s ability to move, lift, punch, and persist through tough training sessions is far more meaningful than a number on the scales.

Boxing is a sport built on discipline, technique, and mental fortitude, not rapid weight loss gimmicks. Our coaching philosophy centers around building confidence, fostering self-belief, and developing resilience, all things that extend far beyond physical appearance.

4. We Reject Toxic Fitness Culture

Too many fitness spaces push toxic, fear-based motivation, "burn off that cheat meal," "no excuses," "summer body goals." We reject all of it. We believe in empowering, not punishing.

Weight loss challenges often contribute to a culture of shame, guilt, and comparison rather than genuine self improvement. Our community is built on inclusivity, respect, and holistic wellbeing. We don’t just train bodies; we support the whole person, their mental, emotional, and physical health.

5. True Health Is Individual & Multifaceted

Health isn’t a number. It’s a complex mix of movement, nutrition, rest, stress management, and self acceptance. What’s "healthy" for one person is different from another, and weight alone is not a reliable indicator of overall well being.

By eliminating weight loss challenges, we reinforce the message that your value is not determined by your size.

What We Focus On Instead

At Geelong Boxing Club, we choose to focus on goals that actually enhance our members' lives:
✔ Building strength, endurance, and skill
✔ Developing self discipline and resilience
✔ Supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing
✔ Creating a positive, supportive, and empowering space
✔ Encouraging sustainable, enjoyable movement, without guilt or pressure

The Bottom Line: We Stand By This Choice

We made the decision years ago to step away from harmful, weight focused narratives, and we will continue to stand by it. Our role as coaches is to uplift, educate, and empower, not to promote the idea that our worth is tied to aesthetics.

If you’re looking for a gym that celebrates what your body can do, rather than shames it into change, you’re in the right place. We’re here for strength, confidence, and community, not weight loss challenges.

Join us in moving for the right reasons.

For more information about our approach, training programs, and community, reach out to us at [email protected] Let’s build something stronger for ourselves and our community, together.