Public speaking is not something that comes naturally to me. In fact, I’d go as far as saying I had a phobia of public speaking during high school. It began when I was asked to read a prayer during mass in front of the whole school, and I choked up on a couple of words. Obviously that followed with being lambasted by a group of malicious boys in my year, who reminded me constantly of my shortcomings for months after. This resulted in every English class thereon being filled with tears, shaking and sweating through my blazer, each time Mrs. Aitken-Lomax would inevitably choose me to read aloud – probably because of the old fashioned “flooding” phobia curing technique. So, as you can imagine, when I was asked to sit on a panel as part of the Anti Diet Riot Club’s talk to discuss whether our diets are making us fat…and why we are all so scared of that, I was petrified.

However, through Not Plant Based, I’ve learned the importance of investing confidence in my own voice, and that if someone asks me to speak at an event it’s probably because they value what I have to say (shock!). I’ve done enough podcasts, events and interviews now to feel comfortable enough not to wobble on saying my own name in front of an audience, which is nice.

A couple of Mondays ago, I arrived at the Young Vic Theatre in Waterloo as part of their food month, along with Becky Young from the Anti Diet Riot Club, YouTuber Grace Victory, performance and eating disorder dietitian Renee McGregor and bloggers Alice and Cait Meredith, who both run the newsletter Since Sliced Bread. All of us waited in hot anticipation in the hope that people would actually show up, killing time by prematurely discussing the questions we were set to answer in front of our ghost audience. I soon felt at ease knowing that we were a good bunch – positive and open to the fact that we all have different opinions and they are all valid.

The reason why I’ll always feel honoured to be a part of such an event, and why I’d never turn them down in the future despite my own fears, is because I always learn new things at each one I attend. I meet new people who are positive and warm, and I am able to hear stories from people who live very different lives to my own.

In case you couldn’t come on Monday, here are the things that I learned on the night:

1. Body positivity isn’t the same as body confidence

Grace explained to the panel and our audience that body positivity was a movement that was created by black, fat women in America, who needed a space to be themselves free from ridicule. It has since been adopted by the likes of *cough* Louise Thompson – celebrities who have bodies that are rarely publicly shamed. For those who do not fit the mould of the “ideal” body type, it is important for them to be leaders in the body positive community, because they’re the ones who NEED it.

Everyone can and should be body confident, but leave body positivity alone if it’s not meant for you.

2. BMI can be important

I used to poo-poo the idea of BMI as a scientific measure of health, as often times people can be perfectly healthy yet are classified as obese due to their muscle mass and other factors.

However, Renee made the great point that BMI can be vital for those who are underweight to assess weight gain.

3. If people want to diet, they can

Although all of us on the panel were personally against dieting, I believe that no one has the right to comment on anyone else who wants to diet. All we can do, is try to show them the light.

We on the panel were all in agreement that someone else’s diet is none of our business.

4. McDonalds don’t #spon body positivity

I didn’t realise this, but apparently there is a rumour circulating the web that McDonalds have sponsored the body positive movement. They haven’t btw…

5. The diet industry is huge because diets don’t work

They make money off of failure. It’s a genius business structure that prays on the vulnerable.

6. Exercise doesn’t have to be punishment

Hula hooping will suffice. It’s all about what makes you feel good.

7. We all make mistakes

Grace told a story about how her biggest regret is working with Diet Chef, and how she promoted their products despite them tasting like “cardboard”.

We’re all only human, and we all make mistakes, but the most important thing you can do is admit it, apologise and move on. Diet culture can corrupt even the strongest of us, and there’s no harm in owning up to that.