We had the very cool pleasure and privilege of connecting and having small talk with the very charismatic and lively @Biankicks which turned out into such a nice deep dive into her background getting into the barbell sports and being a positive influence and role model for the body positivity scene. What started as a casual exchange transformed into an insightful exploration of Bianca’s experiences and aspirations during a backstage chat at Kinetix Lab.
Carlos: You said you’ve been training at Kinetix Lab since April, and Clare is your coach. Lou said that you had statements about body positivity and confidence?
Bianca: It’s one of my core advocacies. I started just becoming more confident with my body, like around 21, or 22 years old. I was at my first job ever as a fresh graduate surrounded by the best people. There were only five of us, including the two bosses. My two bosses would lift and were healthy, they’re very gym bros, but not the toxic kind of gym bros.
The way they would tell me about their routine, it never felt like they were preaching about it. Because I was a big girl, right? So, to me the trauma response is like, “why are you telling me to lose weight?” I didn’t feel that I had to lose weight, It was really for telling me it’s about becoming healthy and getting strong. That was the trigger, it was also that time that the body, inclusivity, positivity movement started to rise. I tried to embody that.
For some reason, since I’m extremely extroverted and outgoing, I thought “I wanna be an influencer” kind of thing. So, I like, post my outfits. I don’t want to say that I’m “FASHOWN”, I just really like dressing up a little bit. And it’s not common for big girls do that and post it on social media. So, when I would do that, there was one tweet that went super viral. It was picked up by Cosmopolitan and Candy. That kind of started my branding at least with my circle and other people. When the pandemic hit, we were all experimenting with what to do at home, so I tried to get into jump rope. For the first time in my life I enjoyed working out. It was an activity and there wasn’t really an intention to lose weight. I felt good and eventually it had a domino effect on eating better. There was an on and off relationship with losing weight and getting healthy.
I got into Kinetix Lab being invited over to get a tour of the gym by my colleagues and former workmates after catching up with them. Kinetix Lab, coming inside the vibe is very different. It’s so cozy, maybe it’s the grass? (Laughs) Coach Claire was there and she toured me around. Initially it was just for a routine to do out of the house since I work from home freelance as a content producer. I just wanted a routine where I drive somewhere and stay in a cafe where I would work.
My pairing with Coach Claire I would say was serendipitous. We were meant to be and I got super lucky. She told me during the assessment that “I want you to get stronger not lose weight” and I was like “WOAH that makes so much sense”.
First month of training I wasn’t as strict with my diet but training made me feel so much better mentally as well. I felt great and strong. My eating soon followed to get better. So, having started training have you started losing weight or body recomposition? When I started in April I was 100kg, now I’m 90kg.
It’s crazy at first I didn’t want to step on a scale but I wanted to see numbers. I get motivated when I see numbers and metrics I weighed in July and I’m actually losing weight, my clothes started to fit better. I look the same now at 90kg than when I was strictly just doing jump rope during the pandemic and weighed 83kg. I was like “WTF is happening this is amazing!” Even my old workout clothes are getting looser.
Carlos: With the body positivity scene, there are personalities in social media that are too extreme with their take on body positivity. Kinda hardcore that they force it that they can be healthy but morbidly obese and eating whatever I want in an unsustainable fashion. Is there a divide?
Bianca: I’ve read and watched some stuff that says it should be “body inclusivity” instead. Body inclusivity is really about self-love and the journey of self love. That could be in many forms and many means. It could be you finally wearing a sleeveless top, it could be you finally eating right when you didn’t have control over your binge eating before, it could be you finally working out when you hated walking before.
How I look at it, it’s “body image” and there’s “health” and it should be a separate topic altogether. When you see someone who is bigger, you shouldn’t assume that they’re not healthy. There are factors to why someone can’t lose weight easily or why they’re struggling to be fit. Hormones, PCOS, mental health.
What I advocate is to love your body and love how YOU look and do whatever you can to keep loving that body. What that means to me is I will wear whatever I want – to me that is body inclusivity. I will workout even If I’m the bigger girl in the gym – that to me is body inclusivity, because I’m putting my size out there in spaces wherein people don’t see there are bigger people.
Carlos: Very insightful. Coming back to training, where do you wanna take it? How do you see it? Goals? Bodyweight goals?
Bianca: Not gonna lie, there was a time where I was thinking what would it be like to compete? I find joy in lifting heavy. Knowing the proper form, knowing that I’m doing it properly fuels me. I am sure it’s highly likely that I’ll keep at it and wanna compete eventually.
Carlos: Compete next year we gotchu!
Bianca: We’ll see, we’ll see, going to my influencer Muscle Mommy influencer era *Laughs* I’m a little bit worried about this being such a big shoot! HAHA
Carlos: It’s the natural progression of things.
Carlos: How about diet?
Bianca: With me I consulted with a nutritionist just to give me the proper education on what to do, she gave me a list of stuff of what to do so I’m on a deficit and make sure I get my protein and fiber in and lots of fruit and veggies. I’m aware of my eating habits and portions from the past. Going for better options when dining out, small decisions that rack up over time. I don’t count my calories because I’m a perfectionist and If I don’t get to do that one thing my motivation goes down. I don’t want another thing to think about.
Thanks for all your time Biancs! See you around!
Bianca: Thank you!
As our conversation with Bianca drew to a close, her genuine passion for body positivity, a holistic approach to her health and her personal growth shone through. From her early inspirations to her transformational jump rope journey during the pandemic and now her dedicated training at Kinetix Lab, Bianca’s story resonates with authenticity.
Her advocacy for self-love, acceptance, and the embrace of individual body journeys serves as an empowering reminder for us all. With an eye on future aspirations and the possibility of competing, Bianca’s journey is one of continual progress and positivity. As we bid farewell, we’re left with insights that echo the importance of self-discovery, confidence, and the pursuit of health and happiness.
