Why Kayla Itsines regrets calling her workout program the "Bikini Body Guide".

July 8, 2016

A reported 25 million people worldwide have taken part in Kayla Itsines‘ ‘Bikini Body Guide’ since it was released in 2014.

While the 12-week workout may have helped many people get fit and ~~achieve abs~~ change their lifestyle, there’s one aspect of the program that has never sat well with a number of people – the name.

Despite typically being shorted to ‘BBG’ among its users, the program has received criticism for implying that only a certain type of body is worthy of wearing a bikini.

???????? time to train some clients ☺️☺️www.kaylaitsines.com/app

A photo posted by Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines) on Jul 5, 2016 at 1:31pm PDT

Now the 25 year old has revealed it’s the one regret she has about her business.

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“Do I regret calling my guides Bikini Body? My answer is yes,” she told Bloomberg Business.

A few years in, she’s realised the implication of focussing on getting a body “bikini” ready.

“I wish I’d made it more clear that any body can wear a bikini and that a ‘bikini body’ isn’t my body, it’s feeling comfortable and strong and fit and great about yourself when you wear the least amount of clothing you can wear in public,” she told Cosmopolitan last year.

Watch: Meghan Ramsay on the effects of poor body image. (Post continues after video.)

“‘Bra and underwear body’ or ‘naked body’ didn’t seem to work. Of course any body can wear a bikini. Just put it on.”

This change in attitude meant an important decision when the time came to release an app to accompany the online guides.

The ‘bikini’ was dropped in place of something much less glamorous.

“When I released the app, I called it Sweat With Kayla. Sweat is so empowering. I love that,” she told Bloomberg. (Post continues after gallery.)

Inspirational celebrity body image quotes.

“I think that whatever size or shape body you have, it's important to embrace it and get down! The female body is something that's so beautiful. I wish women would be proud of their bodies and not dis other women for being proud of theirs!”Christina Aguilera. Image via Getty.

“I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon.”Ellen DeGeneres. Image via Getty.

"I’m proud of my body. My body weight will always be something that I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life, but I’m finally in a good place and learning to love me for me, and not somebody else's standards,"Image via Getty.

“For me, exercise is more than just physical—it’s therapeutic.”Michelle Obama. Image via Getty.

“The fountain of youth [for me], let’s see…I guess it’s exercise, healthy diet, lots of water, lots of laughter, lots of sex—yes, sex, we need that as human beings. It’s healthy, it’s natural, it’s what we are here to do!”Cameron Diaz. Image via Getty.

"Nobody is perfect, so get over the fear of being or doing everything perfectly. Besides, perfect is boring. Today, instead of picking yourself apart in the mirror or with friends over drinks, start seeing your ‘imperfections’ as unique traits that give you character and dimension—because that's exactly what they are.”Jillian Michaels. Image via Getty.

"For me, getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, having a healthy diet and staying away from alcohol are musts. It's so boring, I know, but doing those things really helps."Jessica Biel. Image via Getty.

“Working out for me is something I do when I feel like it. But it’s really about feeling good and taking care of my body rather than having to fit into any sort of model or anything like that. I try to eat well, and everything I do is really just to make me feel my best.”Lea Michelle. Image via Getty.

"I've always said, 'Eat clean to stay fit, have a burger to stay sane."Gigi Hadid. Image via Getty.

"I'm really proud of my curves, and I hope all you curvy girls out there are embracing yours too! It's important to work out and be the best version of yourself that you can be, but never feel like you have to be the skinniest girl in the room to be the prettiest. Be confident in yourself and you'll shine!”Kim Kardashian. Image via Getty.

“If anybody even tries to whisper the word “diet”, i’m like, you can go f**k yourself.”Jennifer Lawrence. Image via Getty.

With a social media following of over five million on Instagram and seven million on Facebook, Itsines regularly shares quotes, anecdotes and pictures that aim to inspire and motivate her followers. The emphasis is around feeling healthy over looking it. A quick look at the thousands of comments she receives shows it’s clearly working.

“Thank you for being an inspiration and helping me,” says one.

Another reads: “You’re an amazing woman, such an inspiration… thank you for every single word.”

Image: Instagram/kaylaitsines

That said, the words 'bikini body' are still the first you're met with on accessing her site and repeated throughout, encouraging people to "Change your life and earn your bikini body today!"

Anything that makes a woman feel better, stronger, healthier and happier about herself is to be commended - but just remember that a 'bikini body' is just that - any bikini on any body.

Image: Instagram/@kaylaitsines.

What do you think about the term 'bikini body'?

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