Why Wait? This Content Creator Wants You to 'Just Do It Fat'

(SPOT.ph) They say good things come to those who wait, but U.S.-based Filipino content creator RV Mendoza isn’t buying it anymore. For years, Mendoza lived by a quiet set of rules: work hard, reach milestones, and maybe—eventually—life would fall into place.

Over time, though, they realized waiting for the "right moment" was holding them back. This realization led to the creation of a personal philosophy that cuts through the fleeting enthusiasm of New Year’s resolutions.

On January 1, 2025, Mendoza posted a video on TikTok with the caption: “GWORL, just do it fat,” a playful spin on Nike’s iconic “Just Do It” campaign. Since then, the video has garnered over 230,000 views, along with a comment of support from none other than American singer Lizzo. It's also been picked up by Teen Vogue.

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But “Just Do It Fat” is far from your typical body positivity movement.

Also read: My New Year's Resolution Is to Stick to My Resolutions

What “Just Do It Fat” is—and isn’t

Growing up a Filipino immigrant in the U.S., the content creator told SPOT.ph that the Mendoza family's story was built on resilience.

“Finding our way into America through sheer will and self-sacrifice... that experience taught me survival,” Mendoza said. “But as I’ve grown, I’ve realized that survival alone isn’t enough. Now, standing on the foundation my parents built, I see the importance of balance, clarity, and thriving—not just surviving.”

In the modern world, however, surviving is more than having food on the table and a roof over your head. It comes with expectations of following a specific script—graduating, being productive at work, and losing weight—one that Mendoza internalized deeply. Eventually, they started to believe their worth was tied to how well they could check those boxes.

“I spent so much time waiting for life to start, only to realize I was wasting precious moments. ‘Just Do It Fat’ was born out of that frustration.”

At its core, “Just Do It Fat” rejects the notion that you have to reach a certain ideal—whether physical, professional, or personal—before you can begin living your life. It champions the idea that a good life is not born from a grand, life-altering leap but a series of small, intentional actions that accumulate over time.

For Mendoza, this mindset has meant saying yes to opportunities that scared them, taking up space in ways that felt uncomfortable, and taking on whatever life has to offer. Whether it’s going to the gym for the first time in your life, chatting up someone you’re interested in, or something as trivial as wearing that cropped top, it’s the act of doing that counts. 

The last thing “Just Do It Fat” wants to do is stand still.

“What I love about ‘Just Do It Fat’ is its simplicity: You can’t steer a parked car. It encourages action despite insecurities or fears. For overthinkers like me, it’s a grounding reminder to take the first step, even when everything feels uncertain. The clarity comes with movement,” Mendoza said.

Self-care, not self-punishment

The simplicity of the statement “Just Do It Fat” can easily be subject to misinterpretation, especially for those who only understand the message at a surface level. Fatness still carries a deep cultural stigma, no matter how progressive society claims to be. Thus, it’s easy for someone to assume “Just Do It Fat” is anti-health or takes body positivity to an extreme, but Mendoza is quick to push back on this. In fact, one of his own goals is to improve his fitness.

Part of this stems from how we approach weight loss as a society. Next to health, the second most common reason for people to lose weight is to improve body image—a goal often rooted in feelings of shame and disgust. Mendoza challenges this narrative, arguing that self-improvement should come from a place of self-care, not self-punishment.

“I still have personal goals to change my body, but for the first time, those goals come from a place of consent and self-love. Shame isn’t a sustainable motivator,” Mendoza said. “Change your body if it’s what you truly want, but let that desire come from within—not from fear, insecurity, or external expectations.”

Now is as good a time as any

Some might think this article is a little late for a New Year’s resolution story, but that’s Mendoza’s point—doing away with the self-imposed standards or deadlines we place on ourselves.

Who says you can’t start in February, July, or whenever the mood strikes? A study by Baylor College of Medicine found that 88% of individuals with New Year’s resolutions fail to push through within two weeks of starting. In reality, we don’t need a study to make us believe this fact. Most goal-planning is set against the backdrop of a new year, which is exactly why saying this message is particularly poignant at this time.

For Mendoza, their confidence behind “Just Do It Fat” isn’t something that came naturally—it’s a muscle they had to build over the years in progressions and regressions, in ebbs and flows. Over time, with practice and persistence, it has become a part of who they are and something they continue to work on every single day.

“I’ve tried, succeeded, and failed—but I’ve always found a way to keep going,” Mendoza said.

Since embracing this mindset, Mendoza has created countless memories—swimming, climbing, biking, lifting weights, and other activities they might have avoided if they had waited for a more fit version of themselves. If anything, these experiences serve as a constant reminder of what their body is capable of.

In a world that often demands perfection before it offers acceptance (a tough ask for anyone), Mendoza is carving out space for people to embrace who they are—and the life they could be having right here, right now.

Also read: No Need for Diets and Deadlines in Your New Year's Resolutions, IG-Famous Dietitian Says