All the Ways Brittany Runs a Marathon Starring Jillian Bell Shows the Reality of Weight Loss

Courtesy of Amazon Studios
Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Warning: spoilers for Brittany Runs a Marathon, out Aug. 23, ahead!

There are many methods of losing weight and getting in shape, and what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. That's why Brittany Runs a Marathon is refreshing — while it highlights a weight-loss journey with a set goal (Brittany 's doctor tells her to lose 55 pounds after he says her blood pressure is high and her BMI is in the obese zone), it also shows the truth behind that journey and doesn't shy away from revealing Brittany at her worst.

Brittany Runs a Marathon is based on the true story of Paul Downs Colaizzo's former roommate Brittany O'Neill, played by Workaholics and 22 Jump Street actress Jillian Bell. Sure, it's about striving for the New York City Marathon and getting in shape in the process, but by the time you finish the film, the message is one that we all need to hear: that loving your body doesn't just happen instantaneously — hell, it might not happen fully for some — and if you don't work on yourself internally, no amount of change on the outside will bring you closer to self-love. Ahead, I break down more of the ways this film gets weight loss right.

A Realistic Weight-Loss Goal
Courtesy of Amazon Studios

A Realistic Weight-Loss Goal

Brittany's partying lifestyle catches up to her, but her doctor's recommendation to lose 55 pounds is a fair number. Her goal weight is 150, and she's not looking to lose the weight in a short amount of time; in fact, her doctor doesn't give her exact parameters for how long it should take her to lose the weight. As NASM-certified personal trainer Guychard Codio told us in a previous interview, trying to shed, for instance, 20 pounds in one month isn't a realistic goal because it's harder to sustain. You can healthily lose half a pound to two pounds a week, registered dietitian and ACSM-certified personal trainer Jim White previously told POPSUGAR. As she trains for the marathon and the seasons change, Brittany loses 10 pounds, then 30. In less than a year, Brittany isn't able to make it to her goal weight of 150, but she still looks at her 30-pound-plus weight loss as a success (as she should).

False Starts, Baby Steps, and Hard Work
Courtesy of Amazon Studios

False Starts, Baby Steps, and Hard Work

It takes a little bit of time for Brittany to rip the Band-Aid off and start her weight-loss journey. At first, she pulls on clothes that semi-resemble running attire and forces herself outside, but once she sees her warped reflection in a food stand on the sidewalk, she turns back. It's terrifying trying something new, but Brittany runs a single block and works her way up to a 5K, a half-marathon, and, eventually, the marathon (I'll leave those details alone, though). This progression is very realistic in that it's slow but consistent.

Also, Brittany doesn't have enough money to join a gym, which many people can relate to (no wonder Brittany didn't want to pay $129 a month to use only half of the equipment in a nearby gym). Finding support through a runner's club that her neighbor Catherine (Michaela Watkins) takes part in seems to be what motivates her to strive toward her goals, and tackling little victories with Catherine and Seth (Micah Stock) makes those miles not only less intimidating but actually doable. We all could use that kind of support.

Sometimes, There Are Plateaus and Huge Detours
Anna Kooris

Sometimes, There Are Plateaus and Huge Detours

You see Brittany plateauing at one point in the movie. She becomes frustrated when she can't seem to lose more weight and is stuck at 160 pounds. A weight-loss plateau is normal. "It is so much more than numbers on the scale or counting calories," registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Rachel Stahl, MS, CDN, told POPSUGAR in a preview interview. "Factors like emotion, food sensitivity, physical activity, environment, and medications all can play a role, so it's important to address these in addition to diet." Also, Brittany surely gained muscle while training, and muscle is more dense than fat, so going by what a scale says isn't always an accurate depiction of your progress and internal health.

The biggest challenge of all was Brittany's injury that causes her to postpone running the New York City Marathon a full year. She trains too hard on a bad ankle, and her doctor tells her it's a fracture and that she'll have to be in a cast for weeks. Sometimes setbacks — huge setbacks at that — will interfere with your goals. Then, you have to adjust and make new ones.

You Have to Know Your Limits (Also, Eat the Damn Fries)
Courtesy of Amazon Studios

You Have to Know Your Limits (Also, Eat the Damn Fries)

Aside from training too hard, you also see Brittany revert back to her old habit of eating her feelings. In one scene, she even reaches into the trash to finish a serving of cheese fries. Instances like this don't discredit her improvements, but they show her in moments of weakness (which — yes! — happen). It also brings about a major point about diet culture: don't diet until you break. Yes, eating well-balanced, portion-controlled meals with lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs is important. Yes, a modest caloric deficit is essential for weight loss, and consistency is key, but if you eliminate major food groups or things you crave most, you're more likely to want to eat them in bulk later on.

Also, cheat days are nice. You see Brittany make healthier choices — like ordering a salad when her roommate Gretchen (Alice Lee) orders pizza — but she still treats herself to a full restaurant meal toward the end of the movie. So, French fries here and there won't make you gain all the weight back. Eat them so you won't be reaching into the garbage to finish off the cheese later on.

No Matter Your Progress, How You Feel Matters Most
Courtesy of Amazon Studios

No Matter Your Progress, How You Feel Matters Most

Brittany does one particularly empowering thing, too: she eventually puts away her scale. Before this, you see her back home in Philly where her insecurities about her appearance resurface. She shed a considerable amount of weight, but she doesn't view herself as worthy of good relationships and the recognition she deserves, and she takes it out on others. This proves that weight loss won't fix your internal demons. Sure, it might help, but it's not a magic cure.

Once Brittany hides her scale, it's clear that she's ready to transition into a life that any well-rounded person trying to live healthier should lead: she exercises because it feels good — and because she has a goal: continuing to train for the next year's marathon. It takes time for her to find a routine that truly works, and she makes smart food choices but doesn't hold back from ordering what she wants. Most importantly, she slowly breaks free from a lot of the self-hatred she had at the beginning of the film and focuses on how her journey makes her feel. And, from the looks of her face at the marathon finish line, she feels like a woman who accomplished a mission and who, despite maybe having more work to do, is happy with herself. She feels like a winner.