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The tile of this post is the question my brain fires off when I find myself at the gym on a “dreadmill” doing 3.7 miles/hr or approximately a 16 minute mile.
Why does this even enter into the brain of someone working hard to make changes to build healthy habits and improve their body image? |
When you are “fluffy” the natural action of comparing yourself to “thin” people just happens. I see all these individuals effortlessly pacing along at 6-7 miles per hour, and here I am expending every ounce of energy to run an apparently slow 3.7 miles an hour.
This is when I get a visit from those two little people that live inside my brain named Negative Nellie & Positive Polly. You know they exist, I am not the only crazy person.
Nellie says “You have no right to say you are running. You look foolish, sweating like a pig on a spit, breathing heavy, fat bouncing every which way, why don’t you just quit.”
Polly pipes in and says “Gurl!! Who cares what everybody thinks? Gym hair, don't care! You are sparkling like the drippy diva that you are! You are crushing it! Run girl, run!”
Nellie says “You have no right to say you are running. You look foolish, sweating like a pig on a spit, breathing heavy, fat bouncing every which way, why don’t you just quit.”
Polly pipes in and says “Gurl!! Who cares what everybody thinks? Gym hair, don't care! You are sparkling like the drippy diva that you are! You are crushing it! Run girl, run!”
The mindset of self-hate can and will breakdown even the strongest willed person and deflate motivation in the blink of an eye.
The only thing that can be said is do not listen to “Negative Nellie.” She is not a fan and will hinder your progress. Tell “Nellie” to back up the bus and step off because she is not welcome on this ride.
For me, YES, running is happening on the very machine being occupied. Granted my stride is short, but this girl is getting faster & healthy as time goes by.
The lesson that needs to be learned is to never compare your goals, the way you look or your journey to someone elses goals and journey.
Fast or slow, a mile is a mile and every drop of sweat makes me sparkle like the #drippydiva that I strive to be.
