Hey, Fat Girl.

Firekeeper66

I just stumbled upon this in the interweb and couldn't help but sharing. Apparently it's been posted to MFP before but this is so beautiful and inspiring that I couldn't help but share.

I found it here: http://flintland.blogspot.ca/2012/05/hey-fat-girl.html I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :flowerforyou:

Hey, Fat Girl.

Yes, you. The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe.

You cling shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d like to say to you.

You are awesome.

If you’d look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in motion, in front of others.

You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.

You’re a hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside, who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back again.

You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.

I bow to you.

Supadoopafly

I wish there was a "like" button on MFP forum.

MysteriousMerlin

I came in this thread ready to sit on you :sick:

I leave it with a smile on my face. You got lucky this time, punk. :drinker:

mittenswillet

i love this ... thankyou for posting.. since i feel like that fat girl

hhansen27

Thank you for this!!!!

Firekeeper66

i love this ... thankyou for posting.. since i feel like that fat girl

I think we all do! :flowerforyou:

vt78che

Awesome article. And so very true! Thank you for sharing it.

Kupe

:drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

MagJam2004

You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.

This part....very cool.

Onaughmae

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

kendallvon

Love this. Than you so much for posting.

concordancia

If you aren't confident enough to look up yet, I have discovered an alternative that really helps: hang out with someone more outrageous than you!

On weekends, my husband and I like to go biking together. Since he is mumble mumble pounds lighter and cough cough years younger, he takes the row bike (https://www.rowbike.com/), while I take my three speed cruiser. It slows him up a bit while still letting him get in a good work out.

If you clicked on the link, you saw that this thing is unique. We have found that on paths, I have to stay in front, because people turn around to stare at him and end up in front of me! Sure, I have seen a few people look at me and even heard a very few comments (and one of was being impressed by how fast I was going), but his row bike is the epitome of what the vast majority of people are going to actually notice. We tend to get so caught up with the judgmental people around us, we forget that most people have their eyes open for the awesome, new things around them.

saracantthink

Very sweet post.

NereyaRanVihn

I love this! I'm not fat, never have been, but I always feel so impressed by those "fat girls" (or guys) that I see in the gym or on the running track. I do admire them. They are true fighters!

goldthistime

A friend of mine only ran under cover of darkness in the beginning (which can be as late as 10pm in the summertime). I didn't really understand why she felt shame in running. Anyway, she stayed with it and regained her health and her swagger.

HermioneDanger118

This made me proud I ran today even though I really didn't feel like it.

the_great_unknown

That made me cry. Thank you. I am totally that girl. No eye contact, because I worry that I don't belong.

kareit

Got a little misty-eyed reading this. THANK YOU for sharing!

emblu

I love it, thank you for sharing x

SiggeBjork

Brilliant post. I love this. In fact, I think I am going to print it out and keep to read everytime I feel embarrassed or ashamed. I know that I admire ALL runners. I look at them with admiration and envy, wishing it was me. I'm on day 3, week 1 in the C25K challenge so soon it will be me

prium01

I have read this before and I love it! Its definetly worth reading it once more....Thanks for posting!

bernicesmission

keep!

SandyQ229

wow this is so me. and it really hit home. thank you so much for posting this!!

MaryGrace1965

What a great read. Wow!! I am not a runner and will never be because of my knees but I was that girl! When I first started on this life style change I could barely breathe and I still sweat like that. : ) I get that from my mother. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. I too will print this out and put it in my journal. : ) You made my day!!!!!!

Sharon5913

Love this. I am not a runner, but I go to the gym, and I still have to talk myself up to actually go in front of people and work out. I have printed this to place it on my fridge. Thank you for posting. :flowerforyou:

disneygallagirl

yes, it has been posted before but so awesome it deserves to be posted often. Thanks for sharing. :drinker:

Saratini76

This made me tear up. I've always been the "fat girl" since I started puberty. I was teased mercilessly and called Miss Piggy all throughout my school years. It makes it hard to get out and be seen. The sweat usually mixes with tears of frustration and jealousy at the other runners who seem to do it so effortlessly. I am growing up now, ignoring the taunting voices of my childhood in my head and getting out there.

I ran for the first time in probably 20 years this past saturday. It was only a quarter of a mile...but I RAN!

Thank you for this post. I am going to have to reread it again and again.

RUNNING_AMOK_1958

Wish I would have seen this when I started running. Beautiful! Thank you for posting it!

Beckilovespizza

Most of us have been that 'fat girl' before, this is such a lovely post. I wish I had read it when I first started out...

starrylioness

I love this so much.

JoelleAnn78

I refer to this a lot. When I started exercising at 399 # I was only walking. Everyone was staring and laughing. I KNEW they were. I wish I'd read this then. I found it through the blogs last Summer, it is worth the repost. Again and again.