Stupid Gym

MainahGirl

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and kick *kitten*! You don't need a board to show your success.

mank32

be the queen of your life. :flowerforyou:

CrisEBTrue

I can understand why you're upset; especially if you thought you deserved this extra recognition.

Unfortunately....(sad to say) that's life.

Don't let this event derail you from your weight loss efforts.
You are your OWN best cheerleader; don't depend on other people to recognize you and reinforce your
goals--even when you deserve the kudos.

Keep your weight loss chart UP on the wall on your fridge where you can see it.

Remind yourself that you (like most people) are in it for the long haul. For YOU. For your health.

You ARE worth it, you ARE worthy, and you CAN do it.

Don't let "them" win. Get back out there and do it for YOU.


:flowerforyou:

rrsuthy

I am going to come at this from another perspective. Mind you I am new to this board, just started this journey, so this is solely my own personal opinion.


For many of us, the weight began to creep up as we lost self respect. We struggle with depression and eating was a way "out" of that low feeling. As we begin making ourselves a priority and begin eating right and working toward a healthy lifestyle, those demons (depression and self doubt) dont just magically go away. We are constantly judging ourselves, questioning "Is this worth it?" "Am I worth it?" External motivation, like the success board reinforces that we are worth it and that it is worth it...Eventually we may not need that external motivation but it comes with time. WE did not get fat and sad overnight, in turn we are not going to get skinny and mentally healthy overnight either.

Please be patient with us, especially us "newbies" We are not just learning to eat right we are learning to value ourselves, we are going to be more emotional and sensitive right now because we dont have the food to fall back on.

Now with this being said. My suggestion to the poster is to go to the gym and ask quietly to speak to someone in charge. Explain why the board was important to you and why changing it early hurt your feelings. Explain that you dont want any special treatment or anything in return, you would just like them to be aware of how important the board is to some people and by changing it early they may have upset a few people and you just wanted to make them aware of the situation. Then walk away, let it go, and work hard this month to be on there. If the situation continues to occur then it may be time to find a new gym, but if you otherwise like the place, it is meeting your needs and you are getting what you need. Then keep at it girl! Remember we are worth it!

Good post!

hellsbells3272

my gym gives awards. There is a 'class member of the year' award. Last year people were nominated, AND a winner who only attend 3 x RPM (spin) classes a week! I attend 5-7 classes a week, a mixture of yoga, bodybalance, bodypump, kettlebells, aquafit and RPM occasionally - and get overlooked year in year out. Does my head in.

But it doesn't stop me. I am in better shape than those RPM only people who have fab toned legs but awful upper bodies (not joking!!!).

So I win!!

hughjass783

I am going to come at this from another perspective. Mind you I am new to this board, just started this journey, so this is solely my own personal opinion.


For many of us, the weight began to creep up as we lost self respect. We struggle with depression and eating was a way "out" of that low feeling. As we begin making ourselves a priority and begin eating right and working toward a healthy lifestyle, those demons (depression and self doubt) dont just magically go away. We are constantly judging ourselves, questioning "Is this worth it?" "Am I worth it?" External motivation, like the success board reinforces that we are worth it and that it is worth it...Eventually we may not need that external motivation but it comes with time. WE did not get fat and sad overnight, in turn we are not going to get skinny and mentally healthy overnight either.

Please be patient with us, especially us "newbies" We are not just learning to eat right we are learning to value ourselves, we are going to be more emotional and sensitive right now because we dont have the food to fall back on.

Now with this being said. My suggestion to the poster is to go to the gym and ask quietly to speak to someone in charge. Explain why the board was important to you and why changing it early hurt your feelings. Explain that you dont want any special treatment or anything in return, you would just like them to be aware of how important the board is to some people and by changing it early they may have upset a few people and you just wanted to make them aware of the situation. Then walk away, let it go, and work hard this month to be on there. If the situation continues to occur then it may be time to find a new gym, but if you otherwise like the place, it is meeting your needs and you are getting what you need. Then keep at it girl! Remember we are worth it!

Good post!

I agree!! Great post, and great advice.

darkguardian419

Don't base your happiness/measure of success on someone else and you'll be a lot happier. This applies to more than just weight loss.

Josalinn

Make your own motivational board at home with things that will motivate you. Strive to beat yourself each month instead of other people (members of your gym).

This I do this! I have a big white board and I write motivational stuff all over it. (And homework assignments)

At the gym, I would suggest speaking to the manager or someone about the situation and let them know how it made you feel. There may be others who were just as put off as you were but who won't have the courage to say anything. If it makes you so upset that you threw in the towel and gave up on yourself, it's worth talking to management about.

Best of luck to you.

Speaking up is so much better than bottling. I should know, as I am a world class bottler.

DeadliftAddict

Get over it. Get back in there and work hard. If you want to say something that is up to you. Don't make a scene though. Be classy but firm about it if you decide to say something.

Muddy_Yogi

Ummm serious case of overreacting and blaming the gym for your feelings. You control those you know.

lynn1982

I really don't understand what made you so upset. You are upset because someone else is participating in the contest out of boredom AND she did better than you? Why do you even care what motivates others to participate? Do you think that means she didn't work as hard as you? Suck it up. If you need a gold star in order to lose weight, you're in for a bumpy ride.

Thomasm198

:huh:

If you are letting that make you give up, then you may need to sit back and reevalute everything.

:huh:

qtgonewild

I nominate you Queen OF THE Gym.

knra_grl

Be your own motivation. Set goals for yourself and mark them on the calender. If visual motivation is what you need do it for yourself.

fuschiagirl99

Sounds like high school all over again.

Sovi_

I bet this is the only horrid thing that has ever happened. ..like ever. Suck it up. They gym is for you. Forget a list, look at how you're changing. Anyone can go there any and just sit on a bike and not peddle.

DamePiglet

Um...
OP, I suspect that you might be hungry or need some sleep or something like that.

This isn't generally something that people get upset about.

JingleMuffin

make your own board, I have one at home
I write down my goals, for every one I accomplish. I cross it off and put a new on my list.

buzybev

LOL I love how the male responses are already WAY different than the female ones. I'm with the other guys. Get over it. Move on. Your own progress is your motivation. Not other women's affirmation. This is the problem with most women in general. You're all so concerned with one upping each other that when you fall short for some reason it emotionally cripples you and you turn catty.

*yawns*

MyOwnSunshine

My advice from a place three years down the road from where you are now...

You have to find your motivation within yourself. I remember that when I first started losing weight, no one noticed because I had so much to lose. Once I started losing regularly and steadily, a day didn't pass that someone wasn't complimenting me or asking me about what I was doing. It was exciting and I liked it. But once I had lost most of my weight and was working on the last 10 pounds and maintenance, people had become used to the new me and no one commented any more. The thrill and excitement of the scale moving was gone, too. I was left with just my own sense of accomplishment and knowing that I was doing the right thing more often than not.

Three years out, I tend to avoid any aspect of competition, even with myself. The behaviors (logging, running, lifting weights, morning yoga, making healthy food choices 80-90% of the time) are what matter. Living the life that I want to live in a healthy, fit body is enough to make me proud. I don't care if I measure up to anyone else's standards. I am very proud of myself on a daily basis.

Try to work on finding your motivation, pride and self-love within yourself instead of relying on someone else to bestow the title of "Queen" on you. I think that more than anything else, that shift of external motivation to internal motivation and pride is what sustains healthy behaviors over time.

SunofaBeach14

I never would have guessed that all-women's gyms would be so full of drama

freemystery

Think of it this way: you have a 32 day head start on getting your name on there next month.

And this time you'll be ready if some underemployed gym employee decides to call it early because all of those days in the month count, not just the ones close to the deadline.

I know you're getting a bit of a hard time here because your goal seemed arbitrary but the truth is sometimes weight loss is a long process and looking ahead all the time... well I know it can be a little boring/ dispiriting/ difficult to stay motivated. These little things that come along and give us a little boost mean a lot.

That said, don't place too much importance on the board. It's a marker of your success but it does not define your success. It's not wrong that your motivation and self esteem took a knock but do work on getting your resilience up to a point that you don't put too much empasis on this one thing (the board) that was supposed to be helping you along. Good luck with your journey and please don't write off a day/ week because you've suffered a set back. Get right back on it and show us what you're made of!

aishmartin

While I feel for you, I think you need to focus on what really matters. Your motivation should come from within - you exercise because you want to lose weight, feel healthy, look better...whatever it is. It's not about some stupid board. It's about making your life better and feeling accomplished when you know you are doing good things.

This

SuperSexyDork

I find the fact that your gym crowns queens and princesses to be odd. I find the fact that you let something like not getting on the board upset you to be silly.

Please remember that you are a grown woman and not in elementary school. This really seems like a tantrum my 7 year old would throw.

knra_grl

I never would have guessed that all-women's gyms would be so full of drama

:laugh:

bajoyba

I would go in today, being the actual end of the month and ask to be weighed and measured. And then casually ask if they are going to update the board again.

I think that's a good idea, and I agree that it might be beneficial to have a calm and friendly conversation about it with a member of the staff. The person who update the board early was probably just trying to find ways to pass the time and had no idea it might mean so much to someone.

Personally, I wouldn't enjoy any sort of public recognition, but I understand your frustration. Especially when you're first starting out and getting into the swing of things, staying on track can be a little tricky sometimes. It can take some time, effort, and experience for external motivators to evolve into self-motivating feelings of personal satisfaction and accomplishment.

We all respond to stresses and successes differently. Just remember that although you may have a bad day, weekend, or week here and there, it doesn't have to affect your progress or derail your efforts. And if you stick with your plan through the ups and downs, I think you will find that your accomplishments will start to mean much more to you than any outside recognition .Keep going.

sjohnny

:indifferent:


Wow.


Here. Here's your gold star:


And here's your princess hat:
[img]http://www.yourwdwstore.net/thumbnail.asp?file=assets/images/18000/18000 18099/400005468216.jpg&maxx=300&maxy=0[/img]


And here's a flower :flowerforyou:

Good luck on your journey.

Galatea_Stone

I never would have guessed that all-women's gyms would be so full of drama

Your gym isn't?

JG762

I never would have guessed that all-women's gyms would be so full of drama

That right there, that **** is funny...

Sovi_

Also I refuse to be a princess at the gym. I am an animal!