Hey Fat Girl!
Monica_in_MO
Posts: 162 Member
For the most part, runners are a community of people who are extremely supportive of one another. I think we have all experienced that feeling of pushing ourselves to the absolute limit and so we highly respect other people when we see them doing the same thing. No matter their size, age or abilities. I guess the difference is when you are the "fat girl" and have just started your journey, you don't understand how hard running is...for everyone. It is ALWAYS hard! Not just for the "fat girl" but for anyone who is really striving to improve. This is not my writing. It's an excerpt from a friend's blog, but I find it extremely motivational and thought maybe a lot of others would, too. I had a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I read it, because I remember very, very well the mixed bag of emotions (pride, humiliation, joy, sadness, despair, hope, etc.) that I felt in every single session of my first round of couch to 5k. So, read this and know that I am not calling anybody out or making fun of anyone. I WAS the fat girl!
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.
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.
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Replies
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That was fabulous and well written!0
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I too bow to all the people out there giving it their best. I'm right there with you. Like they say, If you do a mile in 7 minutes or 20 minutes, its still a mile. I'm proud to cheer for all of you!0
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Needed that
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Love it!!!0
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thats an amazin story by the way0
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=]0
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For the most part, runners are a community of people who are extremely supportive of one another. I think we have all experienced that feeling of pushing ourselves to the absolute limit and so we highly respect other people when we see them doing the same thing. No matter their size, age or abilities. I guess the difference is when you are the "fat girl" and have just started your journey, you don't understand how hard running is...for everyone. It is ALWAYS hard! Not just for the "fat girl" but for anyone who is really striving to improve. This is not my writing. It's an excerpt from a friend's blog, but I find it extremely motivational and thought maybe a lot of others would, too. I had a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I read it, because I remember very, very well the mixed bag of emotions (pride, humiliation, joy, sadness, despair, hope, etc.) that I felt in every single session of my first round of couch to 5k. So, read this and know that I am not calling anybody out or making fun of anyone. I WAS the fat girl!
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.
****ing fantastic!
That's all i can say.
I hope I remember this.
-Char the Fat Girl...with the 70min 5K walk.0 -
Love it!!!! Q0
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.....come here are ya ticklish?0
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love it!!!0
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Mile an hour... but that is walking though... lol... you guys are heroes to the heroless, you give strength to those who are watching you... and those who shout out, they do so because they don't have the courage to try to do what your doing. Keep up the great work 0
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Good read...very true and works both ways..title could have easily read..."Hey Fat Boy".0
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I don't run....., yet...... from from the "fat girl" walking the track..... Thank you. You will never know how much I appreciate this. 0
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Good read...very true and works both ways..title could have easily read..."Hey Fat Boy".
I thought the same thing!0 -
I don't run....., yet...... from from the "fat girl" walking the track..... Thank you. You will never know how much I appreciate this.
You keep at it!! You can do so much more than you ever thought possible. When you feel your worst, read this again. I'm telling you from experience, it pays to keep moving towards your goal one step at a time. : )0 -
This is amazing:)0
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This is great. 0
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That's awesome, and very well written. I'm not up to running yet, but I hope I remember this when I get there.0
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Wow, this really is one of the most motivational things I've ever read. I'm not a runner...yet. I enjoy walking, and I do so often feel embarrassed, ashamed, and inadequate when I see a fitter, thinner, leaner person out. I am always worried that they are looking at flabby me waddling down the sidewalk and laughing. This piece really was just really comforting, and strangely, it kind of makes me more interested in trying to run than I have been in...well, pretty much ever.0
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This is amazing!
I AM the fat girl that thinks all the fit people are laughing at me, it's nice to know that they aren't (well, most anyway).0 -
LOVE IT!0
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So very fabulous!!! I am from a family of runners... insane, crazy, runners. For instance my uncle and his son just RAN from Kittery, Me. to Florida last summer for charity. I always said I would NEVER be a runner, no matter how big or little I was because it was not for me. This past year there have been some major changes in my life
I started walking the same route over and over, as time passed I had a few choices 1.) go farther than I had been 2.) go more often OR 3.) run or jog it. I decided that jogging it would be my best bet. At first I would gauge my jogging stints between houses where no one would see me. IF I heard a car approaching I would stop jogging and just walk with my head down so that no one would see how red and sweaty my face was when they passed. One day, I said "Screw it" and just started to jog every 2nd telephone pole NO MATTER WHO WAS WATCHING... because after all I was getting healthier, and happier while other people were riding in a car or sitting at home watching tv. It wasn't too long down the road that neighbors were yelling ENCOURAGEMENT out of their front doors! Anyone can be a 'runner' the only requirement is to.... RUN. Thank you so much for posting! 0 -
Totally needed this 0
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Amazing! When I competed in my first triathlon I had lost 60lbs and still had 30 to lose. I ran a 12 min mile and had to stop in the middle of the lake for a breather! When I crossed that finish line (over 3 hours later) though, I was sobbing my heart out. So proud of myself. When I started my WLJ I could't run for more than a minute at a time. My trainer and all the other women who finished an hour before me surrounded me in a group hug. I had never felt so good in my entire life.0
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All I can say is thank you! It's the same feeling going to a Zumba class or to the gym. Being the overweight one in any crowd, I feel that "eyes-down" embarrassment. It's comforting to know that not everyone is judging us. That someone is cheering us on.
You are an amazing woman and I think you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your sentiments! :flowerforyou:0 -
This was posted here originally:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/617199-hey-fat-girl?hl=hey+fat+girl
Love it
But not cool passing it off like you wrote it :ohwell:
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I needed that!!! Thank you!!!0
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bump0
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This was posted here originally:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/617199-hey-fat-girl?hl=hey+fat+girl
Love it
But not cool passing it off like you wrote it :ohwell:
OP didn't do that at all. She said she got it from a blog.
.0
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