Kind (?) neighbor

htreat1

I feel a bit guilty complaining about this because I've seen other threads about mean neighbors, but on some Saturdays, I run at the same time a neighbor is walking her baby. Every time I pass her (we both go in a loop but from opposite directions), she gives me a thumbs up and says "good job." I recognize that she's trying to be nice, but it just makes me feel that I must look like a chubby person struggling to run and that I'm in need of encouragement. Am I being unfair? It's getting to a point where I'm thinking of new routes on Saturdays or random times.

pwnderosa

She's probably just friendly and likes to see people exercise, don't let yourself feel insecure about it!

CarmenSRT

Your neighbor sounds quite nice. She's encouraging your dedication. Any negative connotation is coming from you. Let it go, smile at her and enjoy the compliment.

xHelloQuincyx

I doubt she would say anything unless she was trying to relate to you. she is probably feeling the same way (or assuming what you feel) in the battle to get healthy.

If it was me giving the thumbs up, I would probably be doing it for the soul purpose of hoping you would want to work out with me some time :]

That_Girl

That's just your own insecurities. She has her own too, being a mom. Just smile and say it back to her. It is a good job. Hell, I can't do it! Well, i could, but I'm not. LOL!

Christieson

I think you should take her encouragement and enjoy it for what it is...encouragement. I read a post the other day from someone whose neighbors yelled abuse at her every time she ran. You are getting the better deal by a long shot. Take it and enjoy it.

Ely82010

Sorry, but you asked. Yes, you are being unfair. Count your blessing that somebody is giving you thumbs up and motivation instead of criticizing you, like so many people post in this site.

Next time that she says that, say "Thank you for your support," and hit the pavement harder and with all your heart.

Good luck!

mychirona

Funny thing is, whenever I see someone doing something awesome, I want to just cheer them on since I know I can't help but smile when someone unabashedly roots for me, as a stranger or not... but I'm afraid people will think I'm heckling, so I never do.

JesterMFP

I doubt she means anything bad by it. You're running, she's walking, it doesn't make sense that she would be doing it in a patronising kind of way. Unless you have previous negative history with her, I'd just take it as friendly encouragement. Maybe she wishes she could do that too.

ShreddedTweet

You're projecting because that's how you feel about yourself! She's just being a nice person.

sgv0918

she's doing what we do here...encouraging. Its just a hang-up of yours. we all have them.

mem50

You're being unfair to yourself. She's giving encouragment not negativity. Keep on doing what your're doing. Smile, Thank her and don't change your route.

Keep up the good work!

buckeye86

It doesn't matter what you look like- anyone exercising regularly is doing a "good job." Maybe she looks at you and thinks, "I'm just walking, maybe I should be running like she is. I admire her dedication." Regardless of how she meant it, all that matters is how exercise is making you feel, not what other people may or may not be thinking.

DopeItUp

Only on MFP could someone misconstrue a thumbs-up and a "good job" as somehow insulting.

elijhasmomma

I used to run before my i had my son..daily...1-2 hours at a time. (well of course there was walking involved LOL) but there was always one neighbor guy that you could tell he wasn't creepy or anything, i never got any negative vibes from him. But everytime he would see me he would be like hey keep up the good work. or great job, or would wave when i passed or honked when he passed me, just acknowledging me and letting me know he supported my dedication (even though it was completely un-needed). I would quite often get ppl who saw me developing a routine that would wave or smile or say looking great after they realized i was jogging for health and not running from a stray dog or something LOL. I guess it's so rare around our area to see ppl just out exercising for their own benefit that they were just happy FOR me. Not being judgemental.
Once I had my son I of course stopped jogging. I ran into said neighbor guy and he was like hey! I said hey he asked if i still jogged and i said no i wasnt since i had my son and he encouraged me to stick with it. telling me hey thats alright you can always get back into the swing of things. And before I knew it, I was back out there jogging, this time with my son. I just view the encouragement as motivation. Next time you're out and you see her, stop for a second and thank her for motivating you. Let her know you recognize the hard work she is putting into as well. You never know, you may end up with a new workout buddy.

Edited to fix spelling errors :bigsmile:

jocybee83

If it was me giving the thumbs up, I would probably be doing it for the soul purpose of hoping you would want to work out with me some time :]

This!

She's being encouraging. Take it and feel good and finish your run.

htreat1

Ok thanks everyone! I won't let it bother me anymore.

ldrosophila

I would take it as a camaradier (sp?) saying thumbs up to us were doing great we walk/run everyday at the same time. Glad youre not going to let it bother you. Take all the "atta girls" you can get.

htreat1

And just to clarify, I never thought she was insulting me. I just was not familiar with this and it made me uneasy. I was being unfair though and I'll take her encouragement in the future. I was just wondering if other people had felt this.

kokaneesailor

I would take it as a complement. The mere fact that your out there doing something is speaking volumes about your determination to better your own personal health. I say" Well done".:flowerforyou:

wick09

I don't think she is mean or anything. Looks like she is trying to encourage you like people on here do.

_shortstack

It doesn't matter what you look like- anyone exercising regularly is doing a "good job." Maybe she looks at you and thinks, "I'm just walking, maybe I should be running like she is. I admire her dedication." Regardless of how she meant it, all that matters is how exercise is making you feel, not what other people may or may not be thinking.

:drinker:

CentralCaliCycling

If you can't give someone a thumbs up for doing something you think is good the world is worse off than I thought.

prairiedawg2014

i think what she's sayin is....good for you!!

thr33martins

I teach fitness classes, and I know for a fact that, for many people, just walking in the door might be the hardest thing they do all day. That kind of commitment deserves to be applauded. And SO many people fail to exercise because they are too insecure to be seen doing it. The thing is, that most of us have struggled with our weight at one time or another, and the sight of an overweight person working out tells the world that you are confident, you believe in yourself, and you are a role model for others who are in your position.

NEVER be insecure about exercising. Maybe you feel like you are "the chubby girl" right now, but if you keep it up, you won't be for long.

murphette2

Just to side with you. I am the queen of letting things bother me so I would have thought the same thing as you because the neighbor probably doesn't even comment when someone really fit runs by her.

athenasurrenders

She sounds lovely.

I have a suggestion. Next time you meet on a run, if you have the breath, why not ask her if she'd like to walk together sometimes? As a new mum, sometimes I get really lonely, I'd love for someone to make friends with me like that.