Today's topic is a bit weird for me. I think it's important, and something I try to do for others more often.

For me, I am not fishing for compliments or feedback at all. I'm just trying to better myself and for the most part don't care one tiny bit about what others think of me, at all. Whether it's when I'm healthy or otherwise for that matter.

In fact, when I started losing weight in 2014 I didn't even tell anyone other than my wife that I was even starting to diet (she got to know because of the health concerns). Then when I started running, I had already completed my first 2 events, a 10k and then a 5k before anyone other than my wife knew I had even done them. It was my dad who found out when Facebook asked him if he knew my familiar face from a race photo shared by a person who was running right next to me at the 10k event in their race photo.

It was the same thing again this year. I simply started doing it all for myself. Nobody else has asked me if I have been doing anything different yet, and the only one who knows I started running again is my sister-in-law because my wife mentioned how I was out on a run to her in casual conversation. Outside of that, no feedback at all. And I'm quite happy with that because I get all awkward and squishy weird uncomfortable feeling when people compliment me for whatever reason and just like to say thanks and move the conversation along. I would rather talk about anything else, except perhaps training methods, things like that (I can talk for hours about the "how" of things).

That said however, I recall running sprint intervals at a local high school track one weekend a few years back, and as I was getting ready to leave some young lady who was also running around the track that day just casually mentioned, "Great job, you really killed it out there". I was really taken by surprise since a big old hairy lug like myself lumbering around the track at my fastest speed which is competitive only to snails and turtles is certainly not something you expect to gain a compliment. And it made my freaking morning. Since then I occasionally have another walker or runner passing the other way while I'm out who will comment something as simple as "Good job" and it never fails to cheer me up, even if just a bit.

Since I don't really respond as much to that sort of stuff as most people, it makes me wonder just how great it must make everyone else feel. I mean, if it makes me feel even a bit better, it probably sends most people into a blissful freaking orbit! That's freaking awesome!

It takes a lot of hard work to get out there and push your body out of unhealth and into health, and if this sort of feedback can motivate me through the rest of a run, I can only imagine how motivating it must be for others. I can't wait to motivate someone now!

Oh, and @mshawski holy *kitten* I had to look closer to believe that was not two completely different people! But I can still see the same features! Congrats, that is awesome!

20/07/2021

Exercise – yes – bike ride this morning, too hot for cardio but did some walking.
Tracked – yes
Calories – yes.

@mshawski – Gosh, you have transformed yourself – well done!

@biketheworld thanks for the subject and the great story. I will look for opportunities to encourage someone. Mind you, I’m not going out much at the moment so I won’t be seeing many people.

Not quite on the subject of encouragement but on the topic of mental health, I’ve noticed this:
In the first few days/months after my son died, I had some surprising encounters with people and neighbours who I hardly knew who were really kind to me, and yet several of my friends did not get in touch at all. And a few weeks ago, when I was visiting my son’s grave, I met an elderly man who was also visiting a grave – his daughter who had died 10 years ago – and we exchanged meaningful words. He didn’t know me at all but he saw I was upset and asked twice “are you alright?”. Strangers have been so kind.

@biketheworld What a great story, thanks for sharing!
@mshawski Incredible progress photos! It really pays to look back at old pictures sometimes, our minds don't always see us the way we really are now.
@WhatMeRunning I really enjoyed your story about the running track, it reminds me of when I do ParkRun (or in my case, ParkWalkSlowerThanTheSnail), and how supportive everyone is. Our circuit isn't a loop, it's a 2.5km path, then you turn around and come back. So all the runners & faster people pass you on their way back, and they are full of little comments like "great job" and "keep it up"! It's a nice community, and I'd forgotten about that part of it since it's been a while since I participated.

I must admit that I haven't really had anyone comment on my weight loss either. I notice it myself, my sister sometimes comments because she knows how hard I'm working. The other day a colleague told me I looked great, and asked if I'd lost weight. I was kind of taken aback and didn't know what to say when she continued to ask me what I'd been doing (it's not like I took up running or anything!). But it made me think, I should have been proud of my efforts and actually spoken about it rather than clamming up and being embarrassed. I am working hard, and should be shouting that from the rooftop!

July 20th:
✅ Tracked all my calories
✅ Stayed under calorie goal
✅ Exercised more than 20 mins (played Beat Saber - would have played longer but had to wait for my sister to go home and that was all the time I had left before bed!)

6/20 days (started July 12th, so 6/9 days from when I started)
3 pass days used

Freggies: 1+5 - Added a raw carrot to eat alongside my turkey sandwich for lunch which was a nice little filler and an easy way to add an extra serve of veg!

Being an Encourager is something I believe in wholeheartedly. I love being people's personal cheerleader and have literally repurposed my highschool cheers 'n claps for almost 30 years now 🤣

Some may even say I need to tone it down...
---|---|---|--
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes?YES | Stretching (20) TOTAL: 20 min
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? YES |Base
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? YES |
---|---|---|---

Personal Bonus: Did I meet my protein macro for the day (40%)? NO | 20%
Pass Days Used: (JUL19)

@biketheworld Great story, thanks for sharing!
@mshawski Amazing loss, Congrats!! 👏

Yes x 3 today. Hard to get back on track after my 3 day hiatus. They weren't binge days, so that's a plus, but they were "let loose" days. Today, I had to exercise like crazy to bring my calories under. That's okay; I was successful even if barely. Reminding myself that success is also measured by how quickly I get back on track.

I don’t feel comfortable receiving compliments about weight loss. I’d prefer people not comment on it because I feel like health is more important than weight. My mother always prioritized weight over health and greatly compromised her health in the process.
That being said, I get compliments on my physical fitness quite often and that pleases me more.

Exercise:✅
Tracked:✅
Under:✅

Yes x 3

Yes, yes, and yes, another good day!