Skip to content
  • Register
    • Viewing the message boards in:

    The fat woman I will never forget.....

    Posts: 882 Member
    edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
    This was a response I posted to another topic, but after I wrote it I realized how important it would be to share to others. So here ya' go:

    A few years ago I went to Florida to watch a friend compete in the Ford Florida Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, full marathon). My friends and I were standing on the marathon course cheering on the tired participants. There, among the fit, chiseled triathletes, comes a woman who had to be 300 lbs. My first reaction was "How in the world is this fat woman actually out there competing in this elite event????" And then I remembered where I was.... standing on the sidelines watching......

    What an inspiration she was!!!! Most people make excuses, even when they want to do something great.... my-158 lb-self included (I've said for years that I want to do an Ironman, but have yet to do it); but yet this woman, with more odds against her than anyone else out there, did not allow her physical size to deter her from doing something she wanted to do! She was out there, doing something that most people have never done and never will do! Granted she was slow, at a turtle crawl pace, but everyone there cheering on the participants recognized her efforts, and I swear she recieved ten times the amount of cheering and encouragement than the first place pro received. I don't know if she made the 17hr cutoff that night or not.... but I will never forget that woman.

    I have set a goal to complete an Ironman by the time I am 35.... I've got 4 years. If that amazing woman can do it, then so can I!!! Thank you, woman who's name I do not even know. I will never forget you!! The part that makes me sad is that this woman probably has no idea how many people (with thousands watching) she inspired that day. And this is why I am sharing....

    Everyone who took the time to read this, please remember: EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT REALIZE YOUR OWN SELF WORTH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE INSPIRING!!!! Keep on truckin' fat girl (or guy) !!! Don't ever quit!!!!

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register
    «1

    Replies

    • Posts: 5,573 Member
      EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT REALIZE YOUR OWN SELF WORTH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE INSPIRING!!!! Keep on truckin' fat girl (or guy) !!! Don't ever quit!!!!

      :heart: this! Thank you for sharing such an amazingly inspirational story!!
    • Posts: 1,879 Member
      Awesome post, thanks for sharing!
    • Posts: 882 Member
      Writing that has me emotional!!! I want to cry....
    • Posts: 150 Member
      show previous quotes

      :heart: this! Thank you for sharing such an amazingly inspirational story!!

      Totally agree! You really never know who you are inspiring :wink:
    • Posts: 1,062 Member
      Awesome, Awesome Post.. Thank you Soooo Much for Sharing.. Loved it!!!! xoxo
    • Posts: 1,480 Member
      Wow. Nice. I hope one day she knows that her story is still encouraging people. Thanks for sharing.
    • Posts: 221 Member
      This was a response I posted to another topic, but after I wrote it I realized how important it would be to share to others. So here ya' go:

      A few years ago I went to Florida to watch a friend compete in the Ford Florida Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, full marathon). My friends and I were standing on the marathon course cheering on the tired participants. There, among the fit, chiseled triathletes, comes a woman who had to be 300 lbs. My first reaction was "How in the world is this fat woman actually out there competing in this elite event????" And then I remembered where I was.... standing on the sidelines watching......

      What an inspiration she was!!!! Most people make excuses, even when they want to do something great.... my-158 lb-self included (I've said for years that I want to do an Ironman, but have yet to do it); but yet this woman, with more odds against her than anyone else out there, did not allow her physical size to deter her from doing something she wanted to do! She was out there, doing something that most people have never done and never will do! Granted she was slow, at a turtle crawl pace, but everyone there cheering on the participants recognized her efforts, and I swear she recieved ten times the amount of cheering and encouragement than the first place pro received. I don't know if she made the 17hr cutoff that night or not.... but I will never forget that woman.

      I have set a goal to complete an Ironman by the time I am 35.... I've got 4 years. If that amazing woman can do it, then so can I!!! Thank you, woman who's name I do not even know. I will never forget you!! The part that makes me sad is that this woman probably has no idea how many people (with thousands watching) she inspired that day. And this is why I am sharing....

      Everyone who took the time to read this, please remember: EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT REALIZE YOUR OWN SELF WORTH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE INSPIRING!!!! Keep on truckin' fat girl (or guy) !!! Don't ever quit!!!!

      I absolutely love this story... I'm going to tell it to non-MFP friends I have as they won't have seen it. Thank you for posting it. :flowerforyou:
    • Posts: 439
      Wow-- that is so incredibly motivating and inspiring-- thank you for sharing it!
    • Posts: 396 Member
      Great story! Thanks for sharing!
    • Posts: 572 Member
      Saw it in the other thread. I'm so glad you have posted it by itself. :flowerforyou:
    • Posts: 247 Member
      Yes! SO TRUE!

      I started my weight-loss journey for self reasons, but have inspired a mass span of people over the past 4 years and I have people Facebooking or Emailing me regularly asking me for tips and advice. I honestly feel kind of honored that people trust my advice!
    • Posts: 529 Member
      :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: I need more tissues!! :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:
    • Posts: 824 Member
      oh my lord! that's so bada$$!!!
    • Posts: 882 Member
      Yes! SO TRUE!

      I started my weight-loss journey for self reasons, but have inspired a mass span of people over the past 4 years and I have people Facebooking or Emailing me regularly asking me for tips and advice. I honestly feel kind of honored that people trust my advice!

      And just think about the fact that there' probably twice that many that have been inspired that you don't even know about. Way to go!!
    • Posts: 68 Member
      Loved this!!!!
    • Posts: 166 Member
      Thank you so much for posting!
      What a wonderful way to go into the weekend!
      Be Inspiring! : )
    • Posts: 697 Member
      I wish I would have seen that. I probably would have cheered my face of for her. That is soo awesome.
    • Posts: 428 Member
      wow. this brought tears to my eyes. truly inspiring.

      thank you for sharing.
    • Posts: 714 Member
      *wipes away tears*

      Thank you for sharing this story.
    • Posts: 534 Member
      Beautiful!!!!
    • Posts: 378 Member
      AWESOMENESS!!!! No words to explain OP. Thank you so much for posting. :heart:
    • Posts: 121 Member
      WOW! :drinker: :flowerforyou:
    • Posts: 420 Member
      show previous quotes

      :heart: this! Thank you for sharing such an amazingly inspirational story!!

      This!! Thank you for sharing, I will remember these words when i work out :):flowerforyou:
    • Posts: 71
      Epic awesomeness!!!
    • Posts: 212
      This really inspired me !!! not so much with the weight loss issue, but with finishing my degree!!
    • Posts: 393 Member
      What an amazing lady! You have inspired me too! I will also do a triathlon by the time I am 35. That gives me 3.5 years to train...and buy a bike! Awesome post!
    • Posts: 2,484 Member
      Thank you for sharing this story. What an inspirational woman! I wish I could have seen her.
    • Posts: 145 Member
      Wow! That's so inspiring! I hope I'll remember that in the future and not use my weight as an excuse ever again. "Where there's a will, there's a way," right? Thanks for sharing!
    • Posts: 492 Member
      So fantastic! and what a great message to take from it! I say equal kudos to those who allow themselves to be inspired rather than judging people who fall outside of what they would consider "suited" to the activity.

      I was inspired by a news article I read right before attempting my first marathon last fall. I was feeling really low about my prospects of finishing the marathon well (I had an absolutely MISERABLE final long run pre-marathon) and was busy convincing myself that it would be ok if I had to drop out. Then I saw an article about an 80 year old woman who was going to be finishing her 50th marathon. She had started completing them when she was in her 50s and retired. She said that she'd never really been a runner but when she saw that people walked marathons she thought to herself "well I can do THAT." I was totally inspired! it just goes to show that you are never too old to set a crazy goal and stick to it!

      (for those who are wondering, I did finish the marathon, it was a very challenging experience and I walked almost half of it, but by damn I got it done! marathon number 2 is coming up in October and I'm bound and determined to run at least 3/4 of it, especially since I finished my first one just before joining MFP! being 30+ lbs lighter has to help right?!)
    • Posts: 33,069 Member
      Yes! SO TRUE!

      I started my weight-loss journey for self reasons, but have inspired a mass span of people over the past 4 years and I have people Facebooking or Emailing me regularly asking me for tips and advice. I honestly feel kind of honored that people trust my advice!

      This is me as well! My cousin owns a Farrel's Extreme Bodyshaping and asks me, of all people, nutrition advice for his clients! I LOVE it! I love educating others with all the knowledge I've learned from becoming healthier! Just to inspire 1 person is worth more than anything to me but to know I've inspired many is overwhelming!

      To the op: I saw your post in the other thread...it made me cry over there and again here. Thank you for putting it out there for others who haven't yet realized their potential!
    This discussion has been closed.

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Quick Links

    Categories