I have been on this weight loss / gym journey for over 3 years now. I have lost weight, got healthy, and learned a ton about myself. I am nowhere near my goal. I plateaued out over 2 years ago, and I am stuck. I hate it! I can't get below my pre-pregnancy weight. That is my ultimate goal.
Well, that has nothing to do with this.... I go to the gym 5 days a week, and almost everyday I see this one woman. She is who I have started measuring myself against, though I know I shouldn't. She is maybe 25-30 years old, blonde, thin, fit. I have never seen her check a kid into kids club, but I can't say if she has kids or not. But it is obvious that she is an active runner and has been doing it for years. I can tell by the way she runs, her posture, and her body that she is a runner. She runs while reading, which is amazing! She wears probably small or x-small t-shirts and the tiniest shorts. SHE MAKES ME WANT TO BE BETTER!
I have started to compare myself to her and watch what she is doing while she is there. On Sunday morning while I was running, I had people on both sides of me, and she was one treadmill away from me. After the guy on my left side left, she moved right one treadmill until she was next to me. I couldn't figure it out. Was she trying to have someone to "run with"? Or was she looking for some competition? Or was her treadmill messing up and she needed a new one? I can't imagine it was the last, as there were several other treadmills open in the gym. I understand the reason for wanting to run with others though. If I have people on either side of me, or if I am running alone, I don't have as much motivation to run as I would if I was surrounded by runners. It is one of the reasons I have contemplated joining the Team In Training for the half marathon. Okay, a little off topic. So, since that girl is at the gym so often as I am, I watch her and pay attention. She does the same things I do, only longer, faster, stronger, better. I have never felt the need to compete in running, but I started to feel that way tonight. It is weird though - I want to do what she does, not be who she is. She runs 4.5 miles in 45 minutes, and I ran 3.5 miles in 45 minutes. She does 15 minutes at a level 10 on the stair master, and I do 10 minutes at a level 7. I am striving to be more than I think I can be. Maybe I am striving to be a fantastic wife, mother, and woman - more than I was. This woman, though she may not know it, is an inspiration and someone that pushes me every time I go to the gym. Am I jealous of her? Nope. I can confidently say that after writing all of this. She pushes me to compete more with myself. I know that as she progresses, I will progress. I won't ever be where she is, but I can be the best person I can be. I feel fantastic, and I won't ever go back to what I was. I rock!!!!
Okay, if you don't know me, please don't judge. I am not arrogant, self-centered, or vain. I am trying to be the healthiest, most well-adjusted person that I can be. I know that there is still a lot of work to be done. I see myself naked and know that I am no supermodel, but I also see myself in clothes and see how far I have come. I have started to feel sexy and try not to hide myself in baggy black clothes. Part of it is some of the people I am around weekly - a lot of the other moms at the schools are larger and don't seem to care that they are rolling out of their clothes. They think that tight = sexy. Not so!!!! Sorry, but it is true.
wow, can't land my plane, huh??? Well, I had better stop.
Good Night!
Becki!!! How long have you had this blog??! Your comment about your mommy mantra just now made me laugh. Loved it!!!
ReplyDeleteI have been writing this one for a couple of months now. I try not to write long entries, because as you can see, I get really distracted and start writing about other stuff. Thanks for following! Yeah, 2 followers! :) LOL. I just do it because I have all these thoughts and no one to share them with. Good luck in Boston!
Delete