Yesterday also saw me in an, oh what is the right word, oddly-cornered; in an oddly-cornered spot.
In my cubical chatting with my neighbor about kids sports after work. He mentions his daughter has practice at Stanton school. Hmm, 'Stanton school', why does that ring a bell?
Ah, I have a duh-moment, "That is where I get in exercise," I state. "I hike up & down the hill behind the school for cardio."
"YOU, you exercise there?" He replies instantly with a suppressed chuckle & emphasis on the word 'you'.
For a split of a split second I ready myself for battle, that is all the time I need to recall he is new, only been here a month and a half'ish. So he didn't know me just 4+ months ago when I was 51 pounds heftier. Plus he & I have hit it off great since he started, joke a great deal, so I gather he may be coming at me in jest rather than with critical judgement.
A second is all that passes before I reply, "Yeah, I don't look like I'd do something like that I guess, but I do."
His facial expression changes, "I, I wasn't suggesting that..."
I am too kind sometimes and I wasn't going to let this go wrong, no reason to. He is a Blackhawks fan after all. So I interrupt his stammering and change the subject back to the kids.
Why was this an 'oddly-cornered' experience? Because I've never talked about exercising as an obese person, if for no other reason than I rarely did exercise. Thus I've never had to defend myself for being one who does exercise.
The cool part of this oddity was that I didn't hesitate at all in blurting out I exercise. I my previous attempts at weight loss I tried to get exercise in but it seldom felt good & never was something I had confidence in discussing.
But yesterday, I just said it, "...I get in exercise!" I said it as if it was a normal part of who I am. Clearly because it has become part who I am.
Confidence to discuss exercise with those I previously wouldn't... I think that is an NSV.
Do you have any similar experiences where either you were questioned regarding your healthy habits, or, where you surprised yourself with a new found confidence?
Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!
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Good for you. Sharing brings a lot too I think. You can get more ideas from people and sometimes their responses can be very encouraging. He didn't mean bad. But does HE exercise? May be he has some learning to do from you :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like he was just poking fun a bit. You handled it well...I probably woulda gone all PMS'y on him and be like "yeah...I exercise...you got a freakin' problem with that?!?! Huh? Do YOU?!?!?!" But then again, that's just me. I haven't found any new confidence but then again, still at the beginning of the journey. I did do 30 minutes on a 5% incline on the treadmill yesterday. Felt good about that...especially since I was halfway through before I realized I accidentally hit the incline button.
ReplyDeleteAnd how. I'm proud of the exercise I'm getting, but in "normal conversation" I still feel a little awkward mentioning it. It either feels like bragging or like I'm trying to pull the conversation around to my weight loss efforts. Good for you. I guess it'll come.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great NSV Patrick. I struggled with that a lot especially when I was about 100 lbs down and still had another 100 to go. I felt like I worked harder than most thin people and it was frustrating to still be thought of as a morbidly obese person. Sad to say it took me till just recently to actually voice to people (other than friends and family) about what I put in to get to where I am.
ReplyDeleteI say shout it from the roof tops what you put in why not take those pats on the back where you can you deserve them. I would have told your new co-worker all about your 51 lb weight loss and I bet he would feel really proud of you.
Discussing my weight loss has been a delicate subject. At times I was kind of disappointed that I had reached a weight goal and no one noticed. But then, when questioned or complimented, I kind of wished no one noticed. I guess I just can’t be pleased. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting to me are the questions about fad diets. “How did you do it? Did you use Atkins? The grapefruit/pomegranate/whatever diet? What do you eat?” When I answer that I eat a lot of fruits and veggies and exercise regularly I am met with deflated expressions and sighs.
That was a great revelation, Patrick! (Our nephew, Patrick, is visiting us this week, and is out exercising right now, in fact.) It was kind of you to let your friend off the hook. And very neat that you are so matter-of-fact in discussing your exercising now!! Very nice NSV. Keep up the good work!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a big turning point to be willing to tell people that you exercise, watch what you eat, or whatever.
ReplyDeleteI know for years, I would never tell anybody when I started on a new weight loss plan. I figured I could let the news out once I had some success. But, the fact is, being open and honest about it makes it much easier to reach that level of success.
YES. Every time weight loss comes up and someone asks me, "So how did you do it?" I get totally cornered. For some reason it just seems like a cop-out to say, "I had weight loss surgery..." like the person is just going to say "oh" in a disappointed voice and shrug it off. But no! Weight loss surgery or not, it's damn hard work. I watch what I eat and exercise. I don't want to lie, but I don't want the brush-off, either. So yeah, everyone time someone asks me "how" I feel totally cornered.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for opening up and talking about it. You're an exerciser! You're getting in shape! You're a FITNESS GUY. It's okay. You can admit it. One of these days you'll sign up for a 5k and you'll make a Tshirt that says "I AM A FITNESS GUY" on the back. And you'll wear it. And be proud. :-) That T-shirt might have KISS on the front of it, but hey...who's judging? Not me man. Not me.
I notice my workmates watching what I eat and think I hear the wheels turning in their brains.."how can she eat so healthfully and still be fat?" Because, Honestly, they see me turn down the cupcakes and cookies they're shoveling all day long in favor of apples & salad. I guess I don't feel cornered per se, just observed, and it makes me uncomfortable and embarrassed. :-/
ReplyDeleteGreat story and you handled it well.
ReplyDeleteFor me, if I ever indicate that I "went for a run last night", I've had people just stop me and say "YOU run??". For them, they are remembering who I was (also 50 pounds ago). I love defying the expectations.
I think I received a few funny looks when I started to eat healthily and reject certain foods. That was a while back though...
ReplyDeleteRecently I decided to go teetotal (good move for my waistline), and somehow it came up in conversation with a family member. Wow, the look of sheer disbelief, like I'd claimed to have given up oxygen. I was quite offended that this person had thought of me as some kind of alcoholic! :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE that poster pic!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm like Repunzel, It's not so much what people say about my exercising. It's what I'm sure they're thinking when I get food, if I ask for no cheese, or chicken instead of hamburger, I feel like their brain is saying "What's the point?" Unfortunately I've been in the reverse and thinking that about someone.....which makes me feel bad then I remember all of my struggles and all of the other bloggers and say maybe they're just farther from their goal than others.
Yes, Definitely an NSV!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE moments like this. I love the surprised look on their face. I've found the people who are least impressed are the ones that exercise the least and most of they're reaction is out of jealousy and self loathing. You are doing so awesome!
ReplyDeletePatrick, I get moments like those, where you get the confidence to identify yourself with a new healthy habit. For a long time I had trouble telling people that I am a blogger because I didn't have the confidence to make such a statement. Now I do!
ReplyDeleteConfidence all over the place!
ReplyDeleteGot to say I love the pic today! That would be me although I would have some work done if I had the money.. just stuff exercise can't do no matter what.. like the face! ;-)
ReplyDeleteYahoo for that NSV! Patrick, how wonderful!
This happened to me just the other day when I was talking stress management with an acquaintance. I said something like "I go to the gym just about every day," which is true.
ReplyDeleteI got the "look" of disbelief, shock, and "oh, REALLY??"