I have been wanting to write about this for about 3 months now and was just trying to decide how to write it. I have been observing on Facebook, Instagram and in personal conversations all the negativity towards others... at the gym. I know that I have not blogged for a really long time and I also know that I fell off the fitness band wagon for awhile but I will tell you I never stopped being proud of all those people who where trying to get fit and healthy.
It is a huge step in peoples lives and and it is hard to start let alone keep going, trust me I know! I started my journey because I had this huge amount of motivation to get my life back and I had so many supportive people who really kept me going. There were times I wanted to give up because it was easier but all those people with encouraging words and advice got me to where I wanted to be. I see far to often people who have had success or actually people who didn't have to work as hard to be fit, tearing all those others down who may be new or may be self conscious or who have never learned what they should be doing at the gym.
The gym is a place where you should be able to go to work on yourself and your goals without worrying about what other people are thinking of you. You should be able to go and experiment and find out what works best for you. People go to the gym for a million different reasons. You could be going to the gym to slim down, to tone and tighten or build muscle. You could be going to rehabilitate an injury or train for a long distance run, or even to escape your kids for an hour to yourself. I know not only did I got to the gym to get in shape and drop weight but it was one of the best therapeutic stress releasing things I have ever done. I got addicted to the feeling of not thinking about anything but the muscle I was working on and it was such a rush!!
Starting my fitness journey if I knew people where making fun of how I looked on the treadmill or the fact that the first three months that I attended the gym I didn't touch a single weight I would have been devastated. It would have been very hard for me to come back to the gym and feel good about being there and doing things knowing others were worrying about what I was doing. Instead of having negative feed back or judging others while I was at the gym I made friends. I made friends with other girls and got ideas from them on things I could try. I made friends with the people that worked there and they gave me ideas on things I could improve and I made friends with guys who helped made me realize lifting weights was ok. I wouldn't turn into the hulk like we all think might happen.
I am glad that I never experienced a mean person while on my journey and it makes me sad to see them now. I just don't understand why it is happening so much. We should all be encouraging each other and being positive for those wanting to be healthy and happy just like us. Especially between us girls who already are criticized for our bodies at every different angle. We should be standing together and helping each other to reach our goals! We need to stop judging others who don't fit our workout partner criteria and think out side the box. Imagine if everyone at the gym just worried about themselves and their workout, no one would ever have to feel that horrible uneasy feeling you get when you know someone is watching you do something that you aren't completely comfortable even watching yourself doing!
All I ask of those of you reading this is before you say something mean about that big girl only riding the bike, or the really scroungy kid lifting 5lb dung bells or the super fit girl that seems to be a gym rat just think about why you are at the gym and realize that you reason is not the same as theirs. Be positive and encourage everyone to reach their goals whatever they may be. Our jokes and negativity on other peoples behalf have got to stop. Its an ugly trait and it doesn't make you any more fit, healthy or happy so why do it?
True confidence leaves no
room for jealousy. When you know you are great, you have no need to
hate. Realize your worth and be happy with yourself.
Go to the gym, kick ass and then leave. That's all there is too it.
