Tuesday, September 17, 2013

I Sometimes Forget That Not Everybody Exercises

I have been thinking of writing this post for awhile, but haven't been able to get the right words out.  Then I read this amazing woman's post today and I realized I might as well just write about it.  I often forget that not everyone exercises every single day.  Or at all.  And I really need to remember this.


When I am not student teaching, in class, or exercising myself, I am typically stalking reading healthy living blogs, reading articles on the fitness page of Reddit, finding new workout tips on Bodybuilding.com, or obsessively looking at fitness Instagrams.  In my little bubble of the world, everyone exercises and eats the way I eat.  Then, in the outside world, I tell someone that I ONLY ran 9 miles and they look at me like I'm insane.


To me, 9 miles feels like I am slacking compared to what some of the other bloggers out there are running each week.  I sometimes feel as though I am failing as a person who claims to be big into fitness.  I feel as though the fact that I haven't gotten to 200 pounds for my deadlift makes me weak, when a lot of people can't even pick half that up off the ground.


According to the statistics, 47% of people are either not exercising or doing less than 90 minutes per week.  I am in the above average category of fitness.  And yet, I still get down on myself for not doing enough.  It's easy to feel like I am the slacker when all I do is read about people who do even more than me!  


When I get upset with myself that I quit my long run early, I need to remember that I still did a long run and that most people would be impressed about that.  When I feel angry that I can't bench more than 90 pounds and that girl on Instagram can bench twice that, I need to remember that most people I know in real life tell me all of the time how awesome I am for being dedicated enough to wake up at 4:30am to lift those 90 pounds.  


We need to be proud of our accomplishments, no matter what they are. 





6 comments:

  1. Seriously Rachel? How many times can I tell you that!

    You are awesome! Less than a year and a half ago you would have never believed that you could run 9 miles and now you tell yourself it's easy. It's NOT!

    You are a rockstar and you never give yourself enough credit and you never brag about it, you always sell yourself short. I am the one running 5 miles and then eating pizza ;)

    You have accomplished so much and are so driven that I wish I had the motivation and dedication that you have. I have some of it, but not nearly to your level and I give myself a pat on the back. You deserve a huge medal of congratulations for all you have done.

    I cannot wait until I can run again and we can start running together again! It's something I'm looking forward to and will motivate myself to do. Next October I want to run a half marathon with you and cross it together!

    Keep your goals, don't make them too crazy, give yourself the benefit of the doubt, and never forget that you're freaking AWESOME!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww! Dani! Your post made me tear up! Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am now. You are STILL the voice in my head telling me to stop whining when I want to quit. I cannot wait to start running with you again. You are the best workout partner in the entire world. But cook that beautiful baby girl a little bit longer, first!

      I seriously miss you and have been thinking about you a lot!

      Delete
  2. I totally relate to this. I completely forget that even "just 5 miles" is a LOT of many people, and not that long ago, it was a lot for me. Sometimes you need those wake up calls to help you remember how awesome you are!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even when I said 2 or 3 miles, people say, "Oh my gosh, I would die!" Then I remember that a mile is a really long way. We all just need to remember that every mile we run or every pound we lift is awesome, no matter what anyone else is doing.

      Delete
  3. You are a beast girl!!!
    You rock and are my inspiration!
    I told JG I was going to start going to the gym with him and lifting! He was so psyched and I couldn't wait to tell you because I knew you would be too!!!
    You get up, even on days you want to stay in your warm bed, and work it out!
    Don't ever think you are slacking...you are giving it your all!
    Keep rockin' it and bloggin' about it because I love reading it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh!!!!!! I am going to need to see picture proof! I am so excited. This makes me so happy. You're amazing.

      Delete