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Old 06-03-2012, 05:05 PM   #1  
Stephanie
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Default "Hey, Fat Girl."

Hope it's ok that I share this. I stumbled upon the link on another forum, I loved it so much I really wanted to share with you guys:

Flintland Blog

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Hey, Fat Girl.

Yes, you. The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe.
You cling shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d like to say to you.
You are awesome.
If you’d look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in motion, in front of others.

You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.
You’re a hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside, who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back again.
You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.
I bow to you.
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Old 06-03-2012, 07:14 PM   #2  
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I'm so glad you posted this. I saw it linked somewhere else and was going to put it here myself. Such a great essay! I know a lot of us have felt self-conscious about exercising, so it's nice to know that not everyone is judging us harshly. The comments about the post were wonderful, too.
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Old 06-03-2012, 07:28 PM   #3  
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Thumbs up Hey Fat Girl

Thanks for such an uplifting piece of work. Though I am not a runner, this work provides encourgement to, not only become one, but to fully engage in my weight loss process.
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Old 06-03-2012, 07:53 PM   #4  
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I don't run, but that essay sure fits many of us who work out in other ways, too. Thanks for posting it.

Lin
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Old 06-03-2012, 08:39 PM   #5  
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This is really good! Thanks for posting it!
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Old 06-04-2012, 11:18 AM   #6  
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This is awesome. Totally what I needed to hear today! Thanks for posting/sharing this with us, Stephanie.
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Old 06-04-2012, 11:28 AM   #7  
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Glad it could inspire a few, as it inspired me!!!
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Old 06-04-2012, 11:39 AM   #8  
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This is awesome! Thanks for posting I am going to keep this in mind when I go to the gym today!
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Old 06-04-2012, 11:34 PM   #9  
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That is amazing, so glad you shared that
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Old 06-05-2012, 12:35 AM   #10  
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Pretty cool! Every day when I'm driving I see people out exercising. I give an extra cheer to overweight people...because I know how they feel! When I'm out jogging I hope there's someone cheering me on too.
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Old 06-05-2012, 12:40 AM   #11  
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Very cool. That said if I was going to talk to a big girl on the track I would tell her than she should read my sig.

I've seen sooooo many obese people on the cardio machines busting their butts but a year later they look exactly the same and they're still busting their butts on the cardio machine...
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Old 06-05-2012, 12:13 PM   #12  
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I don't 100% agree with your sig JohnP.
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Old 06-05-2012, 12:17 PM   #13  
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But yes, I love the essay (although some of the word choices irk me, but I'm a writer, so hey) I love the sentiment behind it. A nice pick me up-er, if you will.
One day I'll run. One day.
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Old 06-05-2012, 01:07 PM   #14  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meltaway View Post
I don't 100% agree with your sig JohnP.
Me either but since my true feelings on the topic don't fit into a one line signature I'll settle for it generally speaking to be how I feel about it.

The point is derived from the idea that many people falsely believe that they are going to drop weight from exercise and minor modifications in diet when in reality the majority of fat loss is going to occur from changes in one's diet.
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Old 06-05-2012, 01:12 PM   #15  
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There was a woman once I saw that I felt this way about. She was a bigger lady- probably 400+ lbs- and she would come to the gym and work out. She was the biggest person there, and I'm sure she felt self-conscious. And I was in awe of her. I really wanted to tell her how much I respected her for her determination and her efforts. I never did, because I felt like it would make her self-conscious. I sometimes wonder if I should have said something.
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