This is a long NSV, but it made me feel good so I'll tell it anyway.

This morning at the gym, one of the non-regulars asked me if I was a bodybuilder. I said, "no, I'm just a recreational lifter." To which he replied, "well, you should compete."

On my way back to the locker room, one of the equipment managers passed me in the hall and asked, "do you run cross-country? You have the physique for it." I said, "no, I'm allergic to running." He grinned and replied, "well, you should come out for our IM cross-country team anyway."

Then, after I had taken my shower, one of the assistant coaches for the swim team asked me whether I was a swimmer. I said, "no, I just lift." She said, "really? With your shoulders, I could have sworn you are a swimmer."

Incidentally, all three of these kind souls assumed way more athleticism than I have. It would take a cross-country coach 7 seconds of watching me run to figure out that I'm not a runner, and the swim coach 5 seconds of watching me thrash around in the pool to figure out that I'm not a swimmer. As for bodybuilding, I might be able to pass for about 15 seconds ... as long as no one watched me squat, and as long as there wasn't a real bodybuilder in the room for comparison.

Still, it's funny how people make assumptions. (I do get the "are you a runner" question fairly frequently, but that could just be because a lot more women -- of my age, especially -- run than lift.)

Kim

Wow! You should feel great! I know I would...

Anyway, I think runners have great bodies, so that means you have an awesome body too!

How cool is that?! I think the message you're getting -- loud and clear -- is that you LOOK GREAT!!!

Sounds like the coaches who wanted you were also thinking you were a student

What are your fitness goals at this point?

Mel

Too fantastic!!! I had someone recognize me from the gym the other night & have had a couple of people comment on my workouts at the gym. It makes you feel so fantastic.