Comments That Make My Skin Crawl
Posted: July 14, 2011 at 8:00 amGooooood morning! I hope you all started this morning out on the bright side. If not, consider yourself virtually hugged by moi. And slap on a smile!
I attacked another great workout this morning. I’m still loving on the circuit routines. I usually love to switch it up with different training layouts, but time is precious and the circuits really do help me get through strength training faster. Especially considering I only have two days to work my body well during half marathon training.
This morning went like this:
| Circuit 1 | Circuit 2 | Circuit 3 |
| push-ups | step-ups | leg extension |
| stability ball crunch | speed skaters | barbell bench press |
| alternating overhead press | dumbbell row | triceps dips |
| front db shoulder raise | standing lat pulldown | |
| dumbbell curl on Bosu ball |
I went through each circuit three times for 8-15 reps depending on the exercise before moving on to the next circuit. I did something similar on Tuesday and both days left my body quivering from the challenge.
PS: If you’re looking for a fun challenge, check out my guest post for Courtney where I share a ton of great plyometric moves to intensify my workouts!
While at the gym, I received a comment from another lady saying that she can tell I work hard and she finds it motivating. Awwww, thanks! I appreciate greatly when someone recognizes and credits hard work. It was nice to hear after some different comments I seem to repeatedly receive from those who don’t know me and my affinity for fitness/healthy living personally. Some of my “favorites” -
"”You must have been born skinny!” – Actually, no. If I don’t stay on top of eating a balanced diet and regular workouts, my body errs naturally to the slightly chubby side. And besides – I don’t want to be “skinny”. I want to be FIT!
“You’re lucky you can breastfeed so you can lose the baby weight.” – I have discussed that whole misconception before. Breastfeeding does NOT equal some magic weight loss pill. Sure, my body uses more fuel (aka calories) to produce milk, but breastfeeding also makes me very hungry and tired. Which that combo can easily equal an overeating scenario for me if I don’t consciously control it.
“I wish I liked healthy food as much as you do.” – I love sugar, sugar, and more sugar as much as the next person! You all know that. I simply took the time to try a variety of foods and find healthy stuff I do like. There’s something out there for everyone if you give it enough time.
Lady One: “Look at you already so small after Braedon, Tina.” Then, Lady Two: “I know. Look at her. It makes me sick.” <--- because apparently I’m invisible??? WHY oh WHY get angry or comment like that about someone else’s healthy body? Talk about an awkward moment to have to laugh off!
“How do you get the weight to just fall off of you?” – I work at it. HARD.So, it doesn’t just fall off. I put in the time and energy to train my body physically and push out of my comfort zone at times to keep progressing. I honor my body with adequate fuel and sometimes say no to things that I know aren’t worth the consumption.
“It must be nice to not have to work so you can spend all day in the gym.” (followed by little giggle) – Perhaps said in jest? Either way…my jaw dropped when I received this statement from someone a couple of months ago. If they only knew how much I worked. And that my workouts are an hour average six times a week. Barely what I would call spending all day in the gym. I just make the most of my time.
While I know these comments are simply round-about ways of giving compliments, I just had to vent and also say how much a kind, supportive, and realistic compliment makes an impact. I wish everyone could see that healthy living isn’t a breeze…but is still possible for everyone as well. That’s probably why I love you all so much. You get it!
- What comments/statements make you cringe? How do you handle them?
Ohmygosh. my heart goes out to you with each of your remarks/responses to those comments… I know you work so so hard and as someone that naturally gets chubby without a healthy diet and activity… I can relate. And as a former WIC employee — I know how ravenous nursing moms get — the weight doesn’t fly off unless you MAKE it! sorry people just don’t understand love! We get ya! <3
comments that make me sick lately are ones that are work related "oooh so you don't work?" (We have back to back moves, how could I commit to that?) "that must be nice. I'd be so bored. aren't you just bored out of your mind?" (NOPE! The exact opposite!) "Oh… ok.. *weird look*"
greeeeat
I so so so so so feel you.
Last week I go the “compliment” — “You’re SO skinny, I don’t think you could get any smaller!! You should eat.”
Seriously? I eat like an effing horse and I’m probably about 10lbs heavier than I was a a year ago!! I just smiled and walked on. Why do people open their mouths and say stuff like this?
Oh man, today at work I had to eat in the cafeteria (by had to I mean I forgot my lunch haha) so I got a small soup with extra veggies and broth and a bowl of carrots and cucumbers. A lady I work with came up to me after getting a burger and fries and was like “Oh look at you so healthy… You brat”. Ummmm what the heck?! How does me eating a sensible lunch make me a brat. Uncalled for!
Who calls someone a brat? Sheesh!
Agreed!!!
Some of the girls I work with do this kind of thing to me and each other. There is a lot of negativity for choosing to abstain from an unhealthy lunch or birthday cake celebration. I think people just need to say those kinds of things to justify their own choices because they wish they had the motivation and willpower you do. I’m on your team and know how hard you work! I can’t tell you how much I applaud mothers who focus on fitness. Go you!
Ugh those comments would make my skin crawl too. I’ve worked hard to get to where I’m at and it would be nice if people recognized that. It’s not easy and it bothers me that the misconception is out there. I’m really starting to wonder what it will be like when I have my baby, I know I will be busting my butt, hopefully someone recognizes my hard work or just keeps their mouth shut! 🙂
I have a friend that is tiny – like 5’3″ and 80lbs – people are forever giving her “compliments” on her size and such. She hates it and it is just annoying. They say things like “oh, you are so tiny, I wish I could be that small” when she is actively trying to gain weight for health reasons. And have you ever tried to find “teacher” clothes for someone that size…she is always struggling with that!
As for myself, I’m tall and slender and get my fair share of comments. I hated it in HS when people would ask me about basketball. Um, just because I’m tall doesn’t mean I care to play basketball, besides, if you ever say me try to run and dribble at the same time you would pay me to NOT being your team!
Sometimes people just don’t think about what their words really mean!
Hi Tina,
I have been reading your blog for a while and just had to comment on this post because I totally identify with it! Snarky comments from others about being thin have plagued me my whole life. I have always eaten healthy and worked out consistently – I am naturally on the thinner side but most of my family is overweight/diabetic so I have to be careful! The worst comment ever was recently when a co-worker looked at me and point blank said “you don’t eat”. How do you respond to that one? I was completely caught off guard and said something about eating healthy. But…who the heck says that to someone? I will never understand it…it is sad that others feel like they can comment on someone being thin, but it is taboo to comment on someone being overweight.
I actually just have to comment on the “because you don’t comment”… GAHHH! I am 27 and my BF is 16 years my senior. He has a teenager (who lives with us) and also works about 90 hours a week. Financially (and health insurance wise) it makes more sense for me not to work and be the main caretaker of the home …
Especially my peers do not realize what hard work it is to actually keep a home, a home. To make sure there is food in the fridge and clean laundry! And of course, because I don’t work I have more “time” to workout! Ahhh
[…] really enjoyed Tina’s post at Faith, Fitness, and Fun about the annoying comments people make. What are comments you hate? I don’t particularly […]
[…] Fitness Fun-Comments That Make My Skin Crawl (completely agree with this post..someone needed to say […]
People tell me all the time that I don’t need to watch what I eat because I’m thinner. It drives me nuts because it’s not about being ‘thin’ it’s about being healthy.
A comment that irked me this past weekend: I drank a chocolate milkshake from a fast food restaurant. My aunt says, “you can stand a few more lbs.”
[…] but, after I got moving on my workout for the day, I instantly felt better. I repeated the same full body weights circuit from last week because I didn’t feel like coming up with something different and then tackled a […]
You are such an awesome person. Period.
It’s always sad when people cannot just celebrate you and the fact that you look and feel great. baby or no baby. It’s not their job to judge you and make you feel guilty, no matter how hard or not hard you worked to get there.
I commend you for your wonderful attitude in the face of people who don’t handle their emotions as an adult should.
Keep on shining, girl 🙂
Love it! My favorite is “You’re so lucky to be exercising to get on with your daily life.” If it were that easy I wouldn’t be to the gym! Thank you very much. ۔