Is that fucking corner finally turned? Can I look like this again? More important, can I feel like this again? I’d just run a 10K race on a course that was not designed for speed with a time of 41:51, coming in third overall. The only two who beat me were a pair of brothers half my age. I felt pretty badass.
You've got this, and we're here to support you every step of the way. I started following you because of your fitness, fell in love with your work because of your feminism, and am now a whole-hearted supporter because of the history. You are good to go with this. Feel free to write about it or not, but you've got a whole bunch of people pulling for you.
I think you just sparked an epiphany in me. 2 years ago, I was in the best shape of my life. Exercising on average 9 hrs per week (HITT, volleyball, running). I did tough mudder, mud hero, signed up for 5k's even though I don't like running, and wanted to be active for the first time in my life. I felt like an athlete. Then I lost my job. I muddled on for about 4 months until my new job, where things took a drastic turn. Instead of a 9-5 job that I left at the stroke of 5 and didn't think about in the off hours, I was doing 10-12 hour days (voluntarily) trying to be the best I could be and something had to give. As you say, being fit is a part time job. I didn't have time to prep, time to plan, time to exercise as I was giving my all to my job. I couldn't understand why I couldn't get back to the mentality I had had before. I now realize, I can't have everything. Something has to give. In the two years of this job (throwing in a pandemic and lock down) I've gained 35 lbs (now have about 30 off) and my fitness levels have dropped dramatically. I only this week started back to the gym and I know I have a hard road ahead, but I also know my health is important, so it's going to get priority again. As for the "before and after", I once had a conversation with someone about how I'd kill to be in their shape and not satisfied with my size 14 body. A few hours later, I was talking to my (morbidly obese) cousin (with disability issues due to her size), and complaining about how much weight I "had" to lose. She told me I was crazy because I was in great shape and so small and she'd kill to be my size. That really opened my eyes at that point to appreciating what I had.
Yep, right there with you on all those feelings! All of it from Trump to Covid. We got locked down Mar 18, 2020 for two months. No family visits period. My mom had broken her shoulder the day before, so I had to move in with her for 2 months. Major stress, plus no access to my husband or children. I didn't see my only grandchild for 2 months. He was 8 months old. After 2 months, he didn't know me. It was heartbreaking. Trump was horrifying. Worst year ever. Even now that we are in a "yellow" phase, I only want to see my immediate family, stay in my little place and eat comfort food. I'm working on it, but it's hard. As you well know, eat less move more is easier said than done.
10 years of consistent exercise blown out of the water by a new job and a pandemic. Who knew that's all it would take? As for "inspirational quotes" the whole "you had time to learn a language, obviously you lack discipline" shit that was flowing during the initial stages of the pandemic really pissed me off.
I feel this post in my bones. Or rather, my poor unused muscles. At 57 and as a short woman, I was benching 105 lbs for sets of reps and thinking about eventually trying for Senior Olympics lifting. This after decades of injuries and still somewhat weak knees, but finally really feeling like my body was a fun tool and toy rather than this lumpy, broken thing I had to drag around. A year+ later (because Fuck flu in February right before the damn pandemic) 20 pushups are hard. But you can't buy or move big weights in a 2nd floor apartment, and running isn't really my thing (knees again). Thank you for voicing the frustration, acknowledging the many reasons (my career also took an upward turn in the past few months), the loads of laundry, and just all the reasons being in grate shape rocks and having it essentially taken away sucks dead Trump dicks.
I came for the swearing, but this was the message I needed. A huge weight loss, thanks to a lot of effort and a tough decision on bariatric surgery, left me with fitness as an unexpected part to full time job. Knowing that there are others embracing this level of commitment helps.
Can I just say, I appreciate your honesty about pre-run pooping. I started running for the first time in October and did not realize it was a thing. I wish I had been warned earlier. Good luck on your new fitness journey.
"Strumming my pain with his fingers....singing my life with his words"...I quit being at peak fitness in my early 40's precisely because it was a part time job ...I decided to go to grad school instead..now (48) I regret it. I just don't know if I have it in me to get back to that.
Thank you for being honest about being super takes a lot of time. I feel like many in the fitness industry that I have experienced push this message that it only takes drinking their shake and working out to their program for 30 minutes a day makes you look like a super trainer. Being very fit is a lot of work.
I enjoyed reading this and everything else you have written on here and in your previous place not to be named. It reads like a diary entry and we're just along for the stories.
I haven't had an urge in most of my life to exercise, it just doesn't pique my interest to do it even though I don't have the best of eating/drinking habits without it. I keep thinking that things will go well for me physically into older age but I'm less sure about that the older I get. I've had the genetic lottery of being on the skinny and relatively healthy side most of my life but I don't regard that as a benefit, no matter how many times I hear that people wish to be my size and eat whatever I want.
I'm generally tired and don't have much motivation beyond what I need to do each day like going to work and getting basic things taken care of at home.
You've got this, and we're here to support you every step of the way. I started following you because of your fitness, fell in love with your work because of your feminism, and am now a whole-hearted supporter because of the history. You are good to go with this. Feel free to write about it or not, but you've got a whole bunch of people pulling for you.
I think you just sparked an epiphany in me. 2 years ago, I was in the best shape of my life. Exercising on average 9 hrs per week (HITT, volleyball, running). I did tough mudder, mud hero, signed up for 5k's even though I don't like running, and wanted to be active for the first time in my life. I felt like an athlete. Then I lost my job. I muddled on for about 4 months until my new job, where things took a drastic turn. Instead of a 9-5 job that I left at the stroke of 5 and didn't think about in the off hours, I was doing 10-12 hour days (voluntarily) trying to be the best I could be and something had to give. As you say, being fit is a part time job. I didn't have time to prep, time to plan, time to exercise as I was giving my all to my job. I couldn't understand why I couldn't get back to the mentality I had had before. I now realize, I can't have everything. Something has to give. In the two years of this job (throwing in a pandemic and lock down) I've gained 35 lbs (now have about 30 off) and my fitness levels have dropped dramatically. I only this week started back to the gym and I know I have a hard road ahead, but I also know my health is important, so it's going to get priority again. As for the "before and after", I once had a conversation with someone about how I'd kill to be in their shape and not satisfied with my size 14 body. A few hours later, I was talking to my (morbidly obese) cousin (with disability issues due to her size), and complaining about how much weight I "had" to lose. She told me I was crazy because I was in great shape and so small and she'd kill to be my size. That really opened my eyes at that point to appreciating what I had.
This post if from last December. I just shared it on Facebook and think you might find it interesting.
https://jamesfell.substack.com/p/i-am-myself-and-my-circumstances
Yep, right there with you on all those feelings! All of it from Trump to Covid. We got locked down Mar 18, 2020 for two months. No family visits period. My mom had broken her shoulder the day before, so I had to move in with her for 2 months. Major stress, plus no access to my husband or children. I didn't see my only grandchild for 2 months. He was 8 months old. After 2 months, he didn't know me. It was heartbreaking. Trump was horrifying. Worst year ever. Even now that we are in a "yellow" phase, I only want to see my immediate family, stay in my little place and eat comfort food. I'm working on it, but it's hard. As you well know, eat less move more is easier said than done.
10 years of consistent exercise blown out of the water by a new job and a pandemic. Who knew that's all it would take? As for "inspirational quotes" the whole "you had time to learn a language, obviously you lack discipline" shit that was flowing during the initial stages of the pandemic really pissed me off.
I feel this post in my bones. Or rather, my poor unused muscles. At 57 and as a short woman, I was benching 105 lbs for sets of reps and thinking about eventually trying for Senior Olympics lifting. This after decades of injuries and still somewhat weak knees, but finally really feeling like my body was a fun tool and toy rather than this lumpy, broken thing I had to drag around. A year+ later (because Fuck flu in February right before the damn pandemic) 20 pushups are hard. But you can't buy or move big weights in a 2nd floor apartment, and running isn't really my thing (knees again). Thank you for voicing the frustration, acknowledging the many reasons (my career also took an upward turn in the past few months), the loads of laundry, and just all the reasons being in grate shape rocks and having it essentially taken away sucks dead Trump dicks.
I came for the swearing, but this was the message I needed. A huge weight loss, thanks to a lot of effort and a tough decision on bariatric surgery, left me with fitness as an unexpected part to full time job. Knowing that there are others embracing this level of commitment helps.
You fucking got this!
Can I just say, I appreciate your honesty about pre-run pooping. I started running for the first time in October and did not realize it was a thing. I wish I had been warned earlier. Good luck on your new fitness journey.
Oh, the super proud smile on the girl is beyond words.
"Strumming my pain with his fingers....singing my life with his words"...I quit being at peak fitness in my early 40's precisely because it was a part time job ...I decided to go to grad school instead..now (48) I regret it. I just don't know if I have it in me to get back to that.
Thank you for being honest about being super takes a lot of time. I feel like many in the fitness industry that I have experienced push this message that it only takes drinking their shake and working out to their program for 30 minutes a day makes you look like a super trainer. Being very fit is a lot of work.
I enjoyed reading this and everything else you have written on here and in your previous place not to be named. It reads like a diary entry and we're just along for the stories.
I haven't had an urge in most of my life to exercise, it just doesn't pique my interest to do it even though I don't have the best of eating/drinking habits without it. I keep thinking that things will go well for me physically into older age but I'm less sure about that the older I get. I've had the genetic lottery of being on the skinny and relatively healthy side most of my life but I don't regard that as a benefit, no matter how many times I hear that people wish to be my size and eat whatever I want.
I'm generally tired and don't have much motivation beyond what I need to do each day like going to work and getting basic things taken care of at home.
Could you just not go back to those shorts?
Those are actually boxer shorts outside a pair of running shorts. It was for a fundraising run called The Underwear Affair. Wrote about it here
https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-jun-13-la-he-fitness-10k-race-20110613-story.html
If RJ doesn't like those shorts, don't invite him to the Red Dress Run in New Orleans....😉