Embracing the Fit Lifestyle
Have you ever gotten comments from your friends, family, colleagues, etc. about your lifestyle being crazy? Too restrictive? Too intense? Too structured? TOO HEALTHY?
Well, I normally don’t make New Year’s resolutions, etc. because I always see myself as a work in progress. However, this year I have decided that I want to OWN this lifestyle. I have always been afraid to fully express my thoughts when around other people because I don’t want them to judge me or think I’m some crazy person who only eats lettuce and runs 10 miles a day. I need to work on being proud of this part of my life, instead of trying to hide it from people. I get embarrassed when my roommates ask me questions about the food I eat, or when people stare when I eat weird concoctions during class. I’m sure other people can relate. I shouldn’t care if it bothers people that I refuse to eat fast food or drink regular pop (diet on rare occasions). It shouldn’t hurt people’s feelings when I choose to eat a salad at a restaurant when everyone else others burgers and fries or when I turn down the treats/desserts people offer me. I am doing what I think is best for myself and this is the life I have chosen to live. I shouldn’t be told to “live a little” and eat some ice cream. Because honestly, I eat to live, I do not live to eat. Sure, I splurge every now and then, but eating whole real foods that fuel my body make me feel best. Plus, I want to be active in my old age. I could not imagine being 60 years old and not being able to do daily activities like grocery shop, go on walks, or exercise.
People have told me that I am crazy for eating so healthy and many people often make comments that I don’t eat or hardly eat. People have called me anorexic. That’s fine. I know I am not, so I let it roll off my back. I am healthy, and treat my body right. People can judge the “fitfam” or people who constantly post on social media about exercising or healthy food. It does not bother me one bit. I love healthy living and the way that it makes me feel. One of the reasons I made this blog was so that I could have an outlet to share my healthy recipes and workouts to like-minded others so I wouldn’t annoy my family and friends.
So, my goal this year is to own my healthy lifestyle and be proud of how far I have come. I have built a lot of strength and increased my overall health and fitness levels. I wouldn’t be able to be training for a marathon if I wasn’t eating healthy and treating my body right. So my advice to others struggling with this is to EMBRACE THIS LIFESTYLE! – just don’t shove it down people’s throats- but be proud, not embarrassed.
Do any of you have trouble owning your lifestyle when surrounded by others who do not live the same way you do? How do you deal with it?
