Some thoughts and discussions from me.

A peculiar thing happened to me this weekend…

I was at the gym on Saturday morning around 8:00, getting in my own body weight workout before training a 9:00 client. And as I was doing some band-assisted glute-ham raises, another guy, who I’m pretty familiar with, comes up to be and goes:

Do you do a lot of band exercises?

Me: yes, they’re pretty helpful.

Him: That’s good. ‘Cause you’re a big girl, you know? You shouldn’t be doing any exercises with super heavy weight. You just want to tone and tighten.

@#%$@#%@U#%(

Me: *biting my tongue* Ah…

I walked away thinking, did that seriously just happen?! Yes, that seriously did just happen.

Now, I could forgive his first comment, for a few reasons: a) I’ve spoken with this guy several times, and he doesn’t really have a filter. at all. b) I have reason to believe by “big,” he meant tall and athletic. And most importantly, C) Because I have a damn good body image, and I own it.

image

Clearly, his comment was rude, and I wouldn’t call a woman weak if she did question her own body image after being told that. However, just to make sure, I did a little check-over with myself: did I feel damn good about my body before he made his comment? YUP. Do I still feel positive about it now? Yes.

Thusly, his comment helped me verify that I own my positive body image. We can say we never have negative self-image talk, or a great body image, but you know when it really gets put to the test: when we hear the stories of someone else’s thoughts about it.

I like the way I look no matter what this guy’s story is on how a woman should look. “You’re a big girl.” That’s just his perception – his story – of me. It’s not what I really am.

So yes, I can hear that comment and not be mad. But this post is a 2 part-er, because it’s what he said after that comment that left me fuming a little.

“You shouldn’t be doing any exercises with super heavy weight. You just want to tone and tighten.”

pinkman-what

(ohh, Jesse Pinkman, how I miss you so.)

Yes, while I am focusing more on bodyweight exercises right now, I’m still getting stronger each week. And little did he know, just a month ago, I was working on deadlifting 1.5 x’s my bodyweight with good form. And guess what? My body composition didn’t look any thicker or bigger than it does now.

Secondly, how do men know what women want out of a workout. Perhaps I do want to add size or mass. Perhaps I’m not interested in tightening and toning.

Stay with me – I have a point here, and it’s not just to rant.

It’s to tell you guys to OWN it. Own that kick-butt, goddess body image that we all should have. And just the same, own your workouts. If you love yoga, don’t let anyone tell that it’s not right for your body type. If you’re an avid crossfitter, and you get so much joy out of (safely) doing your WOD’s, don’t let anyone else convince you that you shouldn’t be. If walking is your thing, and right now that’s what you want to be doing? Pay no attention to the noise telling you it’s not doing any good.

Because a) you’re being active, b) you’re way more ahead of the game than a lot of people, and c) you’re doing YOU. Own it.

How do you own your body image?

Has anyone ever challenged your workout style before?