I’ve started going to the gym regularly and just lost my first 20lbs. Yesterday, I decided to go shopping for some active wear as a little reward for myself after officially leaving the Obese BMI category. Up until then, I’d just been wearing whatever sweatpants and t-shirt that I could fit into.
I went to several stores and quickly found myself feeling discouraged by the abysmal selection of active wear for larger women. I’m not even considered “plus size”! It seemed like every store I went to had everything you could want in XS-M, but as soon as you cross the threshold into Large, there was almost nothing, and what they did have was hideous or made of a material that no one would wear. And don’t even get me started on finding a Sports Bra as a 40 DD.
Onto the highlight of this story. I was in TJ Maxx and I seemed to keep crossing paths with the same woman in the active wear section. She was lovely and clearly no stranger to the gym. I normally would never start up a conversation with a stranger but I was feeling so discouraged that I said something to the tune of, “I’m having no luck finding anything in my size that is even somewhat flattering. It’s hard enough working up the confidence to go to the gym when you’re bigger than a lot of people. After this shopping experience, I’m starting to feel like no one actually wants us to work out.”
I felt ridiculous as soon as I said it. I know this lady probably just wanted to shop in peace and I just word-vomited on her in a TJ Maxx.
But this awesome woman immediately called over her friend who was shopping with her. They asked me what size I needed, what kind of workouts I did at the gym, and what colors/styles/materials I liked, and then they both started scouring the aisles. They managed to find a couple great pieces of clothing in my size that had been put in the wrong sections. They were both so kind and encouraging even though I was a stranger to them.
I left the experience with a new outfit, and a brighter outlook, especially when it comes to other people. It can be easy to feel like you’re alone when you’re struggling, or like others probably don’t care about problems that they can’t directly relate to, especially when it comes to physical health and fitness.
Sure, there are always going to be SOME people who look at an overweight person and pass judgement without a second thought. You may feel the stares or even hear the occasional nasty comment, but don’t let those moments trick you into thinking that the world is against you.
In the fitness community in particular, people WANT to help each other. Everyone went through their own journey to get to where they are. That “scary looking” guy who could probably rip a tree out of the ground may have been morbidly obese at some point.
The woman who looks like she was born to do yoga may not have been able to even been able to touch her own toes a year ago.
Anyway, I’m sorry for rambling. I just wanted to share and hopefully bring a smile to someone else. I have to include an attachment with this post, so here is my weight loss progress since November.
