Venturing From The Expected Norm

When people think about exercise, most just think about women on cardio machines and men hanging by the weights.  The stereotype gets placed on the two different genders to be a certain way.  When someone ventures from the norm, people tend to judge. They also tend to question why someone would do something besides what society seems to have placed on their sex.  You have female weight lifters, female body builders and men who are competitive when it comes to triathlons or marathons.  So, to say that something is meant only for one person is just absurd. You have no idea what the other person's goals are or what they hope to accomplish.  You only know what you are working towards and place your opinions on how others should be.  That's where the world is wrong....

If someone were to look at me, just as an example, and you had never met me before, you might consider me crazy.  I'm not a woman to like or enjoy cardio.  I even find it rather boring but we all need to do cardio to help our heart stay strong.  I enjoy strength training much more and consider myself a weight lifter.  I do not wish to compete or challenge anyone besides myself. After losing over 200 pounds then gaining about 40 back due to weight training, I now have been working even harder to tighten up the loose skin I have.  

I have made several friends just from working hard on my goals.  People approach me, asking me, how much weight have I lost since joining Planet Fitness. When I say no, i sometimes even have people fighting me until I explain my overall situation and then I flex for them.  They are amazed and congratulate me all the time. I do not need to be congratulated.  I need to be understood and supported.  I'd do the same for anyone who'd want me to help them out.  I can't make someone understand why I do what I do or what I choose to do because I am the only one who knows what I want for myself out of life.  

I have had some weird experiences at the gyms I've gone to but the ones at Planet Fitness have topped my list. I think I will continue that with another post: Getting Past the "Compliments" and Opinionated "Comments".