SUMMER’S STORY
One quiet
evening a few weeks ago, I was going through some articles that I had written.
I re-read one of the pieces a few times and wondered if I should post it on my
blog. I decided against it, switched gears, and began searching the internet. After
clicking a few random links, something caught my attention. "HAVE
FAITH." For some time, my eyes were glued to the screen. By the time I
looked away, I had decided to write the owner of the company whose website I had
come across. It was time to share the article that I never had the nerve to
post.
Here is my
story about getting bullied at the gym and what kept me going:
I’ve been
going to the gym for years. When I started out, I was the chubby girl who had
no clue what she was doing. I wore a men’s shirt and baggy pants because I was
embarrassed and didn’t want the ‘fit’ girls to notice me. I kept at it; over
time and with help, I lost weight and my body changed. I wasn't at the point
where I felt good, though.
Like every
human, I have ups and downs in life. Earlier this year I hit a low that was a
result of a significant change in my life; I was struggling but I continued to
work out. Some mornings it was everything I could do to get up early and go to
the gym. It was around this time that I started noticing something different at
the gym. I was getting looked at when I walked in. I’d smile but they would
look away without smiling back. One day I saw a personal trainer pointing at me
and when she looked back at her client they laughed. This kind of thing was happening
regularly. One day another member pushed me as I walked into the shower. I was
discouraged and felt like quitting. But I still wanted to be fit, to have a
flatter stomach more definition, and more toning all around. These things don't
magically happen.
During this
phase, I had to pack up my place to prepare for a move; it was a stressful
time. When I went to the gym one morning, I got scowled at by two girls who
were in the entrance, chatting. After my workout, I went to my job and told my
co-workers I wasn't going to work out anymore. The next morning I prayed. Some
people ask God to for a nicer body or ask Him to make them lose weight but
don’t want to do anything about it themselves; they think these are is a
reasonable requests. I thought about what I wanted to ask God to do. I asked Him
to give me motivation to wake up every morning and make it to the gym. I prayed
that I would have motivation to eat well, go out of my comfort zone, and make
things happen so I could reach my goals.
Starting the
next morning, I got up when my alarm went off and was at I was at the gym at
5:55am -before it even opened. That was in May (2012) and I have been doing it
ever since. Shortly after I started, a woman approached me in the heart of my
work out to tell me that she had been watching me and I deserved to have the
nicest abs ever because of how hard I was working. That made my day! I went
through my whole routine with her and I still see her doing it; it makes me
happy every time!
Robin from
Yeshua Apparel was kind enough to send me the HAVE FAITH shirt that I couldn't
stop thinking about. I often see silly shirts with meaningless print on them so
when I started going through her website I felt inspired again.
http://www.yeshuaapparel.com
Thank you
Robin, I appreciate you and what you stand for!
