Kids say the darnest things...

I don’t know what’s worst...when a kid tells you that you are FAT or when an adult does???? No matter how much I lose or how many inches I drop I just don’t seem to be good enough for my lil god daughters. They continue to call me FAT and tell me to be skinny...for someone with thick skin you think I would be able to handle that but it HURTS. I grew up hearing criticism from my Uncle & Aunt, telling me how out of shape I was, how fat I was and so on. That built character back then - I would rather hear those words from a family member then a stranger. Tough love...right?!?! Well, to think no one ever told me to my face at least that I was FAT or OBESE. No one...none of my friends or enemies! Imagine if someone did...I think I would have lost the weight sooner.
I’ve completed 4 Half Marathons, a Spartan Hell Run and countless mud runs. I train 5-6 days a week from CrossFit, running & Softball and I still can’t please them. Why do I feel the need to please a 6 & 7 year old, you may ask? Maybe I’m seeking LOVE from them. Maybe I want them to grow up and be like “I WANT TO BE LIKE ANTO!” Maybe I do want to be a SKINNY BIT*H! Who knows...but every time they tell me I’m FAT, I cringe.
However, yesterday behind my hidden tears I realized it’s not me. It’s more about social media. Who is teaching these young kids that being SKINNY is the key to life? That if you’re not sticks & bones you are FAT. So yesterday, my youngest god daughter asked me, “What would you rather be: FAT OR SKINNY?” I responded with, “NEITHER! I rather be HEALTHY.” She didn’t know how to respond...she stood there confused. No where on TV or in magazines do you hear about being HEALTHY. Especially being preached to young kids. I know other people say the same thing but it’s TRUE. Why does society focus on being SKINNY. I sure don’t want my god daughters to grow up being STICKS and forcing themselves to throw up or not eating at all. I want them to be THICK with CURVES. I want them to be athletic and proud of their bodies. It may have taken me 28 years to finally appreciate my body but I sure do =) There is nothing that holds me back now, no excuses, no pain, NOTHING. So from here on out, I need to realize that I’m healthy. I’ll never be SKINNY. God made me with these damn HUGE HIPS and THUNDER THIGHS that I need to embrace. However, I won’t let them be an excuse from training hard. I may not look like I can run far but let me prove you wrong.
All in all, let’s cheers to BEING HEALTHY!