I received a comment on a recent blog post about how impressed someone was with how much I workout and I thought, “It’s not that much!” Then I stepped back and snapped back into reality. Yes, I do workout a lot (You could call me addicted!? Hey at least it’s a healthy addiction!) but I’ve surrounded myself with so many people who work out a lot too that it seems normal. You could call it my “endurance athlete bubble.”
It got me thinking about the power of your network. From my perspective, I work out as much as most people. I read blogs and follow athletes who do Ironman triathlons, run 80 miles a week or compete in fitness competitions. Most of my closest friends are runners or avid yogis or fitness buffs in their own way. Sometimes I forget that not everyone is like this. Sometimes I forget that only seven years ago I was SO PROUD of myself when I ran 4 miles for the first time. At the time, I was training for my first half marathon and most of my friends weren’t runners. They all thought I was kind of crazy for running 10 miles on Saturday morning instead of nursing a hangover with an omelet and possibly a mimosa.
Sometimes I need to remember that I should be thankful and proud that I can even run a 5k without stopping. When I was pregnant, my perspective really changed. It was interesting not being able to push myself hard anymore. I felt a bit jealous of my friends’ Instagram posts on Saturday mornings featuring long runs and even more so on Sunday mornings when they’d score a new PR. At times it felt like everyone was progressing forward in their running, everyone was qualifying for Boston, everyone’s stomach was flat and mine just kept growing. By the time I stopped running at 32 weeks, I was barely running a half mile without stopping and a 5k “run” would take me an hour. My belly hurt, I felt heavy and I truly felt just how high impact running is. Instead, I focused on things I was actually good at- things that made me feel strong and beautiful in my pregnant body. Yoga, barre class, squats, hiking. I followed more and more pregnant and new moms and my “bubble” shifted a bit. I felt my mindset shift too.
Again, this past weekend when I was sidelined from running by a cold that wiped my energy, I felt like I was getting back to square one. Luckily my new perspective after being pregnant has helped me realize that a few missed workouts aren’t going to ruin all the training I put in. I’m easier on myself now than I was before. Mike used to call me “The Beast” because I’d muscle through tough workouts and thrived on pushing myself harder. While I still very much have the beast inside me, I also give myself more grace now.
The people you surround yourself with have a huge impact on your life – they impact what you do, what you buy, what you think about and how you feel about yourself. I guess what I’m trying to say is – surround yourself (in real life and virtually) with people who inspire you to be better and who make you feel good about yourself. Always remember that social media is usually people’s best version of themselves and it’s likely that EVERY single day someone is doing something pretty epic on social media that may make you question if you’re doing enough yourself. We tend to remember those epic posts and forget about all the mundane ones (or all the things people do daily that are too boring or personal to document!).
What is your bubble like? Have you ever had a life event change your perspective on how you treat yourself?
It’s so interesting to see how our bubbles shift over time. While we’re obviously in the same bubble at home, now I’m in a backpacker’s bubble I still have some of my San Diego girl bubble surrounding me though!
SO true. I actually was going to add a part about how since I don’t follow many travel or beauty/fashion people on social media or blogs that I never think about those things or compare my lack of travel/fashion to them. haha!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this reminder. I was just thinking this because I used to be you working out 24/7 and then {life happened} and I made excuses and now I am who I surround myself with. Just thinking this today, beautiful. Thanks for getting me back on track!!! Right now….xoxoxox
Glad to help!!
This is so true! I’ve definitely had times in my life that my bubble has been comprised of, shall we say, less healthy people who had a very negative impact on my behavior, but now I’m much more careful about who I associate with, and it definitely matters who you’re following online as well as IRL! I try to work out every day but I’m not nearly on the same level as you. Still I think it’s inspiring to follow along with blogs like yours – Can’t wait to hear how it goes in NYC!
Thanks Kelly!
So very true! Great post! I’d love to hear what other fitness blogs you follow. I love reading other athlete’s blogs!
Hey there! I read several (when I have time!), but some of my favorite blogs are (sadly a lot of my favorites have stopped blogging!)
http://www.runningbun.com
http://www.socalrunnergal.com
http://www.prettylittlegrub.com
http://www.mommyrunfast.com
http://www.runladylike.com
And http://www.glitteranddust.com
Awesome, thank you!
Nicole, I totally agree with what you have said. However, I think people need to be careful about comparing themselves to those that are not in their bubble — what I mean is, while one can have aspirations to be a runner (and therefore, read blogs dealing with running), when they start comparing themselves and then possibly demeaning themselves for “not being LIKE” that person they admire, it can be self-defeating. I work with a nice young lady who just recently had her 4th child. She is a CPA, and works part-time. She is constantly comparing herself to her FORMER self. I am trying to encourage/help her to see herself as a slightly “different” person that what she was before. She is so self-negative and it’s heart breaking. She is always beating herself up. I have had to come to grips with this same thing. I have had to realize that there are not enough hours in the day to be the person that I admire (you!) and that I have to make my own priorities and BE HAPPY WITH THEM! This doesn’t mean that I have given up my dreams. I just have to reshift my priorities for where my life is at RIGHT NOW.
Thanks for the great blog and this topic that we should explore.
BTW, good luck on the NY Marathon. I am excited to hear your stories!
Love this! So true. I definitely wasn’t trying to say that people should always try to be the people they follow on social media – more that we should surround ourselves with people who inspire us but also know that their lives are unique and that what they are portraying in social media isn’t the full picture. And even like you said, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up if things have changed in our lives and we aren’t the same person we used to be (I have struggled with this as I am not the same runner I was 2 years ago!).
I’m sorry about your friend! I hope she can see that she is just as valuable and lovable and important as she was before, no matter how different her life is.
And thank you for the well wishes!