As I was walking this morning - I saw the fit woman ahead walking toward me. "Just keep your head down....don't look her in the eye", I thought. I was hot with bright red cheeks and my hair was drenched with sweat and actually, I hadn't even been walking for very long. Here she comes and I can't help myself....I glance over and I see it in her eyes and without saying a word she spoke to my soul: "Don't you be embarrassed....keep going....you're doing great....I'm proud of you....you're worth it!"

I returned home and remembered a fellow writer who shared one of his writings titled "Hey, Fat Girl". I feel guided to share it with you with the intention it will bring you the inspiration it brought to me:

Hey, Fat Girl!

Yes, you. The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe.

You cling shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d like to say to you.

You are awesome.

If you’d look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in motion, in front of others.

You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.

You’re a hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside, who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back again.

You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.

I bow to you.

~Flintland

Thank you, I am in the process of getting all of the medical tests done hoping to get banded in January. This site is so informative, I find myself reading more and more abt the lapband journey each day!

*looking forward to a brighter and lighter future, lol

I had a similar moment today... I exchanged hellos with an avid, drop dead gorgeous size 2... And she gave the nicest smile when she said it... It really made me feel less embarassed about the sweat pouring off my body! Thanks for sharing!

**avid Runner

Love that Bamabander!!

All I can say is WOW WOW WOW !!

Love it!

Wow!

That was incredibly breath taking! I can't run as I have two prosthetic knees, but I work out on the recumbent bicycle, and I attempt to use the eliptical. I'm one of those that blasts my music and doesn't have eye contact with all the fit people at the gym. But now I feel that maybe I can meet their eyes, not be ashamed of sweating with little effort and not be ashamed and embarassed at going much slower than the others at the gym.

I am going to print this out and read it everytime I'm afraid to go to the gym. Bless you for posting this.

This was my take on your post...

Love your post pkb!

Perfect pkb.

I wish I could post images on here from my phone I have something that fits that has been on Facebook.

I tried to post it but it kept telling me it crashed.

Perfect pkb.

I have something that fits that has been on Facebook.

Here is another good one:

Thanks Mellio!

Those are perfect! I have an image I wanted to post in this thread, but don't know how to do it. It's in my Pictures on my computer. Would you know how to post it?

Not sure. I ended up figuring it out on my phone. I'm almost always on my phone. There must be some way to add an attachment. That's how I did it on the phone.

This made me cry. So beautiful.