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I'm An Athlete

 

TTTT: “I'm an athlete. There’s a lot of muscle in here.”

Truth:  Muscles don’t hide.

“I’m an athlete, I’m supposed to have a stocky build. And there’s a lot of muscle in here.”  I used to tell myself this as I was buying larger and larger clothing sizes. 

The truth is, I was an athlete.  Before the days of being overweight, I was a multi-sport athlete.  But during my season of obesity, I couldn’t do a 20-minute at-home workout video without pausing it… multiple times.  Being an athlete was still part of my identity, but it wasn’t part of my reality or my lifestyle.

Being an athlete is tied to physical activity AND physical appearance.  But the connection to physical appearance doesn’t match what I was describing.  Yes, it’s true, muscle weighs more than fat.  But you know what else is true? Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat.  So “a lot of muscle in here” might justify what you see on the scale, but it doesn't justify your growing waistband. 

Fast forward to three years ago: I began training with intensity again.  I began building lots of muscle and it did create tension between me and the scale.  I was working out HARD, eating right, and losing only 2 pounds per month.  But… my co-workers and friends noticed the difference.  I had confirmation from others that there was “a lot of muscle” forming.  Chances are most of your friends are too polite to point out the difference when you’re going the other way (gaining fat).

But when you’re building muscle, when you ARE an athlete; people around you will comment.  Random strangers WILL open conversations by asking you about your workout routine.  If you have a lot of muscle in there, you’re not the only one who knows about it.  Muscles don’t hide.

If you’re using this line to ease the sting of what’s in the mirror, please know, I’ve been there.  Also please know, you don’t have to keep explaining yourself to yourself.  

You have the power and ability to
change what you see in that reflection.

Have the courage to consider what could be and the discipline to go after it!  As always, please let me know if there is anything that I can do to encourage you in pursuit of your health.

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