My Haters Are My Motivators is The Perfect Title For This Post.

I was nervous on the way to day one boot camp. It had been months since I had been to a class. All of the progress I had made physically had vanished and I was embarrassed to face my instructor and fellow boot campers.
On the drive over to class, I had a conversation with myself in which I tried to Pump Me Up.
“No one will judge you. Your instructor will welcome you with open arms. She is there to help you! Sure, you had a set back, but you’re getting off of your ass and getting back in shape! Don’t be afraid! Leave the past behind! Look to the future. YOU ARE SO STRONG. YOU CAN DO THIS. BE PROUD!”
The first thing I had to do when I arrived was get weighed and measured. My weight was as bad I thought it would be– I’ve gained 21 pounds. My measurement were just as bad, although I’m not sure how bad because I closed my eyes and plugged my ears while she was saying/writing the numbers. There was no judgement, only a big hug and a “glad you’re back!”
As I was heading to put my things down, a woman who had taken the last class with me a few months back approached me. I had bonded with this woman over our hatred of running. I was happy to see her back!
“Hi!” She shouted enthusiastically.
“HELLO!” I said. “So glad to see you!”
And then, this came out of her mouth.
“Wow– you’ve gained a lot of weight, haven’t you?”
I paused before responding because did she just call me out on my weight gain in front of everyone? Oh, ha ha! She totally did.
“Wow– you’ve gotten bitchier, haven’t you?” I shot back. IN MY HEAD BECAUSE NO I DIDN’T. I just smiled and said “Sure have. 21 pounds.”
She wasn’t finished with me yet.

“Yeah, you were A LOT smaller the last time I saw you.”

I can’t describe to you how uncomfortable I felt with her rude words right up in my face, so I pulled the My Grandma Died of Cancer And It Made Me Sad So I Ate a Lot Card. I didn’t know what else to say to make her shut her mouth. It worked, she said sorry and left me alone.
As I laid my workout mat down on the ground, I couldn’t help but think of how what had just happened was exactly what I had feared about going back. I didn’t want for people to see how I had failed. And within the first five minutes of exiting my car

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, someone noticed and pointed it out very loudly with words in front of everyone who was there.
I was embarrassed, but only for a minute. She was just stating the truth. I have gained weight. I am bigger than I was four months ago.
Life has ups and downs. So does my weight. I’ve recognized where I’ve went wrong and I am making the necessary adjustments to my life. I’m back to boot camp. I’m planning healthy meals again. I’m taking my daily vitamins and drinking enough water. I’m going to bed at a decent time. My body will get back to were it needs to be and everything will fall back into place. It’s all good. I’m so good.
While I do believe her message was simply the truth, her delivery was rude and uncalled for. I plotted my revenge during the timed mile run. I was going to beat her at running! Except, she was in front of me the entire time. Every time I’d catch up (while she was taking a walking break) she’d start running again and stay a few steps ahead of me. During the last stretch of the run, I used her rudeness to fuel me. “I may be bigger, but I can run faster than you, lady!” I pushed myself as hard as I possibly could. With the end of the run in sight, I did it. My Much Bigger Self passed her up and I beat her.
Can’t wait to see what happens in class tonight.

41 thoughts on “My Haters Are My Motivators is The Perfect Title For This Post.

  1. Debbie

    OH NO SHE DIN’T. And, oh YES you did! Woohoo! Now just get a tiny bit faster, and you can not only beat her, but have a couple of extra seconds to turn around and trip her, too 😉
    Good for you, getting back on the horse. You are beautiful and strong no matter what your weight, but you deserve to look and feel as great on the outside as you are on the inside.

  2. Mary

    I’m so proud of you for going back to boot camp. Please kick that woman’s butt every week for me, otherwise I’ll be forced to head down there and kick it for you.

  3. Maddie

    Damn, you’d think someone who’s struggling with weight would be a little more sensitive! But, guess what? You heard it, you faced it and you’re over it! Keep it movin.

  4. Alison

    Ok so you have gained some weight back. Just because you have doesn’t make it ok for her to point it out. She must not feel very good about herself, so she is going to put you down in front of everyone to give herself that powerful feeling of doing that. What’s sad is that it may make her feel better about herself for a split second, but then it is gone and she has to find it again. So she must pull that crap with people all the time. What a bitty!

  5. James E.

    Good on ya for sticking it to her in the mile. I don’t understand why people feel the need to be obviously rude like that. Being in the same group for the same reasons one would expect support and understanding, not having to put up with assholes. Hope it goes better tonight!

  6. Heather

    What a jerk face. I can’t even imagine somebody being … special … enough to say that, but if you are going to be the kind of person who brings it up, at least don’t be a douche about it. Yeesh. Screw her! Also, congrats for beating her b*tchy self 😉

  7. Lisabc

    You are amazing and wonderful Yvonne! I’m so proud of you for starting up Boot Camp again. I really should take a page from you and get my own ass in gear and get fit. I have no excuses other than I hate working out.
    You’re also ALOT more polite than I would have been to that woman. I would have totally spoken my mind to her. The older I get the bigger my balls!

  8. Lise

    You should feel very, very proud of yourself for going back to boot camp even though you were nervous. I’m so impressed by how hard you work at getting healthy. The important thing is not that you slip backward, but that you manage to go forward again.

  9. Becky

    Ugh this is exactly why I work out in my own basement.
    I love how you made your hater your motivator!!! Has SHE lost any weight?

  10. lani

    How did you not just haul off and punch her in the face??!! You should have said, “Wow. I’m happy to see you, too. I’m going to pretend you really didn’t just go there,” and turned your back on her. People are rude. What a social pygmy.

  11. Roxanna

    Okay, first..that woman is a cow. She was SO rude and showed exactly how few manners and little class she has.
    Second… yay you for going back!!! I can totally relate except substitute weight watchers for boot camp. I sucked it up too (a few times to be honest) but like you, I just keep plugging away at it.
    In our time we will get to where we want to be. I had a mini-epiphany in January – while I will try to keep being healthier and to lose weight I am NOT going to make this the absolute focus of my life. I can miss out on too many things with my children and husband, not to mention just the beauty of the day, if all I do is obsess about food and exercise. I just fit it in when and where I can and try to live me life in the moment.

  12. Marci

    Some people just don’t think before they speak. Good for you for taking the high road and then showing her up at the end. The big question is, can you get out of bed and do it all over again today? Cause if it were me, I would be in a full muscle emergency; needing a day off. Good luck.

  13. Leigh

    I do not understand how people can say these things out loud. How do they live with themselves?
    It is AWESOME that you are not letting her unbelievable rudeness get you down. Hang in there! And avoid that woman like the plague that she is.

  14. Nancy P

    High five for beating that bitch, who I WILL cut if given the chance! I have said it before and I will say it again. YOU are an inspiration to me with the determination you show.

  15. Kathy

    Good for you! And just for the record, I think it’s totally awesome that you can run a mile – I know I can’t. And I don’t want anyone calling me out for that publicly either!

  16. DogsDontPurr

    Taking that first step to get back in shape is the hardest step to take….and you stepped up in the face of all your fears. I am proud of you….you are an inspiration to me!!! Be proud of yourself. You have earned it. You rock…..now keep rockin’ it. I know you will.

  17. Lee

    And this is why I will never sign up for a Boot Camp. Yours is not the first experience I’ve heard of like this.
    Good for you for turning it into a positive! Keep it up.

  18. Maggie

    You are an inspiration. You are real. What happened to you…happens to everyone…but you are able to admit it to yourself, and a hell of a lot of people on the internet. I’ve had my own setbacks in my weightloss journey, and when I read about yours, it motivates me to keep going, keep trying. I know you have your struggles, but just know you are helping people out there! Thank you!
    PS It’s unfortunate that some people lack a “polite” filter…but GO YOU for finishing ahead of her! Just show her up by getting back in the game 😉

  19. DogsDontPurr

    Taking that first step to get back in shape is one of the hardest, I think. And to do that in the face of someone else’s negativity, is one very tall step. You should be extremely proud of yourself. You rock!!

  20. statia

    Dude, unless you’re a woman who hates food, and spends her life at the gym, you’re probably going to gain and lose the same 20-25 pounds for the rest of your life. I’m up 10 this winter.
    Quite frankly, I find people that hate food to be cranky. And weird. But mostly cranky. But maybe just as weird. Whatever, EAT A SANDWICH!

  21. maggie

    Wow, that woman is miserable. Sucks to be her. You can always lose weight but I doubt she can lose the chip on her shoulder. Kudos to you for staying classy.

  22. Angela

    Oh my god. Since Seinfeld is off the air, maybe you can introduce this as the pilot episode of your own billion dollar tv hit. Holy shite monkeys. I am thinking this chick thinks you and she are so tight, she can just say that to you and it’s all, “Oh you know it, grrrl, I got so fat! Dayumm.” ‘cept she’s wrong. I hope the deathinthefamily card made her feel stupid, but I’m thinking it didn’t because she is clearly speshul. For what it’s worth, this stranger thinks you are AMAZING and INSPIRATIONAL. I’m so tired of hating my body, too, and you give me hope to move forward even though I feel so far behind. xox

  23. Laney

    I think it says a lot about you that you chose to refrain from engaging in The Rudeness.
    I am just catching up and want to say that I think it’s wonderful that your son is joining the military. I read your post with tears welling up in my eyes because I can imagine the immense pride coupled with fear that you have. My SIL is in the Navy and we have good friends who are Marines. I hope that it does not sound too hokey, but we will add your son to our list of people we pray for over dinner. God bless you all.

  24. Kim

    There are ways and ways of stating the truth, and bitchy don’t have to be one of them. You are a better woman than I am for holding your tongue.
    And you go. You’re not doing too badly if your 21#heavier body can beat her been-staying-with-the -program self. Stay strong.

  25. FireMom

    Oh hell. Good on you for not verbally bitch slapping her.
    And even gooder (totally a word) on you for getting back to where you want to be. High five!

  26. Rachael

    WTF? What is wrong with people?! You are a stronger person than me, I probably would have started crying or something. Or told her she was ugly. Or something.

  27. BetteJo

    OH NO. That was NOT acceptable. People feel so freaking free to comment on other’s looks and weight – it’s rude and just plain mean. I don’t care if you DID gain 21 lbs! You were back, you were doing a positive thing – man I just hate people like that. And um .. I tend to not filter well sometimes, and I just might have said out loud what you said in your head. Some people deserve it.

  28. Meredith

    I am so so sorry this happened to you. Her comment was rude and uncalled for. Please listen to all your wonderful commenters/supporters and congrats on getting back to boot camp. I, too, slacked off January and February, making it back March 2. I have been diligent this month and am doing great and feeling great- you will too! My new mantra when people say the “wrong” thing is to call them out on it and ask if we can start over (a do-over if you will). That’s what we were taught for the preschoolers so I am using it on everyone. It’s a chance to pro-actively fix bad situations so that it doesn’t haunt me later.

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