Over Easter weekend we visited family in Kansas. My husband’s Grandma made the following comment, “Nathan, you’re too skinny!” She said this with disdain. Nathan is 5’10” and 165 pounds and has completed an Ironman along with a 50 mile run and marathons. He has a body fat percentage of approximately 7%. He’s not too skinny. He’s just right. But in our overweight society Nathan probably seems too thin.
Nathan’s Dad tells him that he can’t fight genetics and he will some day have a big belly. For years he has told Nathan he will be overweight by the age of 30. Then he moved it up to 35. Now he claims by 40 Nathan will be overweight. Nathan is 36. I don’t see it happening. Just because your parents are overweight does not mean that you will follow down that path. Don’t use “genetics” as an excuse. Rather use comments like these as inspiration. People sometimes ask me what Nathan is running from when he’s out running daily. I like to say, “His genetics!”
Nathan’s brother Jason used to be out of shape and then started running half marathons, completed a triathlon, and is now training for a marathon. Jason looks fantastic, but to Granny he’s just “too thin.” Before he started exercising regularly Granny said he had finally “filled out.”
Nathan and I chuckle about his Grandma and Father’s perceptions. If Nathan actually listened to his family then he would probably start exercising less and eating more (if only he married a woman who can cook), but he knows better.
I hate to pick on Nathan’s family, but their perceptions are off. Exercising regularly and being at an appropriate weight for your height is not being too skinny…it’s being healthy! I wrote a blog earlier about sabotage and sometimes family members may sabotage you just with their words. Don’t take these negative words to heart. If you have lost weight and are eating healthy and you receive negative comments about your appearance, remember that people have different perceptions but you are on the right path.
Thank goodness Granny isn’t on the internet!