""The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character." ~Arnold Schwarzenegger The gym. Just saying the word makes some people break into a sweat-and not the good kind. Bright lights. Mirrors everywhere. What do I wear? That "everyone is staring at me" feeling (spoiler: they're not; they're staring at themselves)."
"I have always been one of those people who worked out. I enjoyed it. Until I didn't. I used to run-miles and miles-endless pavement pounding that started as a coping mechanism when I lost my grandmother at seventeen. I didn't know what else to do with the pain. Back then, there were no phones to scroll through, and counseling wasn't something people encouraged. The message was to "get over it." So, running became my escape and my comfort zone."
Gym environments provoke anxiety for some and comfort for others, with mirrors, lights, and perceived scrutiny influencing attendance. Running became a coping mechanism after the loss of a grandmother at seventeen, developing into long-distance habits including marathons and countless races. Cultural fitness ideals in the 1990s prioritized endless cardio and food restriction, promoting a waif aesthetic and encouraging attention-seeking weight loss rather than resilience. Life events such as pregnancies, careers, and family responsibilities made weight changes more persistent. Over time running remained a refuge, but the relationship with exercise shifted from coping and restriction toward seeking sustainable strength and character through resistance.
Read at Tiny Buddha
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