Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

Thinking Out Loud…Body Image

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It’s Thursday…which means it is time to link up with Amanda from Running With Spoons for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  Normally I just share a bunch of random thoughts…but now it is time to share one random train of thought.Thinking-Out-Loud

Around this time last year I visited my doctor for my annual physical.  I had lost somewhere between 10 and 15 lbs since I had last seen my doctor so I was feeling pretty great.  She breezed through the door and told me with her charming accent that I was overweight and needed to lose weight.  Feeling vulnerable wearing nothing more than a paper sheet I was somewhat in shock.  I knew I was in better shape than the year before but she was focusing on the here and now.  She didn’t ask how active I was, it was all about my BMI.  I tried to stammer that I had already lost some weight and was quite active but she was already moving on to the next thing in order to keep our appointment on time and on track.October to February

My annual physical this year actually caused me a touch of anxiety.  I knew I’d get the same message from my doctor because nothing has changed since last year.  At least nothing has changed if you consider the number on the scale and not the fact that I trained for and raced another Ironman and another Goofy Challenge over the last year.  0770_084139

Yesterday in my ballet barre class I looked at the lithe and graceful instructor and I began to criticize my bingo wings as we ran through swan arm exercises.  It was easy to forget that these arms have gotten me through hundreds of metres of swimming.  I’ve looked at my wide hips, I’ve lamented over boots not fitting my calves and I’ve struggled to pull jeans over my “athletic” thighs.  It has been easy to forget the miles these legs have taken me through.  Like my friend Kelly I’ve often struggled to reconcile the athlete that I feel I am versus my body shape and size.  In sports like triathlon or at the gym it is very easy to get caught up in the comparison game and we forget what our bodies are capable of.

As for my physical this year?  Apparently my blood pressure is awesome (which is great to hear since blood pressure issues run in my family).  She made the briefest of comments about the number on the scale but mostly focused on how healthy I seemed to be.  I walked out of my doctor’s office feeling much better than when I walked in.

I could probably go to endless ballet barre classes and I doubt I will ever look like a dancer since it just isn’t in my genetics.  I didn’t sign up for barre class to look like a dancer.  I signed up because it is a great workout for building hip and glute strength to support running.  I’ve always raced Ironmans and marathons because I like pushing my mental and physical limits, not because I had hoped that training for the event would lead me to a certain weight or body composition.

This post is as much a reminder to myself to appreciate my body for what it can do and for the journeys it has taken me on as it is a message to you.  Don’t get caught up in the comparison game because you don’t look like the person standing next to you.  Continue to do what you love and love your body as there is more to health and happiness than a BMI number.

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Comments

  1. 1

    “I didn’t sign up for barre class to look like a dancer. I signed up because it is a great workout for building hip and glute strength to support running.”

    UM, THIS!! I also attend barre classes and so many times I get caught up about my size compared to the other girls in class. I typically am the biggest girl in class. Such nonsense because the reason I am there is to be stronger, not be someone else.

    Thank you for this post!
    Kathy recently posted…Thinking out Loud – Volume 8My Profile

  2. 3

    I hate when doctors or any professionals do that. BMI is only one indicator of health and its not even a very good one! You are strong and healthy and I’m glad you are thinking about what your body is capable of not what it says on a scale.

  3. 5

    Good post! I think you look like an athlete! Don’t worry so much what the doctor says, from what I hear they actually don’t get much education in nutrition, you know your body best and you seem to feed it pretty good!

    Also I have been a silent reader of your blog for a while now and love hearing about your races and training. I’m going to do the Calgary marathon as well, I decided since the weather has been so relatively mild this year I could train through the winter. So I also appreciate hearing that there are other people braving the Canadian cold to get their runs in! (I think I actually frost bit my stomach yesterday!?! I didn’t think that was possible!

    Thanks for your posts!
    K

  4. 7

    Great post and reminder to appreciate our bodies for what they are. I’m not a fan of doctors that don’t look at all the information and just one part.

  5. 9

    Beautiful post, lady <3 It's crazy how easy it is to forget all that our bodies do for us when we start falling into the numbers or comparison game. That's one of the things I hate most about the medical field — they focus on stupid things like BMI to gauge health, when that's such a poor measurement of it. It's great to hear you feeling so confident in your skin because you have every reason to!
    Amanda recently posted…. thinking out loud #119 .My Profile

  7. 13

    BMI as any kind of measurement of health makes me rage. I might be going through a health hiccup right now, but I’m not “unhealthy” not matter what that stupid BMI chart says.
    You are so tough and train so hard and you really are an inspiration.
    Ange recently posted…Let’s Catch UpMy Profile

  8. 15

    Surprising that the doc would talk about BMI in isolation like that. It’s an important part of the health equation, but not everything. When I got my warning back in 2007, it was primarily about my cholesterol and triglycerides, “so you should lose weight, which is also too high.”

  9. 17

    Great post, Leana! I couldn’t agree more that great health is more than just a BMI score or number on the scale. I like your way of thinking – more in terms of what our bodies are able to do for us. And to be strong enough to tackle an Ironman and Goofy is amazing!
    Sun recently posted…Friday Five – What I’m Loving Right NowMy Profile

  10. 19

    Love This…..
    It is SOOOOOO easy to fall into the comparison trap, and it can drive people (me) crazy.
    We are ALL different,
    You are fit/active/and happy and inspire a lot of us to keep on trucking 🙂
    Thanks for that…
    My friend posted something yesterday from buzzfeed “17 things that ffitspo got wrong, so we fixed it” Give it a read 🙂

    • 20

      Lisa, thank you so much for your comment! I just read through that Buzzfeed list. Those fitspiration posts really just seem to be about shaming you into feeling guilty if you don’t work out all the time. Balance is important…and Oreos *are* delicious! I really appreciated that article!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Test Run and What’s Cooking 03.01.2015My Profile

  11. 21

    leanna you are strong healthy,happy and beautiful! It’s unfortunate that within our 10 min GP exam they really don’t get to know much about us. You know what’s healthy and feels good. Cheers!

  13. 25

    I somehow missed this one, so I’m commenting late. Fitness is as fitness does. Your doctor seems a bit short sighted. It’s well known BMI is misleading for athletic people. I had my doctor on my case about it a few years ago. I told him to research it, and ask himself if someone training about 12 hours a week and doing a half ironman qualified as athletic. I haven’t heard a word out of him on that topic since.

    Get the T shirt, ‘Yes I swim, bike, and run like a girl. Try to keep up.’ Wear it proudly.
    Keith recently posted…Filters and stuffMy Profile

  14. 26

    My BMI is 25.8 which means I am overweight. Like your doctor, mine also said I should “lose weight.” So I asked her “why?” And she look at me confused. I pointed out that I have healthy blood pressure, low resting heart rate, no problems with cholesterol, no signs of diabetes, and no other health issues. I also pointed out that I am very active and lift weights regularly. So, I asked her again “why?” She really could not answer me. And she has never brought it up since!

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