One of my friends is training for a ½ Ironman (!) this summer – that is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and a half-marathon. Oh, and she has a 4 year old and 1 year old! (Can we say rock star??)
She has always been into working out – a LOT. She works out 5-6 days a week, but she also eats well and takes care of herself. She’s always been involved in sports and really enjoys working out.
Recently she got some flack because she was posting her workouts on Facebook (through an app called “OnTri”), and people were commenting that she was exercise obsessed. She felt like people thought she was bragging about her workouts. So she posted yesterday that she was taking it down, and got several responses from people saying that they actually thought her updates (showing all her workouts) were motivating.
Now, I can see this going both ways.
I will admit there were some days when I’d see her updates, that she had swam a mile and ran 4 miles, and it motivated me to get to the gym and sweat it out. On the other hand, sometimes it did make me feel guilty. I know this is all my problem – it goes back to how I compare myself to others too often.
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How would you react to seeing someone’s intense workouts posted everyday? Would it motivate you? Make you feel a little guilty?
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It doesn’t bother me. It’s kind of the same as when I read blogs that have intense workouts.
I think there is a fine line between exercising regularly and getting exercise obsessed. Its a tough call. I used to post my weekly workouts but have stopped because I didn’t want people to feel like thats what they SHOULD be doing. I teach classes, so my schedule is dictated by that and others shouldn’t compare. You have to do whats right for you.
Darn, my comment erased itself the first time. Long story short – I think folks should be supportive and motivating towards your friend. She’s clearly set a high bar for herself but she’s also taking care of her body and not abusing it in the process (from what you’ve told us anyway). Yes, some days there might be guilt seeing her updates, but 99% of the time her friends should support her in her quest, and consider that she was probably using that app to motivate herself too, ya know?
Agree with my sis (shocker)…if others think it’s bragging, they might be jealous or just hate that kind of daily update.
Absolutely motivating. Much like Biggest Loser. I could sit here and watch this show and feel like they are all showing off how much they work out, but that’s the whole purpose of the show – to get healthy and to motivate others to do the same.
It all depends on the individual. Since i know shes training for an 1/2 iron man I would expect that she do all this physical activity.
The fact that people are upset over it are probably hating on themselves for hte simple fact that she is doing something they arent brave enough to do. Those who support her and beleive in her should encourage her- not knock her down.
…and while were at it- im hopping on the treadmill just cuz she motivated me to do so! so there. lol
I’ve fallen into the trap of letting others’ workouts make me feel guility, but I think they can definitely be inspiring as well! I try to focus more on the activity that they are doing as a means of motivation instead of constantly comparing myself to their times and distances.
That being said, I would never belittle my friend for trying to work towards their own personal goal unless it truly is unhealthy…in which case I would personally talk to them…not post it all over FB or some other web platform.
Good post topic!
I usually in awe of people who do that. I admire them for doing something I don’t think I would ever do but that I find fascinating. Knowing what I know about training and running I understand that you have to put in those kinds of hours to even just finish such a grueling event. People who don’t understand how much it takes are probably the ones who are criticizing her. Perhaps before they jump to conclusions they should research just what a person has to do to complete that particular goal.
It makes me feel guilty but in a good motivating kind of way, I think if they can do it I can do it too. I don’t compare myself with the intensity or anything, I just like to know that I did SOMETHING at least.
Now if someone was running 10 miles and spinning for an hour and then doing something else, then yes I think that is way obsessed ( I know cuz I’ve been there.)
Probably a little of both!
I don’t really post about my workouts on facebook. I get flack without doing so… lol. But it’s expected. Because I spend a lot of time training for things- so banging out 4 miles one morning doesn’t seem like a big deal to me in the grand scheme of things. But people who are clearly not as active or don’t understand the training schedule, would probably call me “workout obsessed”. It’s definitely one of those “eye of the beholder” things…
Interesting you should post about this! I use Daily Mile and it syncs up to Facebook too. People would always think it was bragging or something, and I never meant for it to be that way. It was motivating for me! And a great way to keep track of my progress. And uhhh, it was like 45 minute workouts, not iron man training!! But, I do see it going both ways, unfortunately.
I can totally see both sides. As a former over-exerciser, I’m generally annoyed by people who have apps like that – but I’m quick to cheer on a friend who ran her first mile or who biked his first race. I think there’s a difference. I don’t need motivation but others might … so for some people, status updates like that can be a source of encouragement … but I personally am usually irked by them or feel guilty reading them – ESP now that I’m on maternity leave and have not gotten the 6-week “go” light from my OB (I had a C-section) and so it’s hard to read all these new gym resolutions, etc, when I can’t participate … and frankly don’t even want to right now! Great, insightful post!
sometimes it bothers me and sometimes it doesnt… after a while i can see it getting annoying because i sometimes feel as if that person is bragging… but then again, i blog all about my running life so i have no room to talk! however, i do think a blog is MUCH different than facebook
It motivates me to do more and makes me feel happy for them!