Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Kids tease me, a mother, at the playground

The first teasing my 3-year-old daughter experienced on the playground was seeing a little boy barrage me with questions: "Why are you so big? Your bottom needs exercise."

He kept on until his father called him over and gave the little boy a good talking to, "You don't say those kinds of things to strangers. You don't know their story."

I was mortified, at a loss for words. I was so embarrassed in front of my daughter. She's only 3, but I'm sure she recognized it in some form.

Still, I have to admit, I am terribly frustrated by my pear shape, especially because it seems to drop weight last in the places that need it most.

It is frustrating when I know I am making great progress, but you wouldn't know it by my hips. I melt from the top down, so even though I can finally notice my cheek bones again. I feel like sand bags are straped to my thighs, making it even harder to do the heavy-duty workouts required to drop pounds.

I needed to remind myself that even a month ago, I couldn't do the kind of rocking interval training that I do to get in shape for Kilimanjaro. My hikes are now a breeze, when last July I was huffing and puffing my way up the shortest trails. Every day is a step forward.

Working out and active play with my daughter is the most important thing that I can do. So there is no way I'm backing down...



The truth is, I probably won't see any noticible difference in my hips until June or July. I need to be OK with that and respect my body for all it has done for me over the years. I need to remind my daughter that it is important to be healthy and strong -- and I am headed in that direction.

Next time I will come up with a better response, because kid, I am exercising this bottom EVERY.SINGLE.DAY to make it up Kilimanjaro a third time.

To learn more about my story, visit: www.fatwomanonthemountain.com

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Kara, you are always an inspiration to me! Your story, your journey is the important thing to remember, not the snapshots, some of which are not as flattering. You are doing great things. It will be the active, rockin' mama that Anna remembers and looks up to. You will leave all the others in the dust. I am so. Proud. Of. You.

Unknown said...

Kara, you are beautiful inside and out! We love you and are VERY proud of everything you have done! Keep up the amazing work--you are an inspiration to all!!

Stephania Andrade said...

You are a great inspiration to us all. Don't let other remarks bring you down. You have made exceptional progress and for that you deserve respect!
Keep up the hard work!