The world we live in as a fat-phobic society

So tonight I was all excited to go back to Zumba class. I'd been looking forward to it since last week. The class is so much more fun than doing the dvds at home! But tonight I was particularly excited because I had some new workout clothes to wear and I was super happy about it! I had some nice capri workout pants with little rainbow stripes on one pant leg and a new tank top with little panda faces on it. SUPER CUTE! And for those who know me, you probably know that the only socks I pretty much own are white tube socks because for whatever reason they're the only socks that my shoes won't eat when I walk or exercise. So I rolled them down a bit so I didn't look silly with capris and white socks up to my knees. Sort of makes wearing capris sort of silly.
I gathered my things and was JUST about to walk out the door and I heard people walking around outside going up or down the stairs near my apartment like they were either leaving or going to their apartment. I stopped at my door and waited until I didn't hear anyone before I left my apartment because I was scared for people to see me in a tank top and my rolled down white socks and capri pants. I got in my car and thought... why did I just do that? Why do I care what strangers think about what I'm wearing?? And the whole thing got me to thinking about when I was younger and I would literally roast myself in the summer because I didn't want to show skin in public because of my weight. I remember my mom constantly trying to get me to wear shorts or something. Anything that wouldn't cause me to be uncomfortable in the North Carolina summer heat. But to me, being uncomfortable in the heat was better than being uncomfortable because of people judging me for what I was wearing at my weight. We hear stories all the time about people being fat shamed, especially at gyms. I've never understood why people think it's fun or cool to tear people down who are legit trying to better their health. What's the point and why should anyone else care? Focus on your own life and workout. I know when I used to go to Planet Fitness, I sort of just put mental blinders on and focused on what I was doing and that was it.

Anyway. I know it all seems silly, but I feel like we do still live in a fat-phobic world. There have been great strides to make it better, but honestly it's still not where it needs to be. When I got out of my car to go into Zumba class... which is in a small shopping center so there were people out and about... I just held my head up and walked right on in ready to work and have fun doing it! When I left, I felt great after my workout and didn't really care.

Now, onto the actual workout! Class was so much fun! Now that I'm getting the routines down a bit and am not completely new to it, I was able to get into it a bit more. Some of the routines were new from last week but some of them were the same so I was able to recall them and polish them up a bit. But I had a lot of fun and the hour just flew right by and before I knew it, it was over! Sometimes I still got my left and right mixed up, but the cool thing about Zumba is that sometimes you don't need to get it right. Its just about being active and keeping yourself going and moving! Easy as that!

Anyway, I need to get going and get ready for work early in the morning. I hope that everyone has had a great week and have great weekend plans ahead of them!

Blessings and Later Days!

--CarryV