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| #TooFatToRun?...Its Time to Join the Movement! |
There is a new heroine in the world: Julie Creffield. She is
singularly responsible for creating the #TooFatToRun? movement. It is all
because she started to participate in organized runs but soon found that people
had expectations about who should run. It seems that if you are overweight you
don’t fit the profile. It is amazing to me that people who are working hard to
be healthy are experiencing prejudice and negative behavior from others. I know
it is true, I have experienced it myself.
There is a distinct line between encouraging awareness and
action in others to embrace and live a healthier life and the very uncool, even
harmful behavior exhibited by thoughtless people who verbally abuse or not so
subtlety shun people who are over weight. With the growing movement for all of
us to live healthier lives it is exciting to see so many people engaging in
improving and fostering their own good health. The challenge is that there are
small-minded people out there who think that because of the push towards health
they have the right to publically harass, humiliate or ridicule individuals who
are overweight or obese. This is very uncool and unacceptable. In my opinion we
should push back hard on this behavior and role model healthy, positive and
encouraging behavior.
This is exactly what Julie Creffield (a.k.a. @FattyMustRun)
is doing. Julie is my new idol. She is doing something she enjoys and
persevering while bringing attention to the underlying prejudice that exists
out in the world towards fat people who participate in organized activities and
sports. And the even better news is she is getting others involved. I would
even bet there are those “taking up the sword” and getting active just so they
can be part of the movement.
Julie has galvanized people to get up and run. By positive
example people all over the world are showing us there is no such thing as
#TooFatToRun?...No way! The movement and its followers have adopted a positive
attitude and are leading by example. These are the people I want my children to
look up to, cheer on, and run beside. I can’t wait to order my Too Fat To Run? t-shirt, wear it
with pride, and help call attention to an unhealthy prejudice that needs to be
excised so we can all get on with embracing a healthier lifestyle. Let’s
all—Live Vibrant!
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