By Lizzie Earl, Hong Kong health fanatic and keen hashtagger @lizziejearl
I don’t want to start any beef (#extralean of course), but consider my sports bra twisted; for I think I’m one of the people Beatrix Chau spoke of in yesterday’s “Hate letter to Hong Kong health fanatics”.
Are we really so bad that we deserve a hate letter? Perhaps you might want to “omm” with a little more vigour at your next yoga class, because I can’t picture a yogi scribing such a note of intolerance.
If we’re annoying, it’s only because fitness and healthy living, Crossfit and yoga, are full-on hobbies which take time, preparation, dedication and hard work. Passionate people like to talk about their hobbies, a lot.
Almost as much as those non-yogis (“nogis” anyone? Ok, no.) like to talk about how drunk/smashed/hungover/embarrassed/tired/broke/in trouble/ill/guilty they are from a night on the tiles, again.
If you’re fed up of #eggwhites and post-workout pics, we’re fed up of the repetitive “here I am posing sideways in a mirror with my alcoholic beverage” photos that clog our feeds, in between high-quality photos of magnificent NutriBullet creations and squat-spirational super toned glutes (that’s arses, for those who don’t refer to their body parts scientifically).
By the way, that interruption in the gym isn’t because of Crossfit and it’s got nothing to do with us health fanatics either.
[Chau had complained about Crossfitters at the gym “kindly informing [her] that there are far more efficient ways to work out”.]
You’re being “mansplained”.
Definition: a man explaining something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising.
And we get that too. All the time. It’s the “everyday sexism” any female gym rat has to endure on a regular basis.
“Honestly, I’m fine lifting this, thank you…”
“Sorry, I really don’t want your advice…”
“Look I’ve got my headphones on, I just want to work out…”
“BACK YOUR PUNY CHICKEN LEGS AWAY FROM THE SQUAT RACK, GO BACK TO BICEP CURLING A WEIGHT THAT’S TOO HEAVY FOR YOU AND LEAVE ME ALONE! Treacle.”
Ok, so maybe we could all do with a little more ommm-ing now and again…
I guess what I’m trying to say is, sorry if we annoy you. It’s not preaching, I promise. We just love it – love doing it, love reading about it, love following it and love sharing it.
Believe it or not, there are tonnes of people out there, millions probably, who love to hear it, which means you’re right – the in-your-face health and fitness is here to stay.
And if the daily reminders are converting said friends to ditch the soggy kebabs and late night snuggles with the bog bowl in place of protein enriched vegan-come-paleo, curly kale-come-spirulina flaxseed topped bliss balls, then every post is worth it.
You know what they say – if you can’t beat them, hop on board the “om shanti” express and join in.
Happy hashtagging!
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