My Laser Lady Asked if I Stopped Exercising..

And here's how I didn't have a mental breakdown.

Has anything like this every happened to you? A comment or question that could have or maybe did send you into a spiral of negative thought?

The point of this story is to tell you what I had to do to not let this ruin my whole day.

Last week I drove a couple hours all the way to LA to go to the same laser hair removal place I've been going to for years. Every time I go, it's the same lady. We don't usually talk much, neither of us are really chatty, but every once in a while I'll catch her in a chipper mood. This was one of those days.

Despite not talking much, she knows me pretty well. Well... my body anyways...

So as I lay there pant-less to zap my hairy legs, the first thing she says to me is, "did you stop exercising?"

In my head, I was like "what the F!" But instead I say, "why? Do I look fatter?" in a ha ha type of tone, cringing as I waited for her to say "yes."

Instead she just taps my under butt fat that's smushed on the table as I lay, now awkwardly, on my back.

So for our 20 minute session and a couple hours post, I'm in my head trying not to spiral into negative thoughts.

This is how I finally allowed myself to not only let the comment go, but actually use it as positive motivation to get back to the thing I once loved - weight training:

1. I woke up laser morning and had gotten my period. I had actually looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "dang, this is not my best day." Admittedly, I had a lot of water retention and it was noticeable even to me.

2. Ms. Blunt Laser Lady has known me for several years, including when I used to do competitive bodybuilding. Is she comparing my current body to then? Probably in ways. Do I want to look like that now? No.

3. I see her every few months and every time I do, she looks different. Skinny, too skinny, overweight, more overweight. She definitely struggles with her weight, likely causing her to pay attention to other people's weight and bodies.

4. I actually haven't been working out (in the gym) nor eating nearly enough protein for muscle growth or retention. I like to take breaks from a high protein diet sometimes because it feels good in my belly and I get lazy to cook. And I've been so stoked on surfing that the gym is such an afterthought. Exercise doesn't just look like the gym so to answer her question, no I haven't stopped exercising. But, in her defense, my muscles could use a little inflating and I'm actually glad she kicked me into gear. I can find balance in my nutrition and overall exercise regimen because it does feel good to feel and look strong.

SO, I definitely did have to rationalize.

In the end I didn't take it personally or allow it to send me into a hole of feeling ashamed, unworthy or anything else.

I knew her intentions weren't bad. I understand her weight history, already know she's one of the most blunt people I've met, and deep down knew I've been needing to incorporate more gym training in order to look the way I like to look... I just hadn't admitted it out loud yet.

I took the opportunity to check myself, add some resistance to my training, stock up on wild salmon, pasture-raised eggs and grass-fed ground beef...

...and you better believe when I go to my laser appointment in July I'm gonna look really flippin' GOOD (lol).

Moral of the story is people are oblivious and if we can avoid taking things personally, using their unwelcomed comments may actually be just what we need to reevaluate, grow and evolve.

Steph