body image and words of wisdom

I had class last night, first time in two weeks. Overall, I think I am getting better at the moves and can do more of the conditioning. Of course, at one point I had to stop altogether because I felt lightheaded and woozy. I don't know if that was from being sick over the weekend, not doing it for two weeks, or from hitting my head on the locker really hard before class. But I did finish the class, so that was a little better.

There was this girl in front of me, thin, great arms, just wearing a long sports bar and no top. She looked great, and of course I started comparing myself against her, and some of the other girls in the class. I felt fat and lumpy, not little or toned. I felt sad, frustrated with myself, and wanting to look like them.

When I told Tim, he said something that really made sense. He said I can't compare myself against them, because maybe they've been exercising longer than I have, maybe they have a smaller body frame. He said it's the same with people who are heavier than me, because maybe they haven't been exercising that long, maybe they have a condition that makes them heavier. He said I can only compare myself against myself, how I was a few months ago, how I was a year ago. How are my pants fitting today vs. a month ago? How am I feeling vs. three months ago? That is the only thing I can compare, because I know all the variables.

I've always looked at girls with "better" or "thinner" bodies, wishing I looked like them, but I never really stopped to think that I really can't compare. So I will try not to compare myself to others and just try to be happy with how I look, how I feel, and just keep improving.