When I went vegan, I thought that it changed a fundamental aspect of my identity. I strongly identified with being a "foodie". I was so fat because I LOVED food, I would eat any kind of food, taste whatever delicacy I could get my hands on. People expected (and admired) this of me and I cultivated and embraced this impression. Suddenly, I've got limits. I can't be a gourmand anymore, I've got things - a lot of things - that I now say "No" to. This challenged me, because I did not want people to see me differently than I'd always been. I didn't want to take away a single thing that I thought made people like me, I didn't think I had that many of those things to spare.
That was 13 years ago, and I've still got friends who seem to like me, regardless of my diet. Now, instead of asking what I think about the crispy garlic beef tendon dish, they ask me my favorite way to prepare garlic scapes. But my reputation as a fat foodie is intact.
I am talking about all of this because I am desperate for another identity shift. I want... so badly... to be an "Active Person". I want to see myself that way, and I want others to see me that way. But for as long as I've been working out (almost 20 years), I haven't been considered an Active Person, I've just been a dieting person. A person working out to lose weight. I'm under the impression that being an Active Person is a lifestyle. That is what we see in media and social media, anyway.
"She lives an active lifestyle!" cue the montage of a fit and toned woman, wearing a cute coordinating sports bra and legging set, maybe she's got a lululemon long sleeve zip up on top. She's on a run, up a windy country road... she's not sweating, she's *glistening*... she's on the go, she's leaving yoga class and heading to the pool. She meets her equally as cute and fit friends at the pickleball court for a quick game. She rides her bike home, fresh veggies from the farmers market poking out of her bag. You know what I'm saying. THAT is the "Active Person" of which I am referring to.
But that can't be reality... right? I mean, I know active people, people who do marathons and HYROX on the weekends. People who do Spartan Races and people who do yoga every single day. These people are real and they exist, and they work a 9-5 just like me. Some (most!) of them even have children to mind. I have no hesitations in seeing these people as Active People, even when they take weeks off from their activities, even when they are downing a triple scoop of ice cream, why? because they look fit.
But I've never been one - or at least - I've never FELT like one. Maybe its simply because I don't LOOK like one. Maybe it's because I've held my identity of chronic illness above my identity as an active person, and I don't want people to see one of those and have it invalidate the other.
I'm a complete imposter. If I reenacted that entire Active Person montage from above, I wouldn't look like an active person, I would look like a fat woman overworking herself to lose weight.
I need to digress, because none of the above ramblings are what I intended to talk about. What I meant to talk about is something I've been thinking about for awhile - What does a real-life Active Person's day actually look like? Because I have a feeling that it's one of those "Celebrities - they're just like us" situations. You know, when you see a picture of a usually glamorous celebrity coming out of a port-a-potty, TP stuck to their shoe, and you're like, whoa, they are just a messy human like the rest of us!
I bet seeing an Active Person's average day would leave me thinking - oh, I'm not that far off! Yet, the more I think about this, the more I see that it might actually be impossible to feel like an Active Person without looking like an Active Person. That being as it is, they also say to dress for the job you want not the job you have, right? So, if I do all the active person things, I maybe will eventually achieve Active Person status?
Ok, I went ahead and asked AI for a definition of an Active Person (or living an Active Lifestyle). Here's what it said (with my response) -
At its core, an active lifestyle aligns with the recommendations of major health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). For adults, this generally means accumulating at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, or an equivalent combination of both. Additionally, muscle-strengthening activities involving all major muscle groups are recommended at least twice a week.
Ok, cool, so this - I'm doing! ✅
Being an active person is also defined by a set of consistent habits and psychological traits:
Proactivity and Goal-Orientation: Active individuals tend to be planners. They schedule their workouts, set fitness goals, and take the initiative to make physical activity a priority in their busy lives.
Thats me! check! ✅
Consistency over Intensity: The hallmark of an active person is not necessarily extreme workouts, but rather the regularity of their chosen activities. They understand that consistency is the key to long-term health benefits and fitness maintenance.
I do struggle with long-term consistency, because when I don't see results I get nervous and make changes. But, I am definitely trying!
Positive Mindset: Many active people view exercise not as a chore, but as a form of self-care and a source of energy and well-being. They often find joy in movement and appreciate what their bodies can do.
I didn't used to feel this way, but I do now! exercise has become such an ingrained habit that I don't have to beg and force myself to do it. Its time to work out, and I'm in it before I've even realized. And for some workouts, I really do find joy in it! But not all :-) ✅
Resilience and Adaptability: Life inevitably presents obstacles to a fitness routine. An active person is more likely to be resilient, finding alternative ways to stay active when their usual plans are disrupted. They are also adaptable, willing to try new activities to keep their routine fresh and engaging.
Ok, I like this one. And I have a thought on this that is very fresh in my mind, as last week I was sick. My workout schedule (and desire!) was totally thrown off. I was able to adapt my workouts to an easier, more manageable routine without throwing a ton of guilt on myself, or pushing my body past where I should. That is adaptability, and this week, I'm right back to my regularly scheduled program - that's resilience! ✅
Listening to Their Body: While they push themselves, active individuals also learn to recognize their body's signals for rest and recovery, preventing burnout and injury.
In essence, being an "active person" is a dynamic and multifaceted concept. It's about meeting or exceeding recommended physical activity guidelines through a variety of enjoyable activities and cultivating a mindset that values and prioritizes movement as an integral part of a healthy and fulfilling life.
This is one I will probably always struggle with, but I've gotten much MUCH better about respecting my body's limits in respect to my chronic illnesses and propensity for injury. I think I will always struggle with this and vacillate between pushing myself too hard to lack of progress and holding myself back for fear of injury.
Ok, so, whats my score? I have 4 of the 6 traits associated with being an Active Person. And to my slight surprise, AI didn't mention physical appearance at all. Soooooo.... maybe I CAN be an Active Person and star in my own movie montage, though I don't think I'd ever be caught dead in just a sports bra in public!
