Have you ever been called a “health freak” or a “gym rat?”  Or been out to eat with friends and afraid to order something healthy from the menu for fear of them making fun of you? Or been teased for wanting to go to the gym after work instead out to happy hour? Or for leaving a party early so you could go home and actually get some sleep? Or been given crap for saying no to dessert? (Ok, that last one rarely happens to me because I physically do not know how to say no to dessert.)

Well, you’re not alone. I used to let the negative comments get to me. In fact, one of the reasons that I started average2athlete with Kayte was because I didn’t want my friends to get annoyed when I posted anything health or fitness related to my personal social media accounts. How silly is that? Your friends should support you in your endeavors and passions, no matter what. And if they don’t, then they’re not your friends. And if they’re not your friends, then who gives a crap what they think?!

I’m not saying that you should become a totally boring person who never goes out and orders salads all the time. In fact, please DON’T become that person. You need some balance in your life.

What I am saying is that it drives me NUTS to think that people are holding back from making healthy decisions because they are afraid of being judged, especially by their friends.

If you are one of the “haters” (I actually hate that word but am lacking a better one at the moment), please stop. Don’t discourage people from bettering themselves. Ok, maybe you don’t care about the gluten free dinner that Sarah made last night that fit her macros perfectly, or John’s Crossfit WOD from this morning where he completed a gazillion thrusters and pull-ups for time, or how many miles Rachel ran last night for her marathon training. Maybe it seems like they are bragging or showing off. Even if they are, who cares? They are taking steps towards healthy lives and in the end, that’s what really matters. Instead of being concerned about what they’re doing, you should be asking yourself, “what am I doing to better myself?”

In fact, I know first-hand how large a role social media can play in one’s fitness journey. It’s a great way to track progress, and unlike logging something in your own journal, it adds another level of accountability. It also lends itself to helpful tips and fosters healthy conversation. I am so grateful that Kayte and I took a chance in starting average2athlete, as it has allowed me to discover an entire network of like-minded people that want to share their fitness journeys, whether they are veterans or just getting started. The feedback that we have received on our blog and the people that we have been fortunate enough to connect with, just through Instagram alone, has been incredible. And knowing that today my workout might inspire one more person to get up and be active makes any criticism that I receive totally worth it.

My point: there are too many truly inspirational people out there to waste time on any of the negative ones. Let them continue to live in ignorance. Ignore their nasty or sarcastic comments. Keep doing your thing – becoming a stronger, healthier, better version of you. They’ll catch on eventually.