Negative attitude/comments regarding health & fitness

[CDPotier]

I also have a totally flat stomach after having two children, and I don't suck it in. In fact, it is concave. It is none of anybody's business about your stomach. I would not even say a word if a woman had a huge gut over a bikini bottom.

[ReneePruitt]

Wow I think it is awesome u guys have flat bellies. What have you done to get there?
When I lost a lot of weight I was told I was to skinny and I'm obssessed with exercise this was by my sisters who had always been smller then me. Till then. I heard it so long with contempt in there voice
Finally I started trying to eat"normal " and the last 7 years I gained nearly half of it back. I can't believe I let them get to me. Totally my fault. No I'm bigger then them and they shut up now except to tell me they lost 10 pounds every once in a while and one told me this out of the blue and said "oh I lost mine eating what I want just less of it and I don't. Exercise"
She is skinny but is not toned. I'm chuncky but I am still toned. I can run 4 miles she can't walk to long. I think I'd rather stick to exercise and I will never let others dictate my weight again. I will loose it again and when I do I'm gonna keep doing me. Hmm I just pray Ivan loose it soon.

[CDPotier]

There was only one time in my life, right after my separation, that a shrink had put me on Depakote, and it caused me to gain weight. When I found out about that side affect, I stopped taking it, and I lost all the weight. When I married, I think I was about 103, and, in college, I remember being 93, which was much too thin.

Having said that, I have always maintained that a person can be overweight and still be physically fit. Hope this finds all well.

[Fit_mommy]

Originally Posted by CDPotier

I am just on some book-reading websites, because I read a great deal, and I have a few photos of myself. I have my own board on one of them, and I received a very nasty private message from somebody on the site. I think she had posted about fitness books, and I chimed in. I did not answer her private message, but I had met this woman in person at one of the book meetings, and I think she must weigh 275 pounds. I would never attack a person because of his or her overweight, but I did not go to that meeting again.

67 percent of the American population is overweight, and 33 percent is obese. I never tell my neighbor she is fat, although she is about 4'11 and close to 200 pounds. I think it is very rude to made comments like that.

It IS very rude and good for you for being the bigger person!

Pardon the pun!

[wonderwoman]

Originally Posted by mbmundt

I didn't have time to read all the postings but I had to join in.

I was at a store buying 35 & 40lbs dumb bells and the cashier asked if I needed help getting those out to my car. I politely said, no thanks, I can handle it.

Everyone thinks I'm insane that I get up at 3am 6 days a week to workout.

I did have some people say to me that I didn't need to work out. I told them, how do you think I got to look like this. Trust me it, it wasn't good genes. I was blessed with not the best ones.

Probably the most disappointing was when I was so thrilled that I finally got to go to one of Cathe's Road Trips (Chicago) and I was telling people that I was going away for the weekend and they were all excited for me until I told them what I was doing it. The change in the reaction was unbelieveable.

The best one is when my DH and I are shopping and there is something fairly heavy to carry, I'll always grab it first and he lets me carry it out to the car and loves the looks we get. He's like "yeh, guys look how tough my wife is." I love him to death for not being weird about it.

I'd have to say I don't have many close friends because of my love and passion for working out. I don't have a whole lot in common with most people that I know. This is why I'm thankful I'm on Cathe's forum with people that understand.

Brenda

Wow I thought I was the only one who got up at that time to workout! In fact at one time I thought I was a lunatic for getting up so early but I realized for me that it was the only way to be consistent. I tried at other times through out the day when I got home from work or after the kids went to sleep but it just didn't work and I really wanted it to work. After a while it becomes a habit and now I really like it. It is the only time I feel at peace all by myself nice and quiet!

[mini-natty]

Hi everyone,

It's very comforting to hear your stories. Thank you for sharing.

What I did not include in my original post (I tried to keep it short and sweet with the ankle weight story) is that in my teens I was the "chubby kid", and constantly being reminded of that. I remember one boy saying during a phys-ed class, that I should be the goaltender for soccer because I could "fill in the net nicely". Those are the sort of comments that severely hurt impressionable young minds and stay with us long after the teen years are over. I've also seen the other side of the coin. In my 20's I changed my eating habits and became very physically fit and healthy. At 5'1, I weighed 105 lbs. I was proud of myself, since I was in a very healthy weight range for my size. People at work would question if I had an eating disorder (I DID NOT). People said I looked too frail and skinny (I DID NOT). Shorty after that, I broke my ankle and gained some weight, but I felt just fine being about 10lbs heavier. Friends/family said I had to be careful not to gain any more weight . WTH? First I was too skinny, and now I'm too fat? In a world that is obsessed with physical appearances, it's hard not to be sensitive and easily offended sometimes.

But right now I'm at my happy place, with my happy weight and I feel wonderful. I'm not perfect. I'll never look like Sophia Vergara, and I'm ok with that. The most important thing is my health and happiness and that of my loved ones. I vow to be the best role model possible to the most important thing in my life: my daughter. In the end, that's all that really matters.

THE END

[CDPotier]

I am 5'2" and I am 108, and I don't like to go under 105.

[story1267]

You know...all these stories of people hearing they're too thin when they're healthy and too fat if they happen to gain a few pounds - all from the depths of OTHER PEOPLE'S insecurity....it reminds me of my favorite movie quote of all time.

"Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here."

Wow! I will often say I try to keep my own "crazy" on the inside, and try to put kindness out into the universe.

[JeanneMarie]

Originally Posted by story1267

Wow! I will often say I try to keep my own "crazy" on the inside, and try to put kindness out into the universe.

Good motto to live by! I try to do the same myself!

I have to wonder what kind of people say such demeaning, ugly things to others, especially their loved ones. Thank goodness I don't have anybody like this in my life.

[mspina]

Originally Posted by story1267

On the flip side of this is someone like me....there are a few ladies at work who are obviously really fit - great arm definition, etc., and I'd love to ask them what they do - if they hit the gym or workout at home.

But....I'm on the shy side and would have no idea how to start that conversation without sounding like a weirdo.

Plus I've seen some women at the grocery store with just outrageous "guns" and I always want to say "nice work!" to them but again....fear of weirdo-ness.

Suzanne, just go for it!!!!! I am SURE that anyone would be flattered and thrilled to talk to someone else who is into fitness. Think about how insular we often feel we are, in a world where we are sometimes seen as "freaks" for our workout habits - it's great to get a comment from someone like-minded.

The best compliment I've gotten in recent memory was sitting at a bar waiting for my friends to arrive. A guy sitting a few seats down from me leaned over and said "I just have to tell you that your arms are amazing!" He then laughed and said that was likely the most odd compliment to give a woman, but I replied that maybe that was true, but it was one of the best I've ever gotten because I actually WORK for these arms! I was smiling for days and still think about it. So - go for it!!!! You'll make someone's day.