Why are you fat?

[CrazedClerk]

I also started to notice during cross-training that I was the only person in the gym who wasn't perfectly formed and that a lot of the guys would nudge each other snickering when they looked over at me. After leaving the gym in tears one day because someone made a snarky comment about me finally getting my fat ass off the machine he'd been waiting for, I never went back. People are effing cruel.

I've seen people like you at the Y I go to, but I never stare or make fun of them.
I think: "good for that person, trying to lose some weight and improve their health and whatnot, good luck to them."

Yes I'm in shape, I go to the gym a couple of days of week, but that doesn't make a better person than anyone who is overweight. My fiance is a bit on the heavy side so I'm starting to understand some of these issues up close and personal.

[Tria]

BK- *Looked at SC* Mommy, why is she fat?

Heh, once a guy asked me how I got so big.... And he was bigger than me! Oh, and unlike him, I know what soap and water is.

[Broomjockey]

I also started to notice during cross-training that I was the only person in the gym who wasn't perfectly formed and that a lot of the guys would nudge each other snickering when they looked over at me. After leaving the gym in tears one day because someone made a snarky comment about me finally getting my fat ass off the machine he'd been waiting for, I never went back. People are effing cruel.

Frankly, it's exactly that which keeps me from going to a gym. I tried once with some friends, and it wasn't too bad, but I felt horribly out of place, and feel like I need to be in better shape before I can go get in better shape.

[morgana]

I had a word about it with a few of my classmates, and one or two of them started going to the gym with her. Then a few more. Soon, there were at least a dozen of us, running on treadmills, working on stair steppers and rowing machines and lifting weights right alongside her. We were always talking and messing around and having fun, and after awhile she said that with all of us there for company, half the time she didn't even really realise she was exercising. She started joining us in the pool and playing basketball with us, too, so all that time she spent playing, she was actually getting pretty thorough workouts.

At the end of our first year together in college, she had dropped nearly 200 lbs. The rest of us had lost quite a bit of weight also. We were probably the fittest class to graduate from our program ever!

They're saving you a place in heaven, IMAP.

[protege]

Depending on the tone of the child, I've been known to reply: "yes, I am fat, but you're ugly/rude and I can diet" or "I'm fat??? Oh my gosh!!! when/how did that happen???" or "yes, I'm fat. It's genetics. <shrug>"

The proper reply to that is "Yeah I am, but I can always diet. You, on the other hand, will *still* be an annoying little shit." Just kidding folks, I wouldn't say that

If I get one more relative bugging me about my "spare tire" I'm going to hit them. Yes, I know it's there. Yes, I know I should excercise. Excuse me for currently being sick and (usually) tired when I get home from work I've been trying to hit the gym more, but it's impossible when I don't feel good.

[Imogene]

I distinctly remember asking one of my incoming customers at Chesterfield one day my usual opening line: "How are you today?"
He said something that I didn't catch, so I asked him to repeat it. He turned and said, plain as could be, "Fat."
I... really didn't know how to respond, so I let him continue into the store.

[GayleShy]

I distinctly remember asking one of my incoming customers at Chesterfield one day my usual opening line: "How are you today?"
He said something that I didn't catch, so I asked him to repeat it. He turned and said, plain as could be, "Fat."
I... really didn't know how to respond, so I let him continue into the store.

I have had a customer tell me that he was "old, fat and ugly, but as long as he was breathing he was doing just great." I actually thought that was funny. I'm not sure how yours said it, though.

[Jester]

BK- *Looked at SC* Mommy, why is she fat?

My father, who in his later years was not a narrow person, would have absolutely killed me for this. And by killed, I mean light the fires, folks, we're having a Jester Roast! Even in his thinner years he would have done this. Why? Because that is just damn rude.

"That'll be two dollars, please."

I'll be damned if that kid didn't fork over two bucks.

Wow. That IS impressive!

After leaving the gym in tears one day because someone made a snarky comment about me finally getting my fat ass off the machine he'd been waiting for, I never went back. People are effing cruel.

Frankly, it's exactly that which keeps me from going to a gym. I tried once with some friends, and it wasn't too bad, but I felt horribly out of place, and feel like I need to be in better shape before I can go get in better shape.

And that is the sad thing, that so many people who want to get in shape can't go to the places where they can get in shape because they feel they are not in good enough shape to be in those places. Vicious damn cycle.

My suggestion? Earphones. Take your Walkman, MP3 player, Ipod, whatever, and plug in your favorite music. And turn it UP. And ignore those obnoxious fuckers trying to give you hell. And if you see them? Use that motivation to pull harder, step faster, push more.

The proper reply to that is "Yeah I am, but I can always diet. You, on the other hand, will *still* be an annoying little shit." Just kidding folks, I wouldn't say that.

Maybe you wouldn't. *I* would!

[Hemily]

i can't stand snarky comments about peoples weight, they don't get heavy on purpose, unless they're training for sumo wrestling

i'm developing a bit of a beer gut myself, need to start working out so i can wear my pants again

I also have a few friends who are a bit on the heavy side, and... i've been somewhat of a protector of them, a bit agressive maybe.... but effective, one of these big friends, are quite larger than me, in width and height, he's a huge person, i say this because i have to look up when i speak with him, tall as heck!
he used to be teased about it alot, what's so weird though, i eat a hell of alot more than him, he's not fat because he eats like a pig, it's genetic...
Still some sad idiots the same age as him even... fling stupid remarks about his weight, and fat jokes at him, he mostly ignored it, i on the other hand, made sure they never said it to him again, my arms are weak, i can barely lift things with them, it annoys me.. however, when i'm angry, i've been known to lift people by their collar, a angry 16 year old with a full beard lifting you off the ground, does scare some, so thankfully, my friend diden't get teased as much after i got to know him, he's still a good friend, and he's definatly a better worker than me, i'm lazy...

[iradney]

I'm not exactly svelte *looks ruefully at wobbly bits*, but neither am I obese (anymore).
I was also one of those who didnt want to go to gym til I'd lost some weight. Then I think one day, I just had an epiphany. Sure, that skinny chick over there is thinner than me. But she's gotta poop, belch, fart and pee just like everyone, and I can guarantee you, it does NOT smell like flowers and chocolates!
So I gym in my favourite over-sized T-shirt, leggings and trainers and listen to my iPod.
Nobody's actually had the gall to say "why are you so fat?" to me, but I think that's because South Africans prefer to murmur about it when the person has left.

[PW_Elle]

PhoneGoddess' quote

Navi is the most annoying creature known to man. That "Hey! Listen!" you quoted is so irritating.

At least I thought so... until I met Midna.

Elle

[rdp78]

I remember when I was a little kid and my family went to a local amusement (now its a shopping center). I saw an obese person sitting at a table and I think I pointed them out to my family. Well, my mom said that wasn't nice and that I shouldn't talk about people that way. Now my mom is big gal so I'm assuming she might have been offended too and yes, I shouldn't have done it but I didn't know any better becaue how young I was (I think I was about 5 or 6). So yeah kid probably didn't know better but yes, the mother should have stopped them.

Anyway I do have other relatives that are big and I'd my self had weigh issues (my highest was 170, at 5'3" that's heavy). So I know that weight is sensitive issue for people and I keep my mouth shut. However, I have been guilty of teasing a former co-worker (music store/website) becuase of his weight (there were other things too) but he was never around not to mention he was a real jerk most times (I know that wasn't a great excuss but it was very stressful to work with him sometimes) and I wasn't the only one who was doing that (I don't even remember how or who started it). Okay, I admitted that wasn't nice and I don't think he ever found out that we were doing that not to mention he was on diets most of the time I was there so he knew he had a weight problem. Anyway I don't make fun of people any more because of their weight anymore (not even behind their back) and don't say anything about their weight, however, I think I might have mutter something under my breath one time about someone.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I used to be very big, a size 20. This was due to having compulsive eating disorder; like binge eating disorder, cept you alternate eating hugely with starvation dieting. I developed this cuz of stress out of being bullied at school. I didn't really get over it til I left college and, after getting over clinical depression, eventually managed to get a job. This was working in Shire horse stables at the country park, and the hard physical labour coupled with the fact that I was feeling good about myself ensured that I dropped 2 dress sizes, going down to a 16.

Which is what I am now. Maybe I'm not svelte, but I'm certainly not obese. I can also be very rude to anyone who calls me fat; probably due to the fact that I still have memories of people pointing at me and shouting "Fat ugly cow!" at school. So, now I'm able to fight back, like hell I will. I've used the Churchill response several times cuz it's true and it works.

I just wish people would stop and think before they open their mouths; not all overweight people are lazy and greedy, just as not all skinny people are anorexic or diet obsessed.

[Der Cute]

Well, I'm overweight.
A little website/ BMI calc says so, I'm actually in the obese section!

I'm only 5'0" and I weigh about 170. Fluff in the front, and frankly, I like being curvy.

But:
A couple years ago I was holding a 2 yr old on my hips, and he was mentioning he wanted to go watch movies downstairs. Ok.
I asked him, "dont you want this last cracker? Shouldn't you finish it before you go?"

He said "No, I dont want to be fat like you."

I just about dropped him on his butt. Almost. I gently put him down and said "Okey dokey go watch the movie. " while trying to pull my slackjaw back up into place.

Oh my god. Talk about sucker punch!!!

Cutenoob

[Retail Associate]

Nearly every day people comment on my weight. Except I'm not overweight, I'm quite thin. I come from a large family, most of whom are obese. I have never been heavy but since losing my job and going back to the hellhole I work at now, these last 2 years I have lost considerable weight.

No, Mr. SC, it's not because I'm bullemic (sp). No Ms. SC, I don't stick my finger down my throat! The simple truth is, this rotten company pays me 5 cents over minimum wage. Since Christmas, they've cut my hours in half. I'm thin because I can't afford to pay my bills AND buy food. So, I choose to keep a warm, lighted roof over my head and eat only what I can afford. Which isn't much.

When I was cashiering was the hardest because customers would come through my line with 1 or 2 overflowing carts full of all that wonderful food. I was literally starving and ringing up all that food was torture. I would go home at night and eat a piece of bread with peanut butter or some crackers and cheese and that would be all I'd had to eat all day.

It got so bad that I was eating only a granola bar and drinking a glass of milk a day. I finally broke down and applied for food assistance. I was only allowed a bit over $20.00/wk but that would buy enough to keep me going.

It's never okay to comment on a person's weight. Nobody knows what's going on in another person's life. It's none of their damn business.