So disheartening for those of us VERY overweight :(

kspeach
kspeach Posts: 179 Member
edited September 21 in Motivation and Support
I know I have a long way to go, but sometimes it gets SOOOO discouraging when I see other posts like this, or hear my friends/family say things like this:

*Ohmygosh I'm 10 pounds overweight! My life is OVER. I'm such a pig!
*I weighed XXX pounds today and I'm 5'10! I hate myself/my body.
*I was such a pig when I weighed XXX*** pounds, I look like such a slob.
*OMG I had to buy a size bigger of XXXX today. I was so embarrassed.

Not only does it devalue who YOU are, and it's wrong to define your insides by what is on your outside (don't you get mad when OTHER people do that TO YOU?), it's very hard for those of us who DO weigh **** or have **** pounds to lose., or aspire to be a size XXX. It hurts.

For instance, say someone is 300 pounds, and being 250 pounds in a few months, or a year, would be a MAJOR accomplishment for her. Then she sees/hears people make derogatory remarks about theirselves/others who are/were 250 pounds. How does the mind work? "What use is it to try to be 250 pounds? I will still be a (whatever) to everyone else! I'm a failure/pig/loser even when I hit my 'goals' !"

Do you realize when you are around your friends/family who ARE FAT and you are complaining about being 5-10 pounds overweight, and how ugly you look? So what do we look like to you?

I know that all of us are in different parts of our journeys, but sometimes the inner ugly/condemnation of others makes it harder. Put yourself in another person's place. There is nothing wrong with saying "I need to lose 5 pounds so I can look how I want to look/think I look my best" without saying how fat and ugly you are at those 10-15-20 pounds overweight. We/you can do this without putting others, or even ourselves, down!

If you have a little or a lot of weight to lose, there is no need to be so nasty about yourself, or that particular weight, or that goal, or people who do weigh that much or are that size. Let's support each other! If you have 10 pounds to lose, or 100 pounds to lose, it doesn't matter; we are all trying to get healthier. :)

Yes, I do try not to let what others think or say influence me, but it does wear on you!

Sorry...rant over.....
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Replies

  • aymetcalf
    aymetcalf Posts: 597 Member
    Amen sister! :flowerforyou:
  • cobygrey
    cobygrey Posts: 270 Member
    OMG! Guilty!

    I never thought about the comments I make regarding my weight issues effecting my family.
    I have a mother and a sister who are extremely obese 100-200 lbs over weight. I complain about my 50lbs all the time and how I look but I LOVE THEM and most of the time DON'T EVEN SEE THEM AS OBESE. It's what I am used too.

    I must say that I have NEVER thought that what I say about my self might be effecting them. I will be mindful of any derogatory statement about my weight issues from this day forward.

    Thanks for shining the light at a different angle.
  • Keltinator
    Keltinator Posts: 265
    I don't think anything that people say on this site is meant to harm other people. Comments like what you are saying are very common, but I think they slip out in moments of weakness. I get what you're saying though.

    I have a friend who always says stuff like that. Like if I don't want to do something or if I'm eating something, sometimes she'll say "You're such a fatty!" I know she doesn't mean it literally because she's the same size as me and she doesn't view herself or me as fat, but it still hurts all the same...
  • sportygal
    sportygal Posts: 221 Member
    I was very overweight and yes it's irritating, but everyone has their own body image issues. I actually have had more people criticize my body at my "goal" weight then when I was 230 lbs! I think my message is that everyone needs to realize that health is the true reason to change, not looks. There are many people that are skinny and unhealthy and people that are overweight that are athletic. I still get underestimated on how strong I am, due to a skin pooch I have from losing so much weight. The moaning and criticism people put upon themselves is 1) not going to change the situation 2) is alienated others (that have bigger obstacles) and frankly is useless energy.
    Self acceptance is the key at any weight, any size, any shape. People think that life will be all better when you lose weight. Well yes, my health is a lot better, and in so many ways life in general is nice, but it doesn't erase the realities of life. I still have problems and struggle. If anything, its hard now sometimes since I can't use weight as an excuse. What kills me is when people say, "When I'm a size ** I'll be happy, when I get married, I'll be happy, when I drop lbs. I'll be happy. These things won't make you happy. Now, better health due to me losing weight and eating right as SO put me in a happier place. But the fact is it doesn't erase every problem.
    So for the most part I agree.....and in general I think EVERYONE needs to appreciate what they have. Even at 230 lbs. when my body ached, knees were crap....I appreciated that my body was moving and I was changing for the better. People need to be satisfied with what they have. I am sick of the airbrushed world. If people aren't doing this for better health and fitness...frankly they will never be happy with their body. At any size, people find things to nitpick and I have been guilty of it. But when it comes down to it, even with my saggy skin, I'm proud of my battle scars, calluses and improving my health.
  • melodyg
    melodyg Posts: 1,423 Member
    Agreed!

    I know that I am at a point now... at least most days... where I can realize that it is okay that a "failure" for someone else is still a goal I need to keep reaching for (and then surpass). I also know there were many, MANY days in the past where comments like that made me just want to give up.

    (And to be honest, hearing them outside of MFP still makes me want to give up at times. I have a "friend" on Facebook who continually posts about how "obese" she is with just over 30% body fat and needing to lose maybe 20 pounds? Maybe more... but much less than I do! It bothers me to the point of wanting to just hide her posts to not have to deal with it)
  • happy_jax
    happy_jax Posts: 289 Member
    I had to think twice before responding...sometimes it's hard to write things down on here and not to upset someone...and I don't think that's ever anyones intention. But I thought I would reply for a few reasons.

    Firstly, there are two sides to every story!! While I fully appreciate how you can feel hurt when reading comments such as those you mention, it is also difficult for those with only a little weight to lose. Okay, it's bad to generalize - but usually, those that have more to lose make quicker progress - so when a "lighter" person sees a "heavier" person consistently loses 3/4lbs a week - and they lose nothing, or 0.5lbs, this is also upsetting. While everyone is greatly motivated by others successes and are truly proud of their MFP friends achievements - it is human nature for there to be that little part of you that thinks "what about me, I'm working hard too" - especially if you spend every night in the gym!?

    Secondly, I don't think anyone - regardless of how much weight they have to lose - should have to consider too much what they write when talking about THEMSELVES. When giving advice/comparing situations, for sure. But everyone, big, small, old, young, can have days when they feel so miserable that they hate the sight of themselves in the mirror - as well as those wonderful days when you feel on top of the world. If someone is on a down day...perhaps it should be their right to have a little rant about how "Gross and Fat" they feel, even if they weigh as much as one of my thighs?? :laugh:

    I'm really happy your post ended on a positive and you don't feel as though MFP has got you down - because that's not the idea at all!! And I'm not disagreeing with you in any way - I can see that you could easily feel like that. But I just think that we are all individual - what is right for one person is never going to be right for another - even amongst siblings, so never mind friends, so if someone makes a negative comment about themselves on paper, it shouldn't be directly comparable to YOU, because there are a million and one other reasons behind their feelings.

    Just so you know...I do probably fall into your 'only a bit over-weight' category, but I have been VERY over weight before. I will still make negative comments about myself (usually my stomach..don't get me started) but can also recognize my good bits. I'd like to think that I have never upset anyone with my comments - and would be truly mortified if I had. MFP is about supporting people to a new, healthy lifestyle regardless of their weight loss objectives, I'm really happy to be a part of it! :happy:
  • tiffanygil
    tiffanygil Posts: 478 Member
    Very, Very true!!! I felt that way many times! and when people come on and are my size now and are trying to loose 10 or 20 lbs it makes me question if I need to keep going.

    But here is the otherside....As women we are never EVER going to be happy with our bodies 100% of the time . I think on a subconcious level I thought "if I could just get to a size XXX I would be happy and life will be soo much better." But it doesnt work that way.

    The same feeling I had at 250lbs is the same feeling I get when I see the scale go up 1 or 2 lbs. In fact it maybe even stronger now than before because I have had to work so hard to get where I am at.

    And we should be celebrating any wieght loss, 1 lb at a time for all. and to those who call themselves loosers, or pigs...feel sorry for them because no matter what weight they are at they will continue to feel like that even at their "perfect" weight.
  • CasperO
    CasperO Posts: 2,913 Member
    Ya',,, it's tough. I've been on both ends of this. My biggest sin is that I may mention how 'fat' I was, and use words like 'enormous', or maybe 'my *kitten* had it's own zip code',,, and only later realize that I was never as big as the guy sitting right next to me. And I know it, and he knows it,,, and if I think 5'8" - 270# is awful, then what do I think of him?

    It's not mean, just about nobody means to be hurtful. It's just thoughtlessness. I'm working on it. I hope we all are.
  • kspeach
    kspeach Posts: 179 Member
    Ya',,, it's tough. I've been on both ends of this. My biggest sin is that I may mention how 'fat' I was, and use words like 'enormous', or maybe 'my *kitten* had it's own zip code',,, and only later realize that I was never as big as the guy sitting right next to me. And I know it, and he knows it,,, and if I think 5'8" - 270# is awful, then what do I think of him?

    It's not mean, just about nobody means to be hurtful. It's just thoughtlessness. I'm working on it. I hope we all are.

    It is thoughtlessness, and I appreciate that it's usually not intended towards the person sitting beside you, or your friend or whatever. But it still hurts.
    I will still make negative comments about myself ....
    The moaning and criticism people put upon themselves is 1) not going to change the situation 2) is alienated others (that have bigger obstacles) and frankly is useless energy.
    I do understand that on the surface that they are comments about one's own self. However, some people are so 'passive-aggressive' that those remarks really ARE meant for the fat person nearby. And even if they aren't MEANT that way, they do come across that way.

    There is NO NEED to put our own selves down just to get better. When you put yourself or someone else 'down', even inadvertently, you are really hurting yourself.....and reinforcing that negative image in both YOU and the 'fat person' next to you.

    Sadly, this is one reason that most of my MFP pals are or have been as overweight as I am. They can understand the struggles, and yes, it is hard for me to see people who are (to me) looking great, complain about the extra .0001 inch or pound that they gained. Not all 'skinny' people are like that. But I reserve myself until I find out....granted, I don't want to listen to other fat people whine and moan either. ;)

    My mom and sister do this. It hurts, and next time I see them in person, I'm going to try to talk to them about it. They weigh 110 pounds!!

    And sometimes it seems like High School...y'know, where people will say "oh my gosh I'm so fat and ugly" so that others will say NO, you're skinny! And beautiful!

    Okay, taking a deep breath... thanks for those that understand, and I do appreciate all viewpoints. I hope that if I said things like that, people would tell me if it hurt them. Kinda like the rich guy complaining about the cost of MAID service nowadays, or how his 4th Beemer hasn't been washed in 2 days, while you are struggling to keep your 3 servants (KIDDING), I mean.... ANY type of roof over your head, and you take public transportation, walking to it 2 miles each way in every bit of weather. ;)
  • Paul76
    Paul76 Posts: 158
    First point - we all need to sensitive and respectful of others here.

    Second point - I don't think anyone "intends" to hurt others when they post, but I can see how it happens. I know because I've felt the same way sometimes. However, we can't take it personally.

    Final point - we all have different definitions of success as we're all coming from different places with different goals. Since we each have different definitions of success, it means we have to have different definitions of failure as well. Not better or worse, just different. We're all equally entilted to be happy with our successes (however we define them) and disappointed with our failures (however we define them).
  • kspeach
    kspeach Posts: 179 Member
    First point - we all need to sensitive and respectful of others here.

    Second point - I don't think anyone "intends" to hurt others when they post, but I can see how it happens. I know because I've felt the same way sometimes. However, we can't take it personally.

    Final point - we all have different definitions of success as we're all coming from different places with different goals. Since we each have different definitions of success, it means we have to have different definitions of failure as well. Not better or worse, just different. We're all equally entilted to be happy with our successes (however we define them) and disappointed with our failures (however we define them).

    We need to be sensitive to others on here, and realize how our remarks can feel to someone else. We don't want to measure ourselves against others' criteria/failures/successes, but there is nothing wrong with being sensitive and thoughtful.
  • CocoFire
    CocoFire Posts: 53 Member
    I totally agree. I've set a goal for myself to lose 100 lbs. Even that won't get me to my healthiest weight. It's hard to go to the gym and see a room full of people who don't look like they need to lose a single pound. Who knows what is going on in their heads though. I try not to judge what other people are doing, and I try just as hard not to judge myself. I know every person is the hardest on themselves.

    I just try my best each day. I try to remember that this is a hard track I've chosen. It takes a lot of courage to own the treadmill when I'm worried about what the person next to me is thinking.

    I guarantee they are probably worried about what I think about them too though.
  • Paul76
    Paul76 Posts: 158
    First point - we all need to sensitive and respectful of others here.

    Second point - I don't think anyone "intends" to hurt others when they post, but I can see how it happens. I know because I've felt the same way sometimes. However, we can't take it personally.

    Final point - we all have different definitions of success as we're all coming from different places with different goals. Since we each have different definitions of success, it means we have to have different definitions of failure as well. Not better or worse, just different. We're all equally entilted to be happy with our successes (however we define them) and disappointed with our failures (however we define them).


    We need to be sensitive to others on here, and realize how our remarks can feel to someone else. We don't want to measure ourselves against others' criteria/failures/successes, but there is nothing wrong with being sensitive and thoughtful.

    Agreed - that's why it was my first point.
  • Allibaba
    Allibaba Posts: 457 Member
    I started out at 220 or so, I am 5'4 so that was quite heavy for me. I have long since stopped saying anything negative about myself. I will sometimes look in the mirror and think those things, but I am trying so hard to be healthy that when I type or open my mouth I try to stay positive.

    I think that this site has a great variety of people on it with different goals and that we should all try to keep the negativity to a minimum. It is one thing to admit that we are feeling down, but criticizing ourselves (and vicariously others) is not the way to feel better. Let's remember why we are here and stay positive!
  • chandnikhondji
    chandnikhondji Posts: 136 Member
    I agree.. i am over 400 lbs and when i hear someone who is less overweight talk like their life is over or they are so fat ugly and stuff it makes me feel really really bad, because i think that is how they see me, and yeah it hurts a lot. I know it is not meant to make me feel bad but that happens all by itself, not because i think they want to harm me. It's not that we can control how we feel and what the first spontaneous thought is.

    I try to keep in mind what i already accomplished and that i am worth more that i quite often feel, but with these comments i sometimes really feel like quite the opposite.
  • CasperO
    CasperO Posts: 2,913 Member
    A lot of this is the issue of the 'filter',,,

    There are 2 kinds of people when it comes to speech/talk/conversation. Some people are quite thoughtful, and before they say/type their thoughts, they play a little internal chess game and sort out all of the different ways their words could be taken. They imagine how this would sound from the other person's point of view, and if it's hurtful or bad, they'll change their words before they speak, or maybe even just shut up.

    Other people have no filter at all. It comes up, and it comes out. They never consider their audience.

    I used to have very little filter, and said some really awful-hurtful-mean stupid stuff. I'm working on it, and I think I'm getting better.


    OTOH - let's be realistic too. Now if your friend weighs 180 pounds, and she'd like to weigh 140 pounds, she might still feel that she has a way to go. Now I'll agree with you that she should not cry to her 300 pound friend about how she's a cow at 180,,, but the friend (who would love to be at 180, I know) should still be a little understanding that her friend still has a ways to go and is allowed to vent a bit. Otherwise, nobody but the biggest person around gets to talk about their journey, and that would suck.


    Does that make sense to anybody else? Did my filter just fail again? If it did I'm sorry,,,
  • I totally agree. I've set a goal for myself to lose 100 lbs. Even that won't get me to my healthiest weight. It's hard to go to the gym and see a room full of people who don't look like they need to lose a single pound. Who knows what is going on in their heads though. I try not to judge what other people are doing, and I try just as hard not to judge myself. I know every person is the hardest on themselves.

    I just try my best each day. I try to remember that this is a hard track I've chosen.


    I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS 100% I also agree with Christina 100%..... People should be more considerate with their choice of words in public.

    We hear the whispers and feel the glares....don't think we don't. There have been many times I have been in wal-mart or somewhere and people have made rude comments about me or laughed as I walked by thinking that I don't hear them or feel there eyes fixed upon me. It hurts. It sucks. I am here to make a change. I am doing more than some....give me credit.
  • sindyb9
    sindyb9 Posts: 1,248 Member
    I am not very good with putting my feelings to words and sorry in advance if I hurt anyones feels.

    It is hard for everyone who feels or needs to loose weight. But we can not tell people not to vent their frustration. I am one of those people who does not look as heavy as I am, I also know what I need to loose for health reasons, but this is support and if I am having a bad day and feel fat I should be able to say this. It is not ment to hurt others but it is my feelings and when you vent it helps. I dont look at people and say they should not feel fat they only have 10 pounds to loose. Everyone handles their feelings in different ways. We are all here for support not to argue about how they get it.

    Like I said this is not about hurting feeling or who is right. it is about support. I know I get it and love all who are on here we are here for the same reason we just deal with it different ways.

    Hope I worded this ok.
  • david1956
    david1956 Posts: 190 Member
    It's hard to go to the gym and see a room full of people who don't look like they need to lose a single pound. Who knows what is going on in their heads though.

    From my standpoint I have enormous respect for people doing the hard yards losing the big pounds. In fact my trainer and I somehow got onto this topic recently, and he agreed that of anyone in a gym it is the obviously obese people having the guts to change their lives that he most admires. And trust me, quietly others notice the improvements of those people and it becomes a motivational thing in itself.

    Gyms tend I guess to be people absorbed in their own thing, but I think their is an unspoken little club of those that notice each other over time, a familarity. That shouldn't exclude anyone. I love the subtle comaradere of the group that trains at the time that I do. Sometimes it takes a bit of confidence to break the ice to introduce oneself to others at some point, but slowly one can see the less confident people spatially kind of move closer to others and share the odd quick conversation and appear more at ease.

    Just my own thing, I think if one is reasonably confident in a gym it is good to somehow make sure people who are obviously not confident feel at home. Sometimes you get a slightly stunned look if you compliment a stranger on the progress you're noticing, or even say ask them to help spot you for a set, then they open up and you can see them suddenly looking more at ease and happier. I think that most people develop a deep respect for the everyone else they observe doing their own personal version of hard slog. But it's sometimes not overt.
  • melbhall
    melbhall Posts: 519
    Thanks for the post and putting it into perspective for me. I'm trying to lose 40lbs (some baby weight/ some other) and I am guilty of saying negative things about myself around others all the time. This makes me realize that it makes people uncomfortable (those trying to lose weight and those who aren't). My husband always tells me not to talk about it in front of his mother because she's overweight (mind you, she's wearing a size smaller than me now) but I don't see her as big, just myself as big. But, I know when my super skinny friends talk about going on a diet or trying to lose weight I feel like a big ol' blob...so I get it. I think my negative thinking and talking definitely affects my weight loss and if I were more positive, I would see positive outcomes, not to mention it may encourage others to think more positively about themselves. Once again, great post and thanks for opening my eyes!
  • whyflysouth
    whyflysouth Posts: 308 Member
    I can understanding how it can be hurtful, but at the same time the problem lies in the fact that there's a huge hurdle in front of all of us that is: None of us look good enough until we look like the people on tv and magazine covers.

    If you're a guy you've got nearly no body fat, large muscles, broad chest, shoulders, six-pack, etc. And if you're a woman it's got to be that difficult medium where you've got medium-to-largish breasts, but somehow just enough fat to round out the edges and give you smooth look.

    If you're too skinny, you're not good enough, and it's way too easy to be fat also.

    And honestly, for the majority of us, even when we reach our MFP "goal weights", we'll still be too fat or not muscular enough, or whatever when we compare ourselves to the television "standard"

    Yet we seem to live with that, right? I guess ultimately I'm OK with the awareness that to get close to such a standard it'll probably take around 5 years of full-on dedication, and I'm not sure I want to commit to such a thing. So if we're ok with not reaching the hollywood standard, why should we have a problem with not reaching our friend's standard that they've set for themselves?

    If they think their fat at their weight, that's them with their body - you're body isn't their body, it's yours, you have a standard you've set for yourself, and your concern should be to reach it. Afterall, why not be happy with where your body is right at this minute, why feel the need to lose a pound more than you've lost so far? If the real reason it hurts is because ultimately you'd like to be in that situation that they are in, then change your goal. Make you're goal to reach 130 instead of 230. It's possible, it just means you need to adjust your timeline. I mean ultimately for myself, I want my body to be in a condition which pleases me, it means this is going to take a while, but that's cool, b/c I'm planning on living for long enough that the investment will be worth it.
  • cerdmann
    cerdmann Posts: 60
    Chris - I do agree with you. It is very hurtful to hear negative comments about anyone's appearance, even if you are talking about yourself. We are all on this journey together -- whether we have 10 pounds or 100+ pounds to lose. And each of us (every single one of us!) is trying to do the right thing - to be healthy and happy! I don't believe people say negative things about themselves to hurt others. In fact, I know it's more about wanting someone to tell them that they are wrong (oh, you're not so bad ...). They want verifcation that they aren't too fat, or too ugly, or too gross. Let's all agree that none of us are too anything! We are wonderful, caring people and we should support each other and ourselves on this journey. Before saying anything negative (about weight or otherwise), STOP, THINK, REEVALUATE! Is this something I would want to hear if someone else said it out loud within my ear shot? If not, don't say it. It would be great if we could all stop thinking negative things, but that's an entirely different mindset all together. Trying to turn your negative thoughts around. What's the flip side of this negative comment? Can I say something positive and supporting instead? As for me, I just want to say thanks to all to have given me support, especially when the times are tough! Best wishes,
    Cheryl
  • JulieSue
    JulieSue Posts: 242 Member
    oh wow!!! This topic was soo very interesting to read!!! :)) and I realized that I do the same thing that many people here were talking about on both spectrums and I never really realized it until right now!!! I am very negative when it comes to myself and I can honestly say that I do not judge the person beside me!!! The reason I can say this is that my boyfriend is bigger than me and when I say things that are negative he will make the comment to me "Hun if you think you are a f&^ *kitten* then what do you think of me?" and honestly I do not think anything negative about him at all or anyone I honestly am just talking about how I feel about myself but in the same sentence I know that I have gotten my feelings hurt over the same thing and have made comments to some of my friends about things they have said to hurt my feelings (and I didnt relize that I may be hurting my boyfriends feelings or someone elses feelings!!) One of my besties will say "Man I am a cow" and then make some comments about the size of her jeans when mine is double hers...and I will say back to her "Well if you think you are a cow then I'd hate to think what animal you think of me" and then she will say "I never think that about you" and then I respond with "umm my jeans are double yours" soooooo now its kinda like the light bulb has been turned on!!! LOL I have a very big problem with being negative and getting my feelings hurt easily!!! soo wow...thanks for bringing this to my attention!! I do feel like here we should be able to say how we feel...if we cant say it here and get the support we need and say how we really feel!!! This is our place to do that!!! but yes we should be more sensitive of other people around us BUT at the same time remember that everyone is critical of themselves and will be and that doesnt mean they are critical of you!!! :)

    Thanks!!!!
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member


    OTOH - let's be realistic too. Now if your friend weighs 180 pounds, and she'd like to weigh 140 pounds, she might still feel that she has a way to go. Now I'll agree with you that she should not cry to her 300 pound friend about how she's a cow at 180,,, but the friend (who would love to be at 180, I know) should still be a little understanding that her friend still has a ways to go and is allowed to vent a bit. Otherwise, nobody but the biggest person around gets to talk about their journey, and that would suck.


    Does that make sense to anybody else? Did my filter just fail again? If it did I'm sorry,,,

    This exactally!

    Everyone thats has weight to lose wether it be 2 pounds or 200 pounds feels the same way in thier journey.

    We as individuals have to not take others thoughts and things they say and twist them into our own inner voice. When your friend that has 20 pounds to lose comments on her struggles and how she feels, it has nothing at all to do with your struggles and how you feel. You just make it that way.

    Like the post above If everyone but the biggest person in the room is not allowed to speak freely about themselves, others could miss out on a gret motivator or hearing from someone who resembles themselves and starting thier own change.

    So like I said wether its 2 pounds or 200 pounds the journey is all the same.
  • Nina74
    Nina74 Posts: 470 Member
    It's hard to go to the gym and see a room full of people who don't look like they need to lose a single pound. Who knows what is going on in their heads though.

    That's why it's really important to pick a gym YOU feel comfortable at. I go to a gym near home, all women, with woman all shapes, sizes and ages. I talk to them all. Would I go to the gym near my work in downtown? Absolutely not! Why? Because they are all the finance/lawyer/superfit overachiever people that I have to deal with all day at work. It's really important that you feel comfortable at your gym.
  • chandnikhondji
    chandnikhondji Posts: 136 Member
    I totally agree with that has been said no matter how high the weight is to loose that the way is the same and we all have our struggles. I did never say that this is not the case, and i would never forbid anyone to rant and vent about anything, matter how high the hurdle is.

    But that i would not forbid and understand that everyone has their struggles and i know it is not about me, it is about themselves BUT that does NOT change how i feel about it when i hear it. Does that make sense? To KNOW and to FEEL are two very very different things. I KNOW all that but does not change the way I FEEL :) Though i do not put my feelings above what they feel when i hear the rants and venting and let them rant and vent even if i feel bad with that, that goes over. I'm not the center of the universe, that's fine :)

    Just felt like adding this to my former post...
  • badrianne
    badrianne Posts: 101
    I am not going to say much in this thread. But I will say I am sorry that you feel that way. However, you should not internalize others' issues. Just because someone feels a certain way about themselves, does not mean that they see the same in you (and if they do who cares).

    I mean this lovingly. I do not give much value to other individuals perception of my physical appearance. There are always people who have something to say/don't like you/want to see you fail. It is SELF-esteem and they are lacking it.

    I hope no one here lets the diminished self-image of others tarnish the mental peace and love that they have for themselves. :heart:

    Blessings
  • tamalea
    tamalea Posts: 107 Member
    I really don't want to sound insensitive, and I apologize if I do. I have watched what I eat and exercised for the last 20 years of my life. I worked hard after each one of my three children to get back in shape. When I hit forty that constant 10 lb battle became a 20 lb one. I joined weight watchers when I had 15 lbs to lose, became a lifetime member (paying right now) and continue to weigh in. I have belonged to Curves for years and have consistently walked.

    I get so many comments asking why I worry about my weight, I hear comments about skinny girls at weight watchers, or why do you drink diet - your not fat. It is so discouraging to hear people saying these things. I don’t understand why they cannot see how hard I have worked. No offense to anyone, but sometimes people with a lot to lose can also be insensitive to us who do not. I respect how hard they will have to work; I wish in return I can be respected for how hard I have worked.

    Heck I get upset when anyone talks negative about themselves; you have to love yourself to take care of yourself. Save the names for your mother-in-law (mine thinks I am crazy for always eating “diet” food).
  • HealthyChanges2010
    HealthyChanges2010 Posts: 5,831 Member
    never mind:flowerforyou:
  • Tamishumate
    Tamishumate Posts: 1,171 Member
    "

    Do you realize when you are around your friends/family who ARE FAT and you are complaining about being 5-10 pounds overweight, and how ugly you look? So what do we look like to you?



    Sorry...rant over.....

    I understand how you feel, I do, I was that very overweight person not too long ago , and I have lost my weight following MFP, counting my calories and sweating my butt off . BUT, I have to say, I dont agree with you at all here on this one. I learned thru a dear friend that her wanting to lose her last 10 pounds means just as much to her as my wanting to lose 70 pounds ( I was around needing to lose that when we became friends) She didnt think I looked gross, or ugly, she was focusing on her body and how she felt , and she wanted to lose those 10 pounds!! I learned thru her how it is all just as important to us all. So lets not minimize when someone is trying to lose 10 pounds, Are you going to look at me now and wonder how I can complain about my last 15 pounds? No, I dont think you are, not when you see my pictures and see how far I have come, you will be happy for me that I reach my goal weight( at least I think you will).

    If this was already address, I am sorry, I didnt read it all, I want to eat my dinner lol :happy:
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