to fat to exersize

Aileen46

I find it very inspiring to see people that are overweight doing their best to get in shape. My thought process when I see someone like that is "you go girl/guy!"

Do your best to ignore those ones that are making you feel inadequate because they probably have issues in their lives that we just can't see.

You're the better person for getting out there and making that effort. Be proud of yourself!

unmitigatedbadassery

I've been there. I think most of us have. The best advice I can give is to just get out there. Who gives a s*** what others are thinking while throwing down their $1 double cheeseburgers. You are making a change in YOUR life. Do it. I'm here for support if you want to add me.

firedudecndn

I have 2 responses...

1) What's more important to you, your health or what people think of you? Get out there and do what you need to do. In his book "the winter of our discontent" John Steinbeck says (paraphrased) We wouldn't wonder what people thought of us nearly as often if we realized how seldom they actually do

2) I have far more respect for a large person trying to get in shape and lose weight than I do for a 20 something year old who has the natural metabolism that makes staying thin easy at that point in their lives. It's true what they say; that as you get older it gets harder to stay thin and easier to put on weight...

Go out and do your thing. People who have a problem with that have a problem period.

janeite1990

When I see a fat person exercising, I think this:

Wow, she's brave! She's tough! She's committed! She's motivated! I wish I could stop my car and hug her. I've never been very big, but I know the bigger I've been, the harder it is physically to exercise. And I'm not talking about worrying someone will laugh. I mean, my thighs rub together and get chapped, I can feel my butt fat bounce with each step and it hurts, my joints hurt sometimes, and I get winded easier.

When I see a fat woman run, I think of how hard it is for little me, and I know she's got it rougher and she has all my sympathy, empathy, and positive wishes.

Yes, there are mean people in the world. Screw them! There are plenty of nice people, too. Anyone who does something positive for their body deserves nothing but praise!

600racer

There is this who started working out at my gym, taking group classes and has to weigh 400+. I have nothing but respect for him and anyone else who is trying to make thier life better. For every cruel remark you hear there are hundreds who will admire your courage.

latinqueencee

ahhhh, that darn self conscious feeling, I still struggle with it, most of us do. Wanna know what I do? I stare straight head, put my music on LOUD and GO! Forget what others might think, that is NOT your focus or your problem. Your focus is to do it and feel great afterwards. I run on the boardwalk and there's always people on the boardwalk, but I tune everyone out. If theyr'e stupid enough to laugh or say something, I dont see it or hear it. But honestly, I have yet to encounter any negativity, what I've gotten is thumbs up from real runners....because I run at a slow pace, lol. But hey, we're doing it, right? We could be home on our couch eating and watching TV. Good luck sweetie, you can do it!!!

w2bab

I get out and walk every day, but I still prefer to do it when the snarky high school kids are safely locked away in their classrooms. Also, it really helps to find some workout clothes that make you feel better about your body. People only pay attention the first couple of times out anyway. Now I get thumbs up from strangers who see me out there all the time.

kbmnurse

Go outside in the sunshine. It will help you feel better. Who gives a **** what other people think. Please don't let this impact your journey. Your doing this for you not anyone else. Screw them.

migoi357

My experience has been that if you are on the road with anything less than 3000 pounds of car surrounding you, you are invisible (and I have the scars from going through a car windshield to prove it). Get a purple hat and a red top...research has proven that color combination makes it impossible for others to see you and always assume drivers don't see you. Spring is about to be sprung...get out and enjoy yourself.

silverpen193

I have panic attacks and anxiety attacks when I leave home too. For the first 10 weeks of my programme I did exercise at home. At first I did some walking on my treadmill (very slow at first) then I got a couple of exercise dvds (Active 2 and a dancing one) and worked on those. Now my friend has agreed to come with me to a local gym at a time when it is very very quiet, and I am going to start on that. It may be that some days I cannot cope with it and have to leave, but every time I go I know it will build a little more confidence and a little more fitness. Yes there are people out there who may laugh at you or judge you. But the truth is that they are the minority and they are not people whose views we need to pay attention to. I dont believe that these people will make up the majority of those we meet. I believe that most people will admire you for having the courage to go and do something about it.
Dont let the small minded people keep you imprisoned inside. You deserve more than that. It might be hard at first but so is most things that are worth doing. One step at a time

TexasGirl_Amie

I volunteered last year at a 5K race. Pretty small, only a few hundred people. So most of them were pretty hardcore. My daughters and I worked the finish line food tables. By the time things were almost over, we had to leave. On our way out, we passed the finish line, where the last person was finishing. She was a really large woman, who walked the course. It was her first race of any kind. Her entire family was waiting for her at the finish line. The kids had balloons, and her husband had this big batch of roses. People had gathered round to cheer her on. There was screaming, and cheering, and yelling, and clapping, while she just cried and hugged her family. It was one of the greatest race day moments I've ever seen, and I was grateful I got to experience it. With my kids, no less.

In the running community, people who have to struggle to accomplish what comes easily to most are considered heroes. Sometimes of epic stature. For every shmuck who bothers you while you're training, you'll get back 10fold people on race day who cheer you, congratulate you, tell you how inspiring you are. And every one of them will mean it too.

Dayum. I'm in tears here.
What a fabulous story!

Me too. Such a wonderful story.

Helloitsdan

You dont have to run!

Just walk!
Cardio is cardio!

If you are 35% Body Fat and above you shouldnt be running anyway because of the extra pressure you have on your knees and back.

Walk for 20 mins after dinner daily and youll see a difference.

Now the big thing for you is all that store precious ATP in your muscle!
You should pick things up and put them down....a lot!

the stored ATP can actually create muscle while at a deficit but you better start lifting yesterday!

migoi357

But honestly, I have yet to encounter any negativity, what I've gotten is thumbs up from real runners....because I run at a slow pace, lol.

A small correction to your post... "But honestly, I ahve yet to encounter any negativity, what I've gotten is a thumbs up from OTHER real runners..." If you're out on the road..you are a real runner. Or for that matter if you're on the hamster wheel in the gym...running and runners are defined by the act of moving your body forward on your feet under your own power. Pace is just a number.

lvpthemvp

@trijoe that is an amazing story and so uplifting!

s0ready

hey guys i am having a little trouble,

I would love to get out there and run every day to start off my day but i have two problems

1) i have trouble actually leaving my door,
and when i get the courage to leave the house
2) i am so scared people are going to make fun of me like this super fat chick running and puffing and dying

has anyone else had this problem

how did you over come it?

HalP

i was the same way....so i started walking in the evenings about 7:00 or so that way no one could really tell who i was. Now i walk whenever and i have a 2 year old who now screams at me that she wants to go for a walk in mornings and i have a 11 year old who i walk with in the evenings so we have our time together....so all in all start in the evenings if your scared of embarassment and get a buddy! Also in the evenings i just do intervals so that i am not completely out of breath....run short then jog and walk to catch breath :happy: good luck!

StargazerHuck

I totally understand what you are going through. At one point I weighed 320 pounds and was too embarrassed to do anything in public. I cut my calories, ate a little healthier and made little changes at a time. I had a lot of bad habits to break and it has taken years to get to this point but I am approaching the 100 pound mark and proud of it. Exercise has worked it's way into my life over the years as well. At first I got work out videos and did them when no one was around, not even my husband. I am to the point now where I am on a mission to be fit and confident. I will get there and I don't care who sees it. When I take my walks/runs (I have to do a mix of both since I can't run for any large amount of time yet) I think of every car that passes and imagine that I am inspiring them. I imagine they say "if that girl can get off the couch and make a change, I can too". This attitude has really changed how I view my workouts and boosted my confidence levels. I know that I am doing what I need to in order to be healthier. With any luck I am inspiring someone to do the same as I lumber down the road!!

oamber0

I have over 100lbs to loose so I understand the feelings of not wanting to go outside and be seen by others, specially when doing something that makes you feel so vulnerable. On the flip side of that, when I see someone even larger than me out walking or jogging around I think to myself, "Wow! good for them!!!" and I want to run home put some sweats on and join them!!

You are definitely NOT too fat to exercise. If you want to stay within your house to get started though, I recommend checking out Leslie Sansone walking videos on youtube.com

You are beautiful though, so don't let what other people may think hold you back!

CoryIda

When I started, I was morbidly obese and was so out of shape that all I could do was walk around the neighborhood.

As time went by, it got easier and I could go a little faster and a little farther and then I was able to do other kinds of exercise too.

Now, I am fit and strong and healthy.

When I see very heavy people exercising, it makes me SOOOOO happy! I know firsthand how hard it can be - not only to get past that emotional barrier, but also how hard it is to move around when there is so much weight pressing down on your joints, and when you get out of breath so easily; however, you CAN do this and you will be SOOOO glad you did!

Gdzgal771

you are never too fat to exercise..exercising is MOVING. try leslie sanzone's walk at home video. if it hurts to stand then SIT and do them..YOU are MOVING!! if i can do this-YOU CAN!! just dont stop doing what you can.. HUGGZ and GOOD LUCK!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

jessielynn25

I get it, I do. I used to be 250 and very self concious, Hell I still am. The bottom line is F#$K what everyone else thinks. This journey isn't about them, it's about you. You want to run, go run. Put in some headphones and go kill it. When they're still in plus size clothes and you're in a size 2 you'll be the one chuckling.

AMEN!!!!!!

Cimolestes

I used to think the same, and today managed a 1.5 mile walk at almost 400 lbs. I don't know if it is because I walk with my gf (or any other friend who comes along to encourage me) or whether dog walkers are just nicer because we walk our jacks together I don't know. Can you find a running/walking buddy to go with you? I have found over the years that snarky comments are more likely if you are on your own and there are more than one of the mean people being rude.

nicholettebell

Been there! I started jogging in the park early in the mornings when I weighed 250 and became more comfortable with it. Then winter came and I needed to go back to the gym. Wow, that was so hard for me to run there. I go to a gym that is run by a man who has participated body builder competitions and the type of people who go there have the same kind of physique. The first couple times at the gym I just walked on the treadmill. But I couldn't take it anymore! I needed to run! That's when I realized that it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I am only responsible for myself and my health. And I also realized "Who's looking, really?" I knew that I didn't pay attention to what anyone else does at the gym and we are all there for the same reasons - to become more fit. Add me if you'd like.

rileysowner

I get it too. At my highest weight, I didn't want to do any activity in public that would emphasize how out of shape I was. Having said that, realize that most people, the vast majority in fact, won't even notice you except in passing. Of those who do, many will think, "Good for you." and the ones who don't are likely people who are completely out of shape and could not be bothered to work at dealing with it. I have seen some heavy people out jogging while I am cycling. I have nothing but respect for them.

ninerbuff

Doing nothing doesn't yield results. It's like the fear that many new people who join a gym for the first time and think everyone is looking at them.
Whether you believe it or not, most people don't give a second thought to whether people exercise or not. They are focused more on what's going on their lives than yours.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Trechechus

Go for it! When I see people running on the street, it doesn't matter their body format, I just think they're awesome for getting out there and getting it done!

However, I understand if you really don't want to run publicly. I have friends with the same feelings. Maybe you could invest in a treadmill?

xxcatyxx555

work out inside your house! im always afraid people are gonna judge me so i work out in my house with all the blinds closed and all the doors locked:) but thats just me

saragato

I'm over 300lbs and have been in the morbidly obese category for a good few years. I wanted to lose weight but even when I asked for a gym membership at 16, I barely went because I felt I looked stupid up against the thinner, older women that were coming in.

Eventually what I did was I started walking the mall. I didn't go with any of the groups that get there before opening, I went by myself during normal business hours, turned on my mp3 player, and walked as quickly as my legs would let me around the inside perimeter of the mall a few times until I got tired or a muscle cramped. No one knew I was exercising and no one stared or bothered me because hey I wasn't the only big person in the mall walking around.

Just recently I started going back to the gym and while sometimes I feel silly when there's a handful of people around the area I'm in, I turn on my music and ignore them. Yes I huff and puff and I drip sweat but so does everyone else in there.

It's seriously hard and looks borderline impossible, but you can't let what others may potentially think of you stop you from doing what you want and need to lose weight and be happy. I'm not saying put yourself in a situation you're not comfortable in or that will have negative effects on you, but it's no good sitting in your house and staying scared of the outside world when, in reality, a vast majority of the outside world couldn't care less about you using a jogging path or anything else. And those that do, they're beneath you.

Long story short you have to start small and work on taking steps further and further out of your comfort zone in order to get anything done. I did my years of crying because I was the fat girl and I'm done with them. You need to find the point where getting healthy matters more than getting your feelings hurt.

amicklin

Honestly, I've been there, seriously. In the past I had enough fat layers over my abdominals I couldn't properly perform crunches.

I wouldn't stress about it to much, you are working to better yourself if anyone looks at you badly for that 'F' them!

Now, anytime I see people running/ working out I cheer them on! (Mentally.. don't think they'd appreciate a random stranger yelling at them!)

Do what you can and do YOUR best at it and let everyone else be.

imakimm

I really wanted to start running outside but someone told me that I ran funny. It really bothered me because I kept thinking about what others thought of me as I was running. ( I know I shouldn't!). So now I wear a hat and sunglasses when I run with my headphones so I can't hear or really see anyone else. It has helped me! :-)

Alicia_Monique

Whenever I see a "bigger" person running I think to myself how awesome they are. If anybody makes fun of you they have something wrong with them. And **** them anyways, you're doing it for yourself!

I hope you begin your morning runs! You'll be amazed how much better you feel with them!