Am I the only one?

I am going to allow myself to get flamed to defend some of these comments. First, I’d like to say that I do not defend derogatory statements about people, that is in fact, immature. That being said, referring to someone as fat, is not derogatory, it is simply an adjective like tall, skinny, athletic, white, black etc… and I think there has been too much sensitivity that has developed around referring to someone as fat.

Additionally, from my experience, many of these individuals that are sitting on the bike going 1mph and are more focused on their, book, phone, video games (yes, I have seen fat people on bikes playing handheld video games) are the same people that will come on here and say “but I am eating right and working out, why am I not losing weight?” and then reject every suggestion other’s give them.

Personally, I think that if people were criticized and judged more rather than spoon fed only what they want to hear, they would be much more motivated and achieve better results.

Let the flaming commence.

Well I guess my whole point was why do you care? and so what their playing a video game, maybe they have a heart condition and cant over do it so their doctor told them light workouts only? The point is you dont know their story or the day they had.

You think people should be judged more? Really? Tell that to the girl sticking her finger down her throat to get her body to what society thinks is thin. I think we'd all be better off minding our own business and letting others go about their journey in the way they want to get there!

I care because these are the people that will then post on here and say things like “yeah, I tried the bike for a while too and it never worked for me” when they didn’t actually put forth an effort; and the plague of misinformation and the idea that everyone’s circumstances are special continues to spread.

I am for pushing people in the right direction, through fitness and healthy living, not just their appearance, as is what drives those with eating disorders.

The point is you cant PUSH anyone to do anything. If they dotn want to put forth the effort on the bike that day, they just aren't going to and maybe there is a good reason they didn't. I find it hard to believe you followed someone to the gym, watched them go slowly on the bike, then come here and say it didn't work. Judging someone and being mean does not motivate.

I just think everyone should give advice when asked for it, other than that mind your own business.

Also, that person who is overweight (fat, obese, morbidly obese, whatever you call it?) has probably been judged his or her whole life. They don't need it. I always consider this. What if simply putting on their gym clothes and getting to the gym is the bravest thing they've done in 3 years? What if this is their first visit? What if they've just made a commitment to living a long life, and they don't have all the answers their first time out? The side glances, the looks, the judgement? Well, all it does is reaffirm that they don't know what they're doing and maybe they won't come back.


Everybody who tries deserves a high-five!

*hugs to all*

Also, that person who is overweight (fat, obese, morbidly obese, whatever you call it?) has probably been judged his or her whole life. They don't need it. I always consider this. What if simply putting on their gym clothes and getting to the gym is the bravest thing they've done in 3 years? What if this is their first visit? What if they've just made a commitment to living a long life, and they don't have all the answers their first time out? The side glances, the looks, the judgement? Well, all it does is reaffirm that they don't know what they're doing and maybe they won't come back.


Everybody who tries deserves a high-five!

*hugs to all*

THIS!

I have a medical condition that comes and goes. In the past ten years, I have vacillated between being the fittest person (besides the instructor) in any given class and barely being able to walk 2 miles an hour on a treadmill. I'm currently existing at the low end of the spectrum, have gained weight, lost endurance, strength and mobility and I am seriously depressed because of it. When I do go to the gym, I am constantly beating myself up the entire time I am there. It is terrifically difficult for me to accept that walking on a treadmill, or biking slowly is "good enough". I certainly do not need this coming from anyone else as well. I am most definitely worried that someone else is looking at me and thinking I am "lazy" or "fat". I am struggling to not think this about myself, and I can guarantee you that anyone who is trying to start moving or learning how to move or suffering with pain or limitations in their body is thinking about these issues enough on their own.

Moving some is better than not moving at all.

I would ask anyone who is thinking that they are entitled to be concerned with anyone else's progress or what they are doing to think twice before, um, "helping". It is impossible for you to know anyone else's journey or body.

I have confronted multiple people in the gym when I see them doing an exercise with improper form and helped them correct it...And this action is supportive, and constructive, but it was not what the person wanted to hear.

Why do you assume they "didn't want to hear it?" When you stop and HELP someone (please say confront was the wrong word) that is constructive. When you go home and say "I had to show another fatso how to use the damn machine" that is judgmental.

The fact that you do try to help, leads me to believe that you're not being a jerk. The fact that you (seem to) think that we all need that help kinda makes me think you are.

Everybody has a valid opinion, you included, but I think you're being a little harsh and confrontational with yours.

Because no one wants to be told they are doing something wrong. There is one case a specifically remember where I helped a girl with barbell squat in my gym. The moment I approached her, introduced myself and starting talking about the exercise she was clearly embarrassed, she didn’t want that. But after I spent five minutes working with her, she was quite grateful. And whether it was helpful or not, it was still judgmental. I saw her squatting and said to myself “holy crap her technique is atrocious”, but in the end it was positive and constructive.

I have confronted multiple people in the gym when I see them doing an exercise with improper form and helped them correct it...And this action is supportive, and constructive, but it was not what the person wanted to hear.

Why do you assume they "didn't want to hear it?" When you stop and HELP someone (please say confront was the wrong word) that is constructive. When you go home and say "I had to show another fatso how to use the damn machine" that is judgmental.

The fact that you do try to help, leads me to believe that you're not being a jerk. The fact that you (seem to) think that we all need that help kinda makes me think you are.

Everybody has a valid opinion, you included, but I think you're being a little harsh and confrontational with yours.

Because no one wants to be told they are doing something wrong. There is one case a specifically remember where I helped a girl with barbell squat in my gym. The moment I approached her, introduced myself and starting talking about the exercise she was clearly embarrassed, she didn’t want that. But after I spent five minutes working with her, she was quite grateful. And whether it was helpful or not, it was still judgmental. I saw her squatting and said to myself “holy crap her technique is atrocious”, but in the end it was positive and constructive.

You story does not show that she didn't want to hear it - it shows that she didn't want to be accosted by a stranger in a gym.

And I definitely agree that people need to learn how to deal with criticism. In our society, we're so afraid of offending people that we're flat-out dishonest with them. That doesn't make anyone stronger; it makes them weaker. If someone asks my opinion about their diet or their exercise plan, they're going to get a brutally honest response. Lying to them and calling it "encouragement" or "support" isn't helpful at all. I'm not going to be anyone's enabler in the interest of not offending them.