Fat, morbidly obese woman in the weight room....

jgnatca wrote: »

Well, there's also the spectre of injury. My weight loss team raved about aquasize classes, because I could move without worrying about gravity killing my joints. But aquasize is not my thing. As soon as I was light enough to move, I began walking, then running. And Zumba. I love zumba. I don't like repetitive exercises whose only point is well, exercise. I've never stepped on an elliptical, and the spin classes look like torture. So I have to have a particular reason for doing weights, like getting some upper body strength for my next Tough Mudder.

I suspect that the bigger reason is because doing weights properly requires learning how and focusing on form and looking in the mirror, all things that seem hard and awkward and may make someone depressed about their body uncomfortable. I really wanted to strength train, but running and biking were easy (and swimming because I learned as a child). It's a shame because strength stuff is not only good for us, but something that lots of heavy people might actually be better than average at vs. cardio (not me, but I've seen lots of examples).

Did you do a Tough Mudder and did you like it? I'm vaguely considering doing one.

I'd give her the smile and nod and be happy that she's doing something to better herself. I know what it's like to be that big, flabby person in gym and was really self conscious. I'd let my fear of other people's thoughts get the best of me and given up too but this last time I started up again and went it was good to have my support system and see that people would just smile and nod to show me they weren't judging and that I was just another person working out. It helped keep me going.