Yes, fat people can run too.

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OK, to be fair, it's more of a slow jog. But I do jog, occasionally. Along with other forms of exercise. I don't exercise as often as I'd like to, or need to. Not that it's an excuse, 'cause I know other people do it, but as a working mom it is a little tough to find the time. I'm working on that. Meanwhile, I do take an average 13,000 steps and 23 flights of stairs a day. So I'm not completely sedentary.
But do people have to be so dang surprised every time I mention that I jog? The same 2 people, my mother and a friend. 3 times each. "You?? Jog??!!"
Yes, I may be 55-60 lbs overweight. But I am capable of moving my feet at a little more than a slow crawl. And I do exercise. Why do skinny people have to find this so &*$%! shocking?? Every single time??!!

Thanks, just needed to vent.
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Replies

  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
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    Don't mind them it's just ignorance
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
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    Some people find that anyone running is bizarre. Just say "yep, me!"
  • emcemayo
    emcemayo Posts: 45 Member
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    You are probably doing more than them so keep at it !!!
    At 13k :) awesome steps I have not be able to get past 12k on a busy day.
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
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    I don't. I'm skinny and have health issues. I understand that size has absolutely nothing to do with health.
  • neldabg
    neldabg Posts: 1,452 Member
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    You're already doing awesome! Seriously. The ACTIVE effort put into taking care of the one body you have is great.
    When I was losing weight, I proudly told a personal trainer I came across that I'd worked my way down to a 10 minute mile run. He looked at me quite skeptically, and that was discouraging, but I just continued on as usual.
    I really hate that people can't accept that someone can be both overweight and active. How do they think those who are now within a healthy BMI range started out?? Also, weight loss happens only when calories in are less than calories out, so of course a person will remain overweight despite being active if they don't have their diet under control.
    So yes. Fat people can run too!
    Keep up the good work! :)
  • jennybearlv
    jennybearlv Posts: 1,519 Member
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    That is a fantastic step count! I'm sorry you are getting such rude feedback from the people in your life. They are probably jealous of your fitness level. I took up jogging when I weighed 240 lbs, morbidly obese at over 100 lbs overweight for my height. The amount of compliments and encouragement I got from other joggers in the park and random people on the street absolutely blew my mind. I thought everyone would think I was a joke. You have to seek out people who get what you are about and ignore the haters.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    Clearly they are impressed!
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
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    Ssshhhhhh

    don't tell my trainer!!!!!!!
  • mmdolly56
    mmdolly56 Posts: 25 Member
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    I miss feeling light on my feet. I'm down 34 lbs so hopefully if I hang in there I will have that feeling again. Until then, I don't even like walking :-(
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
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    Good on you for the exercise you're doing!

    I ran my first 10km charity run when I was 35kg (77lb) overweight, and was running long before it in training. I ran my first half marathon at 25kg (55lb) overweight. Providing a person trains properly and takes care of themselves, there's no reason that you can't do any exercise whilst overweight.

    As for the responses of people around you, that just shows that how society skews peoples views into thinking that being overweight is a barrier to being fit. Keep proving them wrong!
  • rubydrm
    rubydrm Posts: 112 Member
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    Keep on going!!! Good for you to getting out there and getting it done!!!
  • PeachesNcreamgal
    PeachesNcreamgal Posts: 357 Member
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    6 August 2015 is when I attempted to jog for the first time and I succeeded. Started c25k on 1 st November 2015. I was 82-83 kgs then. People called me a fatso and elephant but I continued running. I weigh 77 kgs now. Not much loss but totally in love with running!
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    edited October 2016
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    Kids, senior citizens, amputees, skinny, fat, cancer patients, people with joint diseases, athletes, celebrities...

    They all run, I don't think it's surprising people run.

    The people that are "surprised" just aren't runners for whatever reason, they probably do things that would surprise you as well.

    Try to focus on you and your goals and not on how people react to your goals.
  • mbouchard1234
    mbouchard1234 Posts: 45 Member
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    "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch"

    Good on you, keep it up and don't let anyone make you feel less for bettering yourself. If I could high five all the people I drive by out for a jog or run and not seem weird, I totally would. Lol! But I totally get it, I'm heavy and I jog too...but go at like 5 in the morning for the sole purpose of fewer people seeing me. I'm still self conscious because of those kind of people you refer to or comments like that :(
  • apolinarshamler
    apolinarshamler Posts: 37 Member
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    I used to run on the treadmill for about 8-10 minutes non stop. I stopped because I would always get these cramps all over my body. It was really frustrating because I knew that I could do more but the pain wouldn't let me. Now I just jump rope for 5 - 7 minutes with a 30 second rest in between until I get too tired to jump over the rope.
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
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    Keep running! You're a runner and no one can tell you otherwise.
    People who don't run don't realize that running takes determination, not a perfect body. Just keep going out and enjoy your runs. I could lose a few pounds myself but I'm still out there running....not fast, not prettily but I'm out there.
    Way to go!
  • cnejunk
    cnejunk Posts: 4 Member
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    Thank you! You are all awesome. I got over it, mostly. I just find that attitude very frustrating. And, like mbouchard1234, that kind of attitude keeps me from exercising even more often, I'm embarrassed to run in my neighborhood because of what people would think or say when they saw me attempting to run. So I wait until I have time to drive to the trail to run. I'm struggling to wake up at 5am so I can run near home instead! I know I shouldn't care, but I do.
  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
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    Seriously, OP. I see people in all states of chubby blowing past me in races all the time.