That look
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fittocycle
Posts: 825 Member
I've been maintaining for a while but today while out for a walk, I got "the look." I was talking with another women who had been biking and stopped for a water break. We were talking about the surrounding trails and she mentioned that she was just getting back into biking and how difficult it was to get back into shape. When I said, yeah, it's tough, I got the look. You know the look. It's how can you know what it's like to get back into shape (or be overweight, or struggle with weight, etc.). Funny how we judge people when we know nothing about them! Even though she was heavier than me, she was definitely in better shape for biking. I haven't been on a bike in over three years!!
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fittocycle wrote: »I've been maintaining for a while but today while out for a walk, I got "the look." I was talking with another women who had been biking and stopped for a water break. We were talking about the surrounding trails and she mentioned that she was just getting back into biking and how difficult it was to get back into shape. When I said, yeah, it's tough, I got the look. You know the look. It's how can you know what it's like to get back into shape (or be overweight, or struggle with weight, etc.). Funny how we judge people when we know nothing about them! Even though she was heavier than me, she was definitely in better shape for biking. I haven't been on a bike in over three years!!
pardon me taking liberties, but you are an attractive lady! I will give you a look!
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Yes, people forget that we all started somewhere. I get it. Some people won't even ask me for advice, because they assume that I am so far advanced that I wouldn't give them anything relevant to themselves.10
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DancingMoosie wrote: »Yes, people forget that we all started somewhere. I get it. Some people won't even ask me for advice, because they assume that I am so far advanced that I wouldn't give them anything relevant to themselves.
Drives me mad the 'you're thin, what could you possibly know about losing weight' mentality!15 -
I definitely can relate to this.
Some people have assumed I've been fit my whole life and can't relate to being overweight. But I've been overweight most of life and only been fit and at a healthy weight for the last few years!
You just don't know what another person has been through and where they started from.12 -
I do not expect ever to see a market for custom made t-shirts showing us at our most obese and slovenly. No, not even for men.10
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JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I do not expect ever to see a market for custom made t-shirts showing us at our most obese and slovenly. No, not even for men.
That was going to be my suggestion - a screen print tee of your 'before' photo.6 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I do not expect ever to see a market for custom made t-shirts showing us at our most obese and slovenly. No, not even for men.
That was going to be my suggestion - a screen print tee of your 'before' photo.
There does exist a 300 lb butt shot of me. No. Just no.18 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I do not expect ever to see a market for custom made t-shirts showing us at our most obese and slovenly. No, not even for men.
That was going to be my suggestion - a screen print tee of your 'before' photo.
There does exist a 300 lb butt shot of me. No. Just no.
But then nobody would know it was you. You'd just be wearing a t-shirt with some guy's big *kitten* on it. Awkward!
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Oh gosh, my before pic would be terrible! Back in high school I weighed more than 70 pounds than I do now. I was also told once that I had absolutely no muscle tone by a ballet instructor. I lift weights today, do yoga, walk, etc. and I do finally have muscle. And there isn't a single day- not one- that I don't think about what I eat. Ok, some days I think about it more than others, but still! 8
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People judge in the now, never thinking someone can do what you have accomplished. Be proud and dont give the look a second thought5
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We need to revitalize the art of conversation.
The majority of really fit people I know were all overweight at some point. Naturally thin does not exist.
Cheer people on when you seem them doing the right thing. That is doing the right thing.17 -
I was having a conversation the other day with a young female colleague of mine who's been going strong in the weight room and losing weight since last August. She didn't have a ton of weight to lose really and always looked good...she looks fab now and you can really tell she's put in the work in the weight room.
She hit her goal weight about a month ago and we were having a conversation about maintaining weight and how she was having difficulties with some aspects of it...mentally...the physical training demands...keeping on with healthy eating most of the time, etc.
I said something to the tune of, "yeah...I can relate." She never knew me as a fat guy...all she's ever known is the guy that brings in his cooler full of oats, lean meat, salads, quinoa, etc and the guy that rides a bike a lot and lifts weights...I got the look for sure, and then I showed her my before picture which is actually a picture of me about 14 Lbs from my starting weight...mind blown!
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You know, I think about this a lot. I always smile and wave at other runners/walkers--I usually just see two or three people on my route, so don't worry, my arm is not constantly waving
Anyway, I especially try to look friendly and non-judgmental toward people who are overweight or appear to be newbie runners. I hope it doesn't come across as creepy. I know I look more like a "stereotypical" runner now that I'm thinner, but about three years ago I weighed 100 pounds more. This is the first time in my life that I've ever been an "ideal" weight. I know what it's like to be the obese runner, even if nobody I see during a run realizes that I know that. 14 -
I've found an alternate side of this to be true, too, and kind of dislocating to me when I first encountered it.
I've been quite active for around 16 years, during most of which I was obese (BMI a bit over 30). For many years now, I've helped with my rowing club's learn-to-row class. I used to get a positive reaction - a "can do" reaction - when I showed some of the beginners who are heavier or less-fit people how to do certain things** in ways that are more accommodative to more bulk or less flexibility. I looked like them, I could do the thing, so they thought they could do the thing.
These last couple of years (BMI 22), demoing the same things in the same way, I get the "yeah, sure" reaction. They don't believe me: They don't think they can do it.
I guess I need the "fat Ann rower" photo t-shirt for the learn-to-row class . . . in the usual safety neon yellow color, of course.
**One specific example: Fitter athletes get into a single rowing shell by stepping onto the boat's deck, then doing a sort of one-legged squat to get onto the seat, which is only a couple inches higher than your supporting foot. It's a no-go for a lot of older, less fit, less flexible or heavier people. Instead, you can sit on the dock and lever your butt onto the seat, do a modified squat while using a part of the boat called a rigger to help you keep your balance, or a couple of other options.11 -
And I thought this was going to be a conversation about a man who said something he should not have said. And got "That look" Not that I have ever done that. HAHA!
This was much better. And very insightful. A good reminder to make no assumptions about people that you don't know.5 -
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You know, I think about this a lot. I always smile and wave at other runners/walkers--I usually just see two or three people on my route, so don't worry, my arm is not constantly waving Anyway, I especially try to look friendly and non-judgmental toward people who are overweight or appear to be newbie runners. I hope it doesn't come across as creepy. I know I look more like a "stereotypical" runner now that I'm thinner, but about three years ago I weighed 100 pounds more. This is the first time in my life that I've ever been an "ideal" weight. I know what it's like to be the obese runner, even if nobody I see during a run realizes that I know that.
I want to give words of encouragement and pride in what they are doing for themselves, but I am an introvert and anyway feel that they would just think I was some demented creep.
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rainbow198 wrote: »I definitely can relate to this.
Some people have assumed I've been fit my whole life and can't relate to being overweight. But I've been overweight most of life and only been fit and at a healthy weight for the last few years!
You just don't know what another person has been through and where they started from.
Exactly. People see you as you are now and think it's always been that way. They have no idea the amount of hard work and sweat that went into it.4 -
Yesterday a student at the hospital I work at came up to me and asked if I lifted weights. I said no. I haven't in a few years. She was like...no way...look at your arms. You can clearly tell.
What I didn't tell her is that I lost weight and muscles I had hidden under all that is now showing. lol
I used to lift weights a few years ago so that must still hang around.4 -
You know, I think about this a lot. I always smile and wave at other runners/walkers--I usually just see two or three people on my route, so don't worry, my arm is not constantly waving Anyway, I especially try to look friendly and non-judgmental toward people who are overweight or appear to be newbie runners. I hope it doesn't come across as creepy. I know I look more like a "stereotypical" runner now that I'm thinner, but about three years ago I weighed 100 pounds more. This is the first time in my life that I've ever been an "ideal" weight. I know what it's like to be the obese runner, even if nobody I see during a run realizes that I know that.
I want to give words of encouragement and pride in what they are doing for themselves, but I am an introvert and anyway feel that they would just think I was some demented creep.
Yeah, I think that saying something would be creepier than just smiling and waving, so I don't say anything. (Although sometimes I see people running in clothing that is clearly not comfortable, like a sports bra that isn't supportive at all, and I REALLY want to recommend something better...but I don't.)3
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