"Lost 100lbs & found out what the world thinks of fat ppl"

Great read. I can definitely relate in the reverse sense though, I used to be thin and received lots of attention. Now i'm bigger, and yeah...

That is a great article. It is one of the reasons I can't imagine being my size as a woman. It isn't better or worse to be a fat man than a woman, but it is different. I feel the same way about how differently people treat you as you get smaller, but for the sake of discussion I want to bring up the biggest difference that I have noticed (other than what has been talked about already.)

Ironically, one of the things that I HATED when I was at my largest was how people "helped" me with things I shouldn't have needed help with. It hurt my pride when I would hear "let me get that for you" or "No, you stay there." It was like cutting my nuts off.

Friends wouldn't ask me to help them move. If they were going somewhere like an amusement park they didn't want to embarrass me. One of the things that finally gave me my come to Jesus moment was when my daughter, who was about 5 at the time, told me "I will ask mommy to go, I know you don't like to walk."

I was always athletic and strong. Being overweight is different when you are strong and on the football team or the rugby team. I dressed like a slob because one of my defenses was that I would rather look intimidating than neat. I would wear shirts that would emphasize my arms or shoulders and would never tuck anything in because it gave a straighter line. I could look intimidating enough that I never was directly teased often.

I am just relieved now that people are not as "nice" as they used to be.

I am on the journey of major weight loss, and I worry about this. When I go to the supermarket to buy food for my family, I will watch the checker be outgoing and friendly with everyone in front of me, yet she can barely return my greeting or look at me. I'm friendly, and try to be polite when every I am out and about, but it's a rare thing to have the same politeness returned. I would think it's just the way the clerk/cashier/ect is, except I tend to be singled out for rudeness. (BTW, when I go shopping, my cart is much more healthy than those around me, and it's a rare day that I buy junk food).
I have lost over 50 lbs (from a start weight of 371lb at my highest), and almost dread having to deal with the two-faced people once I do get down to a lower weight. I am shy and sensitive, so, yeah, it's going to hit me.

I love this!!

10 years ago I lost 90lbs and was at 149, I stayed between 149 and 166 for about 4-5 years. I noticed a LOT of changes in how I was treated, and then it was heartbreaking as I regained all of it plus as I noticed getting treated differently once again. Slowly stopped getting invited out as much, male friends stopped talking to me as much especially.

Now that I'm on my way back down, I haven't really been out as much to notice the difference as much, mind you I still have at least 50lbs to go before I think I'll really notice.

I do not understand why society looks down upon being overweight as it does. We all have our flaws, vices, and personal battles. Perhaps being overweight is visible and so it is targeted, albeit unjustly. I don't have any solutions...but thank you posting. It is inspiring, and an excellent reminder to treat all of those around us with love and respect--regardless of appearance.

I think a lot of it is overweight people like myself are just easy targets. We (as a whole) tend to not defend ourselves and will just stand there and take it, perhaps acting like we don't hear the comments directed at us. There is a lot of self-hate as well, because of what we hear constantly from society, and a lot of us feel we deserve it. It's not right, and only serves to bring on emotional eating and more weight gain. Fat-shaming will never work.

There is also a general attitude that we are fat and it is our own fault. While that is true to some degree, things aren't that simple. This idea though is why so many people feel they have free reign to treat others like crap. As if it is somehow deserved.

The hard part is how many of us hate ourselves because we think that way too. We must be worthless or we wouldn't have let this happen.

When you do lose the weight, there is no healthy reason to question others, or hold a grudge.

I am nicer to myself as I get smaller, how can I truly be angry at someone else doing the same thing?

Well written!!!

Thanks for sharing! That was an interesting read!

Thanks for posting.

Another reminder that beauty is only skin deep for a lot of people out there. Kind of sad, but true.

wow

Glad you shared this!:flowerforyou:

thanks for sharing- great story!