Was told Do Not Run!
HeatherDee92
Posts: 218 Member
This weekend I went to give blood and I had some issues with my iron being low on my first finger prick blood test. When the second worker came it to prick my other hand I mentioned to her that I had recently started being a vegetarian. She told me she was also a vegetarian and that she also used to do long distance running. I at this point mentioned that I have been running lately and have grown addicted to it! This is when the story takes a terrible turn for the worst! She decides to tell me that as a bigger girl I shouldn't run until I have got my wight down more. She proceeded to tell me that my extra weight will hurt my joints too much. I nodded my head and agreed(I had heard this before), and when she left the room I was fuming! Who was she to tell me that what I was doing was wrong? I love running, and I am not going to stop. I am not going to just walk! I find just walking boring!
Then when I went out to give blood she mentioned to the other worker who was doing my blood withdrawl that you could see my vein great even though I was a bigger girl, because it is often harder to find veins on bigger people. She then smiled at me and said, but it's okay cause she is working on it!
I was so mad I wanted to scream! I couldn't believe this tiny little B*TCH was going to talk to me about my weight and how I should go about it!
-end rant-
Then when I went out to give blood she mentioned to the other worker who was doing my blood withdrawl that you could see my vein great even though I was a bigger girl, because it is often harder to find veins on bigger people. She then smiled at me and said, but it's okay cause she is working on it!
I was so mad I wanted to scream! I couldn't believe this tiny little B*TCH was going to talk to me about my weight and how I should go about it!
-end rant-
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Replies
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Holy moly- I hate when people act like this! And bullllll about the running- It can be hard on your joints- but there are warning signs if youre taking it to a point that will harm your joints. You know what's worse? Not running. I bet being overweight is great for the joints too eh? -
Side note: I told co-worker this morning the weight I lost this week (doing a comp. at work.) and she said "Well- you know- it's way easier for you to lose weight than someone smaller."
Grrrrrrrrrr. I hate when people just throw stuff out there- esp. when they have never had this problem/severe of a problem. Or when people try to put down your achievements. GOOD FOR YOU running. and donating!!0 -
i am sorry you had that experience. it is NOT her place to say such things to you or anyone, i mean wth! i am a larger gal, much, much larger than you and i have never had anyone have a problem finding a vein and i give blood all the time. granted, i don't run, but it is not her place to hand out medical advice.
if you're running and you love it. then you are doing the proper stretching and preparing before you do your run. i understand you being upset big time.
you do what is right for you and unless your own physician has advised you against it, you keep running girl.0 -
so much nicer than me, I would have found something very unflattering to respond to her with and made sure that I told the person in charge of the facility that "if" I ever donated again it would be with another facility or agency and pointed her out.0
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I'm right there with you. My doc gave me hell for running at 310 lbs, but I loved it too much to stop. When I went to her with my leg injury, she gave me an "I told you so" kind of speech that left me fuming... until I threw it in her face that I actually fell at work. That's when you walk away from negative people and surround yourself with positive ones.0
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Well she may have went about it the wrong way, but it's true that if you are heavier and running that you can sustain more joint impact issues than if you were lighter. That's just physics.This weekend I went to give blood and I had some issues with my iron being low on my first finger prick blood test. When the second worker came it to prick my other hand I mentioned to her that I had recently started being a vegetarian. She told me she was also a vegetarian and that she also used to do long distance running. I at this point mentioned that I have been running lately and have grown addicted to it! This is when the story takes a terrible turn for the worst! She decides to tell me that as a bigger girl I shouldn't run until I have got my wight down more. She proceeded to tell me that my extra weight will hurt my joints too much. I nodded my head and agreed(I had heard this before), and when she left the room I was fuming! Who was she to tell me that what I was doing was wrong? I love running, and I am not going to stop. I am not going to just walk! I find just walking boring!
Then when I went out to give blood she mentioned to the other worker who was doing my blood withdrawl that you could see my vein great even though I was a bigger girl, because it is often harder to find veins on bigger people. She then smiled at me and said, but it's okay cause she is working on it!
I was so mad I wanted to scream! I couldn't believe this tiny little B*TCH was going to talk to me about my weight and how I should go about it!
-end rant-
Don't be upset. If you're not hurting while you're running then keep it up. But if you notice lingering pains in your ankles and knees, you may want to try to reduce your running. It would suck reaching goal, but having aching joints daily in the process.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?0 -
Well she may have went about it the wrong way, but it's true that if you are heavier and running that you can sustain more joint impact issues than if you were lighter. That's just physics.
Don't be upset. If you're not hurting while you're running then keep it up. But if you notice lingering pains in your ankles and knees, you may want to try to reduce your running. It would suck reaching goal, but having aching joints daily in the process.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I feel you on this! If I was feeling pain from it I would stop! I don't run very much generally just a mile, and I have had no joint pain from it! I don't push myself too far or too hard! Just enough to get my blood moving and my weight dropping
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Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
This...
I think what you're doing is great, but you seem extremely aggressive towards someone who was just trying to be helpful. You come across far more malicious and petty than she does from what you've written. It wasn't a personal attack, there's no reason to be so upset about it.0 -
Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
She was not my nurse. She was just checking my iron. I have enough doctors telling me I need to lose weight. I don't need the nurse at a red cross to tell me I am fat. No i don't want everyone walking on egg shells I am not naive. When I walk into a room i have "bigger girl" written all over my body. I don't need added people proclaiming it to the world.
If I were there for a checkup that would be one thing but I was there donating my time and my blood; I don't need to have my weight thrown in my face all the time! Its called common decency!0 -
This...
I think what you're doing is great, but you seem extremely aggressive towards someone who was just trying to be helpful. You come across far more malicious and petty than she does from what you've written. It wasn't a personal attack, there's no reason to be so upset about it.
I know she was trying to be helpful! I am not saying she wasn't I am simply saying she could have been a bit more quiet about it and not proclaimed it to the world.0 -
Even being bigger, be proud of yourself. You are losing your weight and that is no small/easy task.
Sorry if I came off as aggressive towards you, but I have little patience when I see people basically argue "Who does she think she is" when the answer is quite clearly "someone that is TOTALLY qualified to say what she did".
Simply put, she said the truth, was honest, and was right. You told her you were running, she knows excess weights on joints can cause damage to the body, assumed that since you were running with extra weight that you didn't know, and felt it was her duty to ensure your health and safety.
When there are things I find sensitive to talk about, I don't lead the conversation that way. If your weight is a touchy issue, do not bring up exercise practices you KNOW can be bad for your health to a health official.0 -
I don't know. You were having a casual conversation with someone I presume was a health care worker. And she casually gave you some advice. Some true advice. Heavier people like you and me put more stress on our joints when running and jumping. This time out I actually put off running till I lost 25 pounds or so just to avoid a third surgery on my knees.
But I wasn't there. Maybe she could have phrased it better. Maybe she came off as condescending or rude. Maybe it wasn't her place. But if I'm having a conversation with someone I'm allowed to say what I want, and they can say what they want. And if we don't agree, that's good because I like hearing different opinions from my own. I wouldn't get so upset about it if I were you. Save the rage for your next run.0 -
Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
time and place, time and place. a phelbotomist has no justifiable reason to hand out that kind of advise.0 -
Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
time and place, time and place. a phelbotomist has no justifiable reason to hand out that kind of advise.
I don't know about that. Maybe it's because I have serious health problems, but I take free medical advise from lab workers, pharmacists, nurses, whoever is willing to give it.0 -
Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
Er... Nurses are specifically required to NOT give medical advice. Wow. You're pretty aggressive. And BS about the veins thats a stereo type. And it's wrong- I have great veins- it varies from person to person. And yes she was totally asking every one to walk on eggshells - Thats exactly what you should have taken from t hat- I like how you brought it around and made it all better with = Hey even bigger you have a right to being proud. Thanks for the permission. Your great.0 -
she was just making conversation.
life is too short to get pissed off every time someone expresses an opinion you dont agree with. just move on. this is probably 10 minutes out of your life and you'll probably never see this person again.
you're an adult. if you want to run then run, of you dont then dont. i dont see how a stranger's opinion would make even the smallest difference0 -
I was told that too... I ALMOST FELL OUT... this was after I mentioned I plateau at the end of my weight goal....however I was told to do another method... .25 meter sprint hard... then incline for a mile walking only... I can't grasp that concept...But I think since the person who told me that is a Crossfit trainer I might need to consider, however I also want to consider the type of workout I want to do.. There are so many other methods... Insanity, P90X, Crossfit, 24hourFitness -dance classes.....ect... and they all have their own way to get you moving.
I will have to consider which direction I want to do... Crossfit is too costly for me to enroll to get the entire concept. 24-hour trainer is also expensive, so I will continue to go the direction that I am doing it is working for me... I just have to consider what was said, and take it from there....
I haven't grasp the thought of not running, and don't plan on stopping, however I do plan on breaking this plateau one way or another... You keep it up, do what is comfortable for you, maybe consider what is being said and know that either way in the long run (no pun indeeded) the weight will come off as long as we keep burning calories...0 -
Of course there are concerns about joint damage for runners. And the bigger you are the more careful you have to be about it. And you probably won't get away with skimping out on good shoes...
Anyhow, if you feel her concerns have merit, talk to a specialist. If you feel you are well prepared enough, then you're good to do as you please.
Just smile and nod, she probably didn't mean to insult, just thought she was giving advice... Most nuses I know enjoy knowing something better than everyone else, oh wait, most people I know are that way :-p0 -
:noway: NO WAY! UGH! I hate that... this one time a woman working at a jewellery store took my hand and said "omg! you have such fat fingers! you are never going to get proposed to..." PS: I was 14 and was just in there with my mother... I wasn't even buying anything -_-
Well, she can suck it... :grumble:0 -
That nurse was NOT your doctor, you did not go to see her for weight-related, so it is NOT her place to tell you what to do. If it had been your physician, things would be different, but she was not, and her comment was out of place.
But don't feel bad about it! You're doing a great job and I'm sure you know your body better than that nurse could ever, so if you feel like running, RUN. She was out of place, but most people in the health business tend to be a little too nosy or petty about other's lifestyles, just because they are "qualified", in my opinion. Ignore her and continue to do what you're doing, since it looks like it's working.
It's funny how, if you are not thin, people automatically assume they have the right to tell you what to do to lose weight, or how to do it. Every time someone makes a comment on my weight-loss or tells me I look skinnier, they automatically follow with YOU SHOULD...
Everyone always seems to know what's best for YOU, even if they don't know you.
It's just the human ego, I think, that makes everyone think they're experts on everything. Most skinny people aren't healthy eaters, yet they think they are just because their bodies aren't showing obvious signs of bad nutrition.
I normally ignore comments and suggestions unless I asked for them, and just pretend that most compliments aren't backhanded.0 -
Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
In a word: Bullsh!t.
This woman was not a nurse or a doctor, so I don't think the use of the term "medical practitioner" is very accurate. But even if she was, she was definitely NOT qualified to give exercise advice. And it is inappropriate in a medical setting for people who are not your specific caregivers to give unsolicited advice. They know nothing about your past, they know nothing about your body, they know nothing about your medical or exercise histories. Even I would never say anything like that unsolicited and out of the blue and I am more qualified to give fitness advice in a medical setting than 95% of all doctors and nurses.
The last comment she made was just boorish. Making public comments about someone's weight or size is a policy violation at any medical facility I have ever worked.
And spare me the "tough love" exhortations as well. When you are overweight, you do not give up your human dignity. It is not "walking on eggshells" to expect to be treated with respect.
Newsflash: Overweight people KNOW they are overweight. They don't need to walk through a gauntlet of self-righteous jerks every day pointing that out.0 -
I don't know. You were having a casual conversation with someone I presume was a health care worker. And she casually gave you some advice. Some true advice. Heavier people like you and me put more stress on our joints when running and jumping. This time out I actually put off running till I lost 25 pounds or so just to avoid a third surgery on my knees.
But I wasn't there. Maybe she could have phrased it better. Maybe she came off as condescending or rude. Maybe it wasn't her place. But if I'm having a conversation with someone I'm allowed to say what I want, and they can say what they want. And if we don't agree, that's good because I like hearing different opinions from my own. I wouldn't get so upset about it if I were you. Save the rage for your next run.
Not in that setting. If you work in a medical facility, you most definitely CANNOT "say what you want". Not even close.
The issue of whether or not "heavier" people should be running is a different issue from whether or not the conversation in this setting was appropriate or not. Certainly, we can have that general discussion at any time -- and THAT is when it is appropriate to express an opinion.0 -
My advice: Ask your doctor. If they say you can run, then run!
And always remember about crabs in a bucket........if you place a group of crabs in a bucket and one tried to escape, the others will try and bring then down again.
This lady may have been having a bad day, picked up a few pounds herself, had a fight with her boyfriend, been pms and was just feeling a little cranky. Or she may have been giving you what she thought was good advice, albeit in a rather hard way, but you can't control that - you can only control you. Don't let the crabs pull you down!!0 -
Keep on running!0
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Medical advice from a medical practitioner....
Sorry to say, but a Nurse is not your psychiatrist. She isn't there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
She is right to tell you about your exercise, because it is her job to ensure the health of anyone in her care. She is more qualified than you are in this field. You are letting your PRIDE get in the way of sound medical advice.
Heavier people are better off doing low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling.
As for mentioning the vein thing, this is also just a fact. Really skinny people tend to have very obvious veins showing.
Would you prefer EVERYONE around you at ALL times walk on egg shells when discussing anything weight related? Should the world totally ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't exist?
In a word: Bullsh!t.
This woman was not a nurse or a doctor, so I don't think the use of the term "medical practitioner" is very accurate. But even if she was, she was definitely NOT qualified to give exercise advice. And it is inappropriate in a medical setting for people who are not your specific caregivers to give unsolicited advice. They know nothing about your past, they know nothing about your body, they know nothing about your medical or exercise histories. Even I would never say anything like that unsolicited and out of the blue and I am more qualified to give fitness advice in a medical setting than 95% of all doctors and nurses.
The last comment she made was just boorish. Making public comments about someone's weight or size is a policy violation at any medical facility I have ever worked.
And spare me the "tough love" exhortations as well. When you are overweight, you do not give up your human dignity. It is not "walking on eggshells" to expect to be treated with respect.
Newsflash: Overweight people KNOW they are overweight. They don't need to walk through a gauntlet of self-righteous jerks every day pointing that out.
HALLELUJAH... Thank you for saying this!!!
Run and do what makes you happy. Sounds like you are doing great fellow runner!0 -
I say Amen to Keep Runnin'! :drinker:
That's bull**** that you can't run... sure, it may be more difficult and you're putting more stress on your body with more weight, BUT, if you train smart, ease into it, and listen to your body, you can still be a badass heavier runner while you get to the weight you want. I'm sure the nurse or whoever meant well, but ultimately, if your doc says you're healthy enough for physical activity, don't pay any mind to naysayers.0 -
What can I say? That was uncalled for.0
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I waited untill I had lost weight before I started to run. Since then I have 2 different injuries directly related to me running (adductor and mid-back muscle issue).
I think you are going to potentially have issues even if you are at your target weight. You can lessen the risk if you cross train with low impact activities.
Keep running!0
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