Like most evenings, I read the status updates on Fabebook 2 nights ago, just to be nosey and find out what everyone was up to and guess what…one of them (and the following thread) made me so furious I had to wait over 24 hours to post anything about it!
The conversation went a little like this:
This exchange didn’t just disgust me but reaffirmed everything I thought was true!
I’ll tell you a little bit about myself: I have always had issues with my weight. I have been all different kinds of sizes but for most of my life I have been further along the plus size than I would like to be. I have dieted; fad diets including: Atkins, Lemonade, Baby Food, GI, 3 day diet etc all miserable failures after the first few week. I have tried exercising; I used to do 4 dance classes a week until I was 15 (before a car accident which prevented me from doing anything too physical for over a year), went to the gym for over an hour a day (when no one was there), yoga, pilates, the list goes on and on. And, regrettably, for 2 years, I had eating disorders.
I dropped 5 dress sizes when I was “being silly” as my mother puts it, but slowly, since then, it has been creeping back up and then after visiting California, I gained even more weight. Recently, I have been trying to diet sensibly; eating healthily, keeping an eye on calories (roughly 1,200 a day) and exercising daily and luckily I have dropped a dress size in a month and I’m still going, the aim being to be healthier rather than worrying about what I look like.
The reason I say all of this is because, even though I’m trying really hard to lose weight and exercise, I refuse to go to the gym because I am terrified of people judging me. There’s nothing more demoralising than trying to do something you’re proud of and having people laugh at you. And unfortunately, that’s what these shallow, spiteful, immature girls above were doing.
We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve had to hold our breath walking past someone in the tube, supermarket or nightclub, but lets face it 1. These are situations where people shouldn’t really smell, 2. You don’t make a big song and dance about it unless you’re pushed into their armpit and 3. It’s generally not brought up unless they’re overweight or attractive and that was off putting (both scenarios highlighting people’s shallow nature once again). With this in mind, surely sweating and smelling in the gym is the most acceptable place for such uncontrollable body functions? The place where you are told to build up a sweat?
I think it’s despicable that people are judged for trying to improve themselves especially while in a place designed for self-improvement and fitness.
I’m sorry that some superficial, self-involved, closed minded people ruin this concept for a lot of people, believing that over weight people should probably stay at home so people don’t have to see them and then wonder why they let themselves be like that. It’s because of people like the girls above who make people like me feel ashamed for trying hard to improve my lifestyle and health and state of mind as well as body. I gave up smoking (even the odd one every so often because of stress) and drinking a while ago and I’m even more adamant to keep away from both now because it would undo all my hard work for such stupid habits.
It’s funny because I went through the pictures of the two girls I know from the above conversation and found sweat patches, cigarettes and booze (including cans of Strongbow! Classy!)…all obviously the height of glamour and not creating any sickly odour at all! I’m pretty sure they’ve all been sick after drinking at some stage in their life from drinking too much or flicked their hair whilst in a club, spraying unsuspecting victims with their sweat.
I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t complain if it was a 6’2” guy with massive muscles sweating on them or if they were in a hotel swimming pool whilst on holiday.
I think it’s a shame that people are so caught up in themselves and want to feel better about their own insecurities that they’re too quick to judge and worry about their own minor, minimal discomfort that they can’t think of others, their achievements or determination or (God forbid) feelings!
I just urge people to take 2 seconds to register what people are attempting rather than pointing and laughing that they might be sweating excessively or are red or out of breath or even jiggling. Spiteful looks, little giggles, sighs, whispering or insensitive comments on social networks/blogs stunt peoples progress and is, lets face it, childish and inconsiderate and suggesting a shower after exercising is obviously genius and a new concept (some people are just so stupid – I think that comment pissed me off the most and I don’t even know the girl).
I’m hoping that this has made the above girls ashamed, as much as the woman who smelt would feel if she stumbled upon the conversation.
Oh and a word of advice for everyone…please shower after exercising! Whomever you are!
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