To some people the idea of exercise elicits painful memories of being the target of dodge balls, being picked last regardless of ability, being called a "fat bitch" while riding your bike, or the hardbody yuppie woman telling you that she would "never step foot in the gym if she was your size." Every one of these things has happened to me (except the last one- no one had the guts to say that, they mostly just stared at me. Of course had some person actually said it, we both would never step foot in there again. Because I would gone to jail after breaking her leg).
It's in interesting situation: on the one hand we are constantly reminded on "the news" about the Great American Obesity Epidemic and we're told by "A Famous Medical Doctor" that people don't get enough exercise. But these same individuals who supposedly have the public's health in mind when they make their judgements don't seem to understand or acknowledge how much hostility fat people get when they take the advice and try to exercise. This is especially true when the subject is fat kids who are often taunted by other kids AND teachers at school.
Despite all this, movement is very important to all bodies. Studies have shown fat people who exercise are healthier than thin people who don't. Exercise raises the level of endorphins in the blood and makes you feel better. It's one of the reasons I'm an advocate of frequent movement. We deserve those endorphin rushes. You don't have to be a hardbody to exercise. I'm hardly a contender for the New York City marathon, but I try to exercise every single day. This isn't a competition. There are fat chicks who move better than I do, thin chicks who move slower. This is for enjoyment only.
The absolute worst thing you can do is sacrifice your health for some loudmouth at the gym (or anywhere else). Remember the bit about sticks and stones? You have to develop a thicker skin. The worst thing you can do is not exercise because someone makes fun of you. That means they win.
Be sure to do some form of movement you enjoy and rotate different types regularly. My favorite activities are biking, walking, yoga and swimming. I swim in the summer, walk to the subway stop pretty much every day, do a yoga tape (for fat chicks) on the weekend and I use biking to get around and soon I will be using a bike generator to make my own electricity. (Much better than taking the gas guzzler to the gym to waste electricity on the stairmaster. You want to laugh at somebody? Laugh at them for that.)
Don't move to lose weight. Tying your exercise to weight loss will only end in failure. Eventually you stop losing weight, and you won't feel the need to exercise. I exercise daily regardless of how much I weigh or how much I ate and I enjoy it more as there is no pressure.
-Lara Frater
I let those jerks scare me away from exercise for too many years. Now I sleep better, handle stress better, and my husband says I'm less, er, moody. Just find something you enjoy which fits into your schedule, i.e. my dog is a great walking companion--always ready to go for as much or as little as I have time to do.
kmg
Now that I am heavier and older, I do find that I am more intimidated when on my bike or in my swimsuit. I recently moved to a new city and was looking for a gym dreading having to psyche myself up to go everyday. I went to a Sweat gym around the corner from me and was pleasantly surprised by how nice and welcoming the trainer/manager was. I expected to be ignored or given dirty or pitying looks when I walked in, but I was welcomed just as if I were a skinny chick. So, I have to learn to redevelop my "F U" attitude when I go to the gym and learn to come up with clever comebacks quicker. When on my bike this guy once yelled from his car that I was going to break my bike. Two blocks later I thought in my head, "only if I break it off in you #$%." But, perhaps my slow comebacks are for the best.
Last year I began ballroom dancing which is wonderful exercise especially if your unused to aerobics. Plus you get to wear killer dresses and heels!
My gym now is much better. The kids who work there are nice, and the patrons basically keep to themselves. I guess all I can say is don't give up! Just because you are uncomfortable in the gym doesn't mean you can't exercise somewhere else!
Here's to hoping to see some of you NY ladies out on the dance-floor (bring the gents too!)
I think that for every jerk that wants to belittle you to augment their own sense of self-worth, there's a handful of people who are secretly (or not-so-secretly) cheering you on and think you're fierce. Self-propelled transportation (walking, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding) better for the environment, it's basically free transportation and exercise for you. Even more cost effective than taking the subway. Think about it!
i'm 290 lb's and i bike! i bike everywhere, even the grocery which is 20 min away by bicycle. at first, guys threw snowballs and beer cans at me (i'm a university chick) and i got pissed basically. then i started dodging them skillfully or even better, catch speed and then "almost" run into the A-holes, which is quite fun to do. i also ignored the bigmouths and now i'm scum-free, no one bothers me, they actually learned to respect me.
plus i learned that talking back is the best answer. i go to the gym and i get "eyed" but then i sit next to a skinny chick on the Stride machine and go 144 strides a minute with ease and they keep eyes off.
and my favorite is singing "bootylicious" to haters or dancing to "i like big butts in the clubs. it's sweet when you get hit on by men when your skinnier GF's don't get any attention LOL