"Fat Cow" in the pool (help!)

Unfortunately, no place is safe from cruel and/or unthinking people. Even those who think they are being kind, i.e. "you look so great - except for your legs..." are looking with fat biased eyes. I continue on as I always have, with hurt feelings, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, but unlike before -  I'm not quitting!

It used to be my policy to only swim out of town. The theory being that no one there would know me, and so who cares what strangers think. This wouldn't have worked when I was younger, as I would have cared what strangers thought.

I do think the Y is a good place to check out. Also, some senior living have swimming pools. Seniors usually have enough life experience not to act like jerks.

Isn't it weird how some people will make fun of fat people, when those fat people are doing something to improve their health? I always wonder who the friends and family of these people are. Are they just as ignorant, or are they embarrassed that they have a bozo in their family (no offense to clowns meant)?

Anyone who would say something offensive to another person or about another person in that person's hearing is not worth spending one second of time on. There is something wrong with them - not you!

I actually laugh at the fat cow comments. I go to the beach.... in a baithing suit all summer. When my friends ask if I am self conscious I just tell them, someone has to represent the beached whale population out there and I am happy to do so! I have thankfully found the confidence to just not care and even be proud of who I am and what I look like.

There really is no SAFE place to swim outside of your own, or a friends back yard. So we need to learn ways to cope with the insecurity of others who feel the need to make thenselves feel better by taunting us big beautiful folk :-)

I joined up in a local aquabics class with people of all ages, shapes and sizes.  I still go now.  It is more comfortable for me when I was morbidly obese and now when I am "normal".

I have been so embarrassed over my lifetime even being seen in a swimsuit, yet alone swimming publically.  So much in fact that I had a pool built for privacy...,but alas, my desire to socialize overcame my desire to swim alone. 

After weight loss surgery, 2 weeks after I might add,  I gathered every ounce of courage I had and joined the YMCA.  I found taking the Seniors water aerobics class, no one seemed to care what I looked like.  They all had their various ailments, no children around as it was a special class for just seniors......I was made to feel comfortable...and still am after losing the weight.  I now embrace all those who have joined after me that have their fears of being ridiculed, offering them support and making them feel welcomed!

In summation, I do not excercise, I SOCIALIZE, and get a workout as a bonus! 

Well when I weighed 326 pounds, I felt pretty safe getting in the local YMCA Pool at 5:30 am to exercise. Believe me there were not many people. The ones I encountered were either half asleep or too into their exercise to even give notice to me.  Some were very encouraging.....I say WHO CARES...if you are trying to move in the right direction, thumb your nose to those who say rude things and do what you need to do to gain good health. 

I am lucky that I have a pool but even though I have lost 143 lbs I still feel fat in a swim suit! So I went to a sports store and purchased a short wetsuit in a slightly larger size so it was not skin tight and it makes me feel comfortable and well covered.

Eric ,
 Reading this brought back a lot of memories for me .
6 years ago after my surgery my doctor had reccomended water areobics . I thought to myself , NO way buddy am I showing up at that gym where all those skinny little things are . So I began walking the pounds off , and once I had reached a weight where I was comfortable and not scared of being harrased , I went to my first experience at a pulbic pool .

While at the pool , I remember looking into the mirrow thinking wow .. you lool pretty good from the waiste up ... but the weight loss had left my legs and arms very giggly .
I remember going over to the lap pool and watching this group of what appeared to be soldiers about to do laps ... I over heard one of them say .. " D....mn what happend to her " It took all the courage in the world for me , but I went up to him and said if you must know .. I have lost so much weight thatI have excess skin . I am here to water walk .. so if you have a problem with my jigglies .. don't look at it . He immediatly apologized . I accepted and then I had to tell my story . How WLS saved my life and a little skin was not going to stop me from doing this .
So for the next 6 months I water walked and did areobics . I actually made goal by swimming my butt off .

So now when I mentor , I tell my clients that if you do not want to go to a gym , try a local hotel , see if you can pay to use their pool . Some will allow it . And if you get their early enough , you will not have to deal with the 'People "
So ... when Iook back on it .... those soldiers did me a favor , they gave me the courage to fight hard for this body .




Thanks for posting this .... it made me go back in time and remember those days of struggle .

Take care,

Natalie

 Really she should have looked at the person and stated, " I can lose the weight but you will still be the rude person you are!"

This is a tough one because some people have more self est

 

I can understand the humiliation, anger and pain that one would feel after something like that happening. Unfortunately I think we have all experienced at one time or another. I know I used to be a smart-ass kid and vowed that I would NEVER become fat or obese, and what do you know? I became super obese. I swim at the local YMCA and do their water aerobics. In the morning and early afternoons it is usually all older people there and in the evening younger people. I (knock on wood) have never had an experience like that happen at the Y.

I would also recommend checking into a physical therapy place. I know there are several where I live that offer a membership to use their equipment and they have a small pool to work out or swim in.