"Fat Cow" in the pool (help!)

I swim at a local spring fed pool! It's called Red Clay Resort in Cohutta, Georgia in the Northwest Georgia Mountians! It's colder than crap but gets you MOVING! It's just a "hole in the road" place but it is beautiful, like the waters in the caribbean! Cost is 5 bucks a day, cheaper than a cruise excursion!

At over 300 pounds, I hated to go to any pool.  I still do to a certain extent.  I tend to only go at times when i am pretty sure that school age kids will not be there.  They are so very honest!!  I like to swim laps when the little old ladies are doing water aerobics! 

Unfortunately some people are so cruel to others and it saddens me to hear this story.  My parents never allowed me to learn how to swim so I guess I have them to thank for never haivng to hear an ugly comment while being at the pool.

Personally I don't think there are any safe places. People will say what they want and you can never stop that. You can just try to go at times when no-one else is around and pick your time so you don't feel too self conscious - people don't teach their kids about being rude and I find the adult can make as many comments as the kids.... the saddest part of all of this is that the people who made the comments will have forgotten about them a couple of hours after they said them - but people like us will bear that hurt for the rest of our lives.....

Jackie

Unfortunately, I do not have any suggestions, but let me give some examples also.

I was 385 pounds as a freshmen in high school and we were REQUIRED to take swim  class for 12 weeks at two different 6 week intervels.  So each of the 6 week periods I was with new classmates of all four grades.  The school did not have a swimsuit big enough to fit me the "right" way, so I had to squeeze in to their biggest size with lump and bumps and rolls coming out of every place they could pop out of.  That was so embarrassing and to think that boys and girls were seeing this and this is something that had been hidden from all to see behind big clothes that were not tight.  Now here I am at 14 years old with anyone who came to the pool to see me in this fashion.  I was devistated.  I was called all kinds of names and could hear them all, no one was quiet at all.  I could not tell you how many day I went home crying to my mom about how mean those kids were to me and how they would make fun of me.  My mom would say, then do something about it, or suck it up.  I got so tired of hearing that, but soon realized that I was not getting any sympathy from her.  No matter what I had to complete the class and eventually they left me alone cause it was no longer any fun cause I would not show that it bothered me anymore.  I kinda became immune to it. 

As time when on and I became a adult, things did not get any easier when it came to swimming.  Although I had a suit that covered EVERYTHING, the remarks still came.  Most of the time it came from younger kids.  Or teens who were just being down right mean.  I still would let it get me upset and then I realized, I had to consider the source.  Look at who is saying those things.  Their parents probably did not teach them how to be respectful regardless what you saw or felt.  I was taught don't always say what you are thinking, but I guess some still had not figured that out.   

So I am sorry that I do not have any suggestions as to wear to go swim and not have to deal with those types of people, but they will be everywhere you go no matter where or when you go.  But always remember to consider the source. 

I was 385 pounds as a freshmen in high school and we were REQUIRED to take swim  class for 12 weeks at two different 6 week intervels.  So each of the 6 week periods I was with new classmates of all four grades.  The school did not have a swimsuit big enough to fit me the "right" way, so I had to squeeze in to their biggest size with lump and bumps and rolls coming out of every place they could pop out of.  That was so embarrassing and to think that boys and girls were seeing this and this is something that had been hidden from all to see behind big clothes that were not tight.  Now here I am at 14 years old with anyone who came to the pool to see me in this fashion.  I was devistated. 

Oh Leigh Ann that breaks my heart.  I don't know how you lived through that. It makes me even sadder that you didn't have a soft place to fall.  I remember distinctly thinking as a child that one of the reasons I wanted to be an adult was because no one could MAKE me do anything like that.  I didn't get really big until my 20's but being made to perform at a piano recital with severe stage fright was more than I could deal with.  I can't even imagine having to be in swim class under those cir****tances and it makes me wish I could give you a really long hug....a hug that would be for that young girl in high school that was treated so badly.  I'm really sorry you had to do that and I hope things are definitely looking up for you now.  Bless your heart.  I just avoided it.  I didn't own a swimsuit for 30 years and never knew what a hot tub felt like because they weren't invented the last time I wore a swimsuit.  I've made up for lost time indeed.  I just wanted to say that I'm sorry you had to endure that.
hugs, Y

I was once called a whale at a beach.  I went up to the child and parent and very calmly and quietly said.  "I am not a whale, I am a Mom, and what you said hurt my feelings.  I would never allow my children to say mean things about others because I want them to be empathathic towards other people. People come in different shapes, sizes and abilities.  Making comments about others shows very little respect and self control.  Please try to do better in the future."  The Mom very loudly and nastily called me a ***** and looked for support from her friends but they didn't seem to be impressed with her nastiness.  I don't know of any place to swim in our area that would be protected but I strongly believe that standing up to bullies, and teaching children to respect others is the best solution.  Not everyone can do that but It is what I do.  I wear a swimsuit every summer (even at my highest weight) and work around children.  I am very matter of fact about being fat.  I tell the children I work with that yes, I know I am fat....just like they know they have brown hair or blue eyes.  It doesn't make me a bad person, just different than some other people and that we are all different in our own ways.  As I am getting more fit and less fat, my children and the others I work with are my greatest supporters.
Teri

Teri I was shocked enough by the children's comments but to think a mom would respond that way after your plea for some compassion.  I'm a very passive person but I probably would have gotten myself in some trouble if I had witnessed that exchange.  I think your response was incredible and I'm sorry you had to experience that.  I'm so glad you're getting support from the children and the people you work with.  I hope you enjoy every moment of your second chance at life.
hugs, Y

As one become bigger in size, often the world becomes smaller and smaller,doing less and less and leaving more room for isolation, less activity, loneliness, depression, and perhaps more emotional eating. We are talking about swimming here but being afraid of what others will think or say and allowing that to dictate behaviors ("body image bound") is common with eating/weight disorders in all sorts of activities, eg.. not wanting to go to a social event, afraid to see someone we haven't seen in a while, not going out dancing, etc. This progressive isolation and withdrawal from pleasurable activities can be really harmful physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I like Teri's comment and am glad to hear that you were able to be assertive and direct with this child. Also, clearly the apple does not fall far from the tree by mom's response...

I can't answer this one the only 2 pools in a 60mile radius to the small town I live in are the Best western you can use if you rent a room or belong to the Senior citizen center an go with them 3 morning a week.The other is a community pool only open 3 months during the year and always full of kids. No water exrcise programs ae offered . Just kids swimming lessons.