"Fat Cow" in the pool (help!)

Boy do I know how that  lady felt . I remember going to my gym.  I had lost down to wear I look OK on a swim suit , but the hanging skin between my legs .. gave people a good Circus show . So many stared .. so one day I had enough and just blurted out .. " Hey I lost 150 and this is how it leaves your body .. so yes..  I gots me some chicken fat between my legs .. Don't like it .. don't  look at it .

Now  I know there are closed sessions on gyms where the SMO AND MO'S Can go where those types of comments are not allowed . As I said they are closed sessions.

One could ask a friend to use their pool, or as the one lady did , get a note from your doctor and see if you could use a hotel pool .

It is sad that society still does this .. but they do .

Hugs,

Tink

As we know, there is and probably will be a discrimination towards over weight persons as is towards all other types of people.

I know of no "safe zones", one might check with medical re-hab facilities as they are tailored to help all types of people in need.
 
Several hospitals in Florida encourages SWL patients to come to their pools.

If anyone has a local YMCA, but you are strapped for cash, they offer a program where they reduce your membership fee's based on your income. This allows full use of all of the YMCA facilities, including the pools, water classes, etc.

I suggest a local rehab facility if you have one with a pool.  I know our local facility caters to all physically and offers many water aerobics classes fall ages, and all physically challenged people.  I've been several times with my mom pre and postoperative and there has never been a sense of judgment felt by either of us.

I certainly feel the pain involved.  I have found that our local YMCA allowed me to start my own OH support group.  We are now in plans of getting our own pool time for water areobics and exercise.  You might try doing the same sort of thing.  Becoming an OH support group leader is so rewarding and I have not regretted it at all.  Once you get a group together you will find ways to make events (like swimming) much more enjoyable.

Bear in mind that you can't change the world's attitude towards obesity but you can be there to support others and they can be there to support you.  We are trying to make a difference in this cruel behavior but there is only so much you can control. 

Best of luck finding someone near you that can help find a "safe" place for you.

Huge Hugz,
Tracy

I don't think any of us can go through life without someone judging for one reason or another, we're likely just as guilty. If its swimming we want to do---just do it!

Obesity is the only bias people can get away with and you standing up and be proud of who you are no matter what size we are makes a big difference. Prejudice can be changed and it takes time and  we stand up and speak out .We will change one mind at the time and in time I hope, we will have permanent change.

Wow!  I've just read through all of the wonderful suggestions about the various places to swim more "safely" and saw the recommendation to try Super 8.  Other hotel/motels open up their indoor pools at certain times , usually weekday mornings for a nominal fee. The one's I know about charge by single use or a very small monthly fee ($25).  So, I would say check some of the hotels nearest you.  The people who come to these are "older" and definately not interested in how anyone looks.  They are there to exercise.

 I used to swim at the YMCA locally.  I took 'aquacise' classes, sometimes it seemed more for the social aspect ~ I made some very good friends from the class ~ but I also benefited physically from them.  They were evening classes and then I would go to the pool around 8:45PM after class and swim for an hour and a half, three times a week.  That was a great time to swim because there were not many people swimming and those that were had one objective which was to swim - not worry about others and the size of others.  I can honestly say that I was in the best shape I was ever in during that time...I may have been a fat cow, but I was a very fit cow!  I now can't swim that late because I need to get up so early for work and it just doesn't fit into my current schedule.  I miss the swimming.  I am fortunate to never knowingly been the recipient of such comments, and it hurts to know that there are people out there that are so insensitive of someone who is different from them.  

Can't say much on this one as I hate swimming - always have - even back in the day when I was thinner - and now we have our own pool. But as far as children and the things they say - I work with them every day and I think I've tried to educate them - that people are different in different ways and we need to accept them and not make fun - the same things I'm sure everyone else does........