I am getting increasingly frustrated with a certain person. Please allow me to vent, as I'm sure everyone has encountered someone like this. This person is overweight, if not outright obese. They suffer from a myriad of weight-related health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. They complain about being tired all the time, not sleeping well and having no energy. They are constantly sick and out of work for days at a time.
When you mention to this person about working out or being sore from an especially hard workout, they roll their eyes. When an exercise-related commercial comes on the radio, they comment on how crazy and stupid those people are. They make comments about how skinny people who say they're fat get on their nerves and should look in a mirror.
I am describing my co-worker. There are only 2 of us in the office, so I can't very well escape. It is VERY irritating to have to deal with these comments both about my health and her lack of it, especially when she would feel a lot better if she lost just 20 lbs. Diet, exercise and fitness is a HUGE part of my life, and it pisses me off that I can hear about all her health problems, but when I share a particularly good piece of news such as a weight loss, I get blown off. I have just quit sharing altogether. My husband and I like to go hiking, and are planning to go on a long one this weekend, possibly 12 miles. Last time I shared an upcoming hike, which was only 5 miles, I got the comment, "You're crazy".
How in the hell is wanting to be healthy and fit crazy? How is wanting to go out in the woods and hike a mountain, enjoying the beauty that God gave us crazy? How is wanting to take care of your body crazy?
Some people's priorities are just whacked, IMO. I'm sorry, but that box of Ho-Ho's is just not worth a shortened life or the health problems associated with a poor diet. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sweets just like anyone else, but I enjoy them in moderation, and I get off my ass and exercise. If that means dragging out of bed at 4:30 a.m to hit the gym before the kids go to school and I go to work, then I drag. It's not always easy, and some mornings the bed and a warm husband win out over a sweat-fest, but I go more often than not.
Sorry this is so long, but I just had to get this off my chest to people who understand my thinking.

I fully understand what you are saying, but I need to take all those people with a grain of salt- no pun intended.

You see, I was once one of those people. I never thought I was but now looking back I see that I definitely was. I thought people who worked out all the time were nuts and health club commercials were asinine- well I still think that, why do they not show real people?- but now I have changed.
The problem is, until you have the light bulb moment you never think that you are fat- honestly. I do not know your situation at all but I was always told that I was 'average' at 6'4 and 260 lbs. I would sit around, smoke and eat a pizza on Fridays and wonder why I would sweat while sleeping.

I completely understand your thinking now as your thoughts mirror mine, but I alway need to remember that I was that person that I am mentally berating not that long ago.

Sorry if this came off as cheeky or negative- it was not designed to be.

BTW- I get the 'crazy' comments all the time.

'there is no good, sane reason to run 6 miles'- things like that.
My family is great for those.

My parter at work is just like that. When he says that I'm crazy for doing something like running or jumping rope or whatever, I just agree. "Hell yes, I'm crazy!" I also make my veggie burrito look a whole lot better (and bigger) then his frozen chicken pot pie.

It's funny that you mention being one of those people, bigguy. When I was much younger (teens and early 20's), I thought that the only reason for running would be if someone were chasing you with a sharp object. Now, years later with several 5 and 10k's under my belt, I see the light. I still have a love/hate relationship with running, but I think everyone does to a certain degree.
When people ask me why I run or workout, my usual answer is, "Because I can". One of my favorite athletes is Sarah Reinartsen, the first above the knee amputee to complete the Kona Ironman. I saw an interview with her several years ago, when she made the comment that people like those I just described drove her crazy. She said that she wants to tell those people, "I have one leg and I can exercise. You have 2 legs...what's your excuse?" I think from that point on, my view changed. Truly, there is no excuse to not be healthy, barring certain medical conditions. If laziness is the only reason you aren't healthy (not necessarily thin, but healthy), that is not an excuse. Your ill health is nobody's fault but your own, so don't complain about how bad you feel, or how sick you are, or how much you weigh if you are too lazy to do anything about it. If you are overweight and happy with yourself, that's great, I don't have a problem with overweight people in general. It's just those that are overweight and complain about it without bothering to do something about it.

I do completely agree.
I am of the opinion now that even when I was obese I was still relatively healthy- i just ate horrible and too much. I have issues with people who have 'tried nothing and are all out of ideas' for how to achieve a healthy lifestyle. I am not saying that everyone needs to run 20 miles a week but take a walk now and then, play a sport- something.
You are correct in saying that unless there is a medical reason there is no reason people cannot at least make an effort.

Right now i am on the 'love' upswing with running. I really hope the 'hate' does not turn up for a bit.

reformed smokers
reformed drinkers
reformed junk food eaters
reformed anything -

kind of like born again christians who've found god after a life of debauchery and fun - and now feel the need to tell everyone they come into contact with how jesus saved them...

I hate it when anyone tries to push their lifestyle choices on me... no matter what that lifestyle choice is... there's a person who sits near m e who's doing weight watchers and I swear to whatever god people pray to - that if he tells me the points in something one more time or that he's lost a pound or gained a pound - I will have to kill him - I just don't care... Good for him but forums were invented for bragging - NOT the workplace..

You have me all wrong, Maleficent. I DO NOT push my views on other people. Yes, I have discovered a new lifestyle, but I do not feel that it is my right to push my personal views on others. When I say that I talk about my weight loss at work, it's just making conversation, I don't consider it bragging. I for one would rather talk about healthy choices then someone's bowel movements (yes, this was an actual conversation). I do not make a point to mention everything I do or eat...I'm not like the person you work with. But if she asks what I'm doing this weekend and I tell her that I'm going hiking, I don't expect a smart ass answer. If we are going to lunch together and I'm trying to decide what to get, I don't want comments about if I'm counting the calories.
My whole point is being irritated by the people who apparently feel threatened by those of us who want to be healthy. I don't excessively talk about diet and exercise; I mention it occasionally, but since she knows that I do this stuff, she doesn't miss an opportunity to throw a barb.

this person you are talking about abviously has no interest in hearing about weight loss, just like you have no interest in talking about bowel movements (Even though everyone can relate to that, and not always to weight loss ).


Some people are going to make wise cracks at you for counting calories and being healthy, be it envy, or even to just the rattle your cage. I've been called a "fag" for ordering a salad. I've been called a "fag" for not drinking. Fuckers have jokes for everything these days. LOL.

That being said, you gotta put yourself in her shoes. its kinda like me going to a paraplegic and telling him how I won a hundred meter race. I live a healthy life now, but when I was heavier I too thought a 5 mile hike was "crazy". Its not that far fetched to you, but it would be to her.

I praise you for listening to her problems, but I would take it a step further and make a conscious decision to not talk about weight loss around her. You'd both be happier I think. she might even stop with the wise ass remarks.

That's just the thing, I HAVE stopped talking about weight loss and exercise with her. I don't mention it at all anymore. She just doesn't stop, though. For instance, I mentioned that my hubby was getting me that cheesecake to celebrate my being smoke-free for 3 years. I expected a comment like, "You've been quit for 3 years? That's great!". What did I get? "I don't want to hear you come in here saying, 'I gained 3 pounds!'" That's when the comment was made that skinny people get on her nerves when they talk about their weight and they should look in a mirror. I keep my mouth shut about stuff she says (she's been here 11 years, and I'm the new kid), but that just hit me wrong. I told her that when I look at my wedding pictures and see how I looked 7 months ago and how I look now, I am not happy.
Maybe I do obsess a little about my weight and health, but if I don't, who will?
If you ask me, there are 2 kinds of overweight people, besides the ones trying to lose weight. There are those who are content with their weight and don't obsess or complain about it, and those who aren't content with their weight and find all kinds of reasons to complain and whine about it.
Every time she mentions me being crazy for working out or being healthy, I want to say to her, "I may be crazy, but look who's constantly sick and on all kinds of medicine. My blood pressure is below normal, as is my heart rate, my cholesterol is fine, and I don't get out of breath climbing a flight of stairs. I don't have to worry about finding a pharmacy to refill all my prescriptions or having the money to pay for them. How crazy is that?"

Oh now come on - you don't find that annoying -when you see people who clearly aren't the least bit fat - I see iit all the time at the gym with the 20something blonde yoga chicks - who generally wear the tops exposing their stomachs, and skin tight pants - but they'll talk about how fat they are - yes, if they thought they were fat -why are they dressed like that then...

i'd agree with that... and I was one of those people for a very long time -i wasn't happy with my weight - and thought Iw as doing something about it but wasn't getting anywhere... I'm not sure i complained about iit constantly - but in my case - while I thought I was doin the right thhing -i just wasn't quite ready in my head yet for the commitment to change.

Oh yes, I do find that annoying, when little skinny girls talk about how fat they are with their tight little tummies. That is not, however, who she was talking about. There are 2 types of "skinny" people...those who are naturally thin, and those who are average size and have to work at being "skinny", which is where I fall. I feel that by her skinny people comment she was refering to everyone smaller than a size 16 (I say this because I know her and how she thinks). I am in no way skinny...I am average (5'7 and size 8) with some muscle.
I didn't want to open up a huge debate about this, I just wanted to vent. If I stepped on any toes, I apologize.

YESSSS! I have a friend like that (an ex coworker). She is a little overweight, and always sick. She's tried every diet under the sun and doesn't stick with it. She said she is too tired to excersise. Yet the doctors can't find a thing wrong. I tell her it is cyclical, if she starts to eat better and move through her fatigue, she may start to feel better. "I walk my dogs" is her answer, that is good, but it is not enough. But yet she'll complain over and over again, and do nothing about it. I gingerly bring up the topic and then I hear nothing but excuses, so I stopped. She isn't ready.

Misery loves company. You are thinner, happier and healthier. So why you and not her? What do you do/have that she doesn't. So she'll harp and harp. I know girlfriend, I know.

actually along the lines of the comments to you about being crazy i posted on a persons diary the other day and there friend called them a drag for wanting to be fit and healthy and look after their body!

luckly i dont know any one like that all the people i work with seemed chilled! lol

The only people I know that irritate me with regard to diet and fitness are my biz partner and his wife. At various times over the last 15 yrs both have struggled with being overweight but never partake in a sensible program when they attempt get healthy. Both are currently yo-yo dieting right now and are starving themselves on little cups of Nutrisystems after doing the cabbage soup diet a few months ago and both have at different times told me I am now too thin and should eat more. Oh the irony of someone telling me to eat more as they nibble at 2.5 oz of nasty food in a cup. It makes no sense to me as I take 6 oz of sizzling top sirloin out of the microwave and toss it on my giant, loaded, nutrient packed, mixing bowl sized salad. Usually they're still nursing their little cups of "food" as I head for the fridge and pull out my dessert (big bowl of melon).