[Hyacinth]

I avoid running, and even when I do lose enough weight I don't think I will. I fear it will do irreparable damage to my knees. I'm 40, and I've been fat for quite a while.

I avoid wearing tanks and shorts, but wouldn't not go out of the house wearing them. I avoided getting professional family photos for my entire adult life.

A shout-out to PaulaM and BeTrueToYou for such great attitude!!

[hpnodat]

I used to think I couldn't ride a bike because I'm fat. I bought bikes for myself and my husband last weekend at a garage sale I've ridden my bike at least 4 times since and today I rode it for 2 miles!

I'm beginning to learn that all the things I thought I couldn't do are just thoughts. Fear is one of the things that keeps me fat.

[Goddess Jessica]

I really don't let weight hold me back.

That doesn't mean I don't FEAR that I won't be able to do something because I'm fat. But I just pretend that "of course I'll be able to do" it and 99% of the time, I can.

Outrigger canoe, rock climbing, triathlons, and surfing (wetsuit and all), I've done at more than 250 pounds (my first triathlon I was 278). Sometimes I call ahead of time and talk to someone about if I will be able to to "fit."

The only thing that holds me back is actual weight limits (well, and the fetus). My next big goal is a trapeze! The trapeze school around here requires, "200lbs. You must be able to hold your weight from a low-bar for 20 seconds to ensure your safety on the high trapeze rig."

[MoveMoveMove]

I'm loving this thread. Because I'm fat, I don't do anything. It's either a real reason or an excuse.

I used to love roller coasters but I don't think I can fit on them anymore and am too embarrassed to find out.

But I'm trying to change. For my 45th bday last month, I gave myself a 12 day trip to Costa Rica. I was embarrassed to be traveling alone but I went anyway. I was embarrassed to be the only one in the float for my river rafting excursion, but I did it anyway. I was embarrassed not to be able to complete the hike up the volcano but I enjoyed the scenery until the rest of my group completed it. I was embarrassed to have to do the hot springs in shorts and a tank instead of a swimsuit, but the water still felt good. I'd bought a swimdress before the trip but it didn't make it in the suitcase (progress not perfection). I saw another young lady there about my size in her suit and she looked happy as can be.

Originally Posted by Riesz

Unfortunately, I've let fat keep me locked away for a long time. I would often feel I was so horribly ugly I couldn't possibly go out in public.

I can't afford a gym membership but even if I could I wouldn't go at this point. I think I'm too big. Nope - not too big. At 307 I thought I was too big but went anyway. Guess what - nobody paid any attention to me - they were doing their own thing. When I would see another obese person come in I would give them a mental cheer and then got back to what I was doing.

I won't even try on a swimsuit or think about going to a pool or beach. I'll go to the beach wearing shorts or a skirt that I'll hike up but no swimsuit. At the age of 45 I recently bought the first swimsuit I have ever owned. Ever. Granted I haven't worn it yet but I plan to before the month is out. It's a swimdress and other than the fact that there's not a lot of support for the girls, it fits ok.

I won't wear shorts, tank tops, or cap sleeves in public. In high school, my best friend's mother got me out of this habit. She said I should wear what I want as long as I felt comfortable in it. Now I wear my shorts and tank tops all the time (it gets HOT here in Houston). I don't like my flapping arms but hey, it's not like longer sleeves hide the flapping. And if someone doesn't like it, they have the ability to direct their eyes elsewhere .


My poor self-image and confidence are slowly changing though. I'm trying! I have moments of feeling much better about myself, but some days I feel I look so disfigured and disgusting. I have a long way to go on changing my thoughts but I'm trying slowly but surely. Keep it up. I'm glad to see you changing twenty years faster than I did.

[Goddess Jessica]

@MoveMoveMove - Regarding the swimdress that doesn't support "the girls." Try a bra on under the swim suit. When I do triathlons, there is NO way I could do the biking portion without a bra let alone the running portion! I just wear a bra under my suit. Make sure it's one that can stay relatively hidden and you don't mind a dose of chlorine when you're in the pool. I wear my bra surfing as well. I don't feel comfortable doing sporty things without my sports bra.

[Hyacinth]

MoveMoveMove, I think it's super-cool that you took a vacation by yourself. I think my solo trips have been the most enjoyable.

[bellastarr]

Originally Posted by ilidawn

My weight keeps me from going out and meeting people. It also keeps me from wanting to go anywhere where people can see me. This year I'd like to go out and do more. I want to stop being a hermit lol

me too, i dont want people to see me fat.

i've never worn a bikini, won't even wear a bathing suit in public, i won't wear shorts, i do go to the gym but hate having people see the fat girl all sweaty and gross running on the treadmill...i feel like theres an earthquake as i pound my feet running, feel my weight shakes the room..

i also haven't worn a pair of jeans since july

[NorthernExposure]

Originally Posted by Eliana

The amazing thing is that you will start to enjoy and experience those things well before hitting goal. I started to feel on top of the world around 200 pounds and I felt normal at 185. I remember 185 because that's where I was at the beginning of last Summer when I ventured to the local amusement park for the first time since losing weight. I was blown away by the most mundane things. I nearly cried walking into the place when I discovered I fit through the turn stile without hopping over it or turning sideways. If they'd have let me I would have just walked in and out of the turn stiles for a half hour. Plus if you exercise along the way, you will build strength and endurance for those activities you are wanting to do.

Shoot, a year and a half ago my two best friends and I couldn't go to the symphony and sit side by side because we were too fat to sit in those tiny seats. I can only imagine what we looked like when we tried. We had to put a seat between each of us.

OMG, I could have written so much of that! Fitting properly into seats at concerts, on airplanes, restaurant booths etc. has opened up WORLDS to me! It sounds so silly (people who have always been thin would have NO idea), but it's just amazing. Even the simple act of crossing my legs is so thrilling now!

Like you, I started feeling good at about 200 lbs (I think I was around 215 at the beginning of last summer). I found a flattering swimsuit ("board shorts with a "tank top" style top...not exactly a string bikini, lol, but at least it's not one of those awful 1930's style "swim dresses.") Anyway, not only did I go to a water park, I also went to Vegas and swam in the pools without feeling like a complete whale. I certainly wasn't turning any heads, but that's the point...I actually blended in with everyone else.

Recently I crossed the 185 mark, into the "overwight" BMI range. I don't have to wear plus size clothes anymore. I definitely have a ways to go, but I actually feel somewhat "normal" now. I'm amazed at what I can physically do now that I couldn't do a year ago. I can RUN up a flight of stairs. I can fit in normal sized spaces. I can go DANCING if I want to! No way in **** I would have done that a year ago.

[MelKnee]

I want to ride horses! I have always wanted to but I have just been afraid. Afraid people would laugh. Afraid I would hurt the horse. Afraid I would fall off and kill myself. I have made learning to ride a horse my goal reward.

[Goddess Jessica]

@MelKnee -- I was your weight when I rode a horse in El Salvador. A VERY different culture down there. They have no qualms about asking you how much you weigh and make comments about your weight. It's not considered rude. My friend who was in the peace corp (and very thin) wanted to take me on this horseback tour of the hideouts during the recent civil war. The other member of the tour was a stout, heavy priest but no one made a comment about HIS weight.

My point is that I didn't kill myself, the horse hardly noticed me (he was interested in biting the other horses though), and yes, people did laugh when I mounted the horse but after that, no one even paid attention.

[beautiful days]

THere aren't many things I don't do because of my weight. I try not to let it hold me back, but sometimes i have to realize that the world I live in wasn't built for people my size. i'd really really like if I could ride any rollercoaster at an amusement park. I think going to Knotts Berry Farm or Six Flags or the LA or OC fair and being able to ride any ride is one of the main reasons why I want to lose weight, and these are things I can't do so I don't know if it counts.

But other than that, the only thing that really holds me back is going to cool shows with my friends. I live in LA (Long Beach, mainly) and there's always cool shows, and a friend of mine is close friends with someone that runs a record label and they're always going to neat shows and I feel so out of place and super fat when I go. Plus there always a lot of stylish people at these shows, and I just feel out of place and lame.

ANother thing would be shopping at thrift stores. I'm blessed to live in close proximity to a thrift store that has plus size clothing but I wish I could go to any thrift store and pick out the best things there are to offer.

[kallismom]

I TRY to not let weight hold me back, and it doesn't for the most part. I have however, been terrified of wearing shorts and tanks. I have vowed to myself that I will not spend one more NC summer in jeans. It gets so friggin hot here!

As for amusement parks, I don't hesitate to go. A couple of summers ago we went to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and King's Dominion and I rode EVERYTHING! (In JEANS) (In JULY) Literally, even a lot of the kid coasters with my then 6yo. Yes, I was a little scared to try some of the seats, but they are made quite roomy nowadays. I even did the Sky Flyer thing where you fall from a huge tower and basically soar over the park at Kings Dominion and it was AMAZING! I did this together with my oldest daughter and I am so glad that we did it! It was the scariest thing in the world. I was the fattest person in line. I did it attached to someone else. I thought for sure the cable would break - it didn't!

Just an FYI for anyone going to these particular parks. Alpengeist at BG was closed when I was there in 09, but I went after they first opened years ago and it was constricting to my legs. That said, I was probably around 300 lb that year.

The UFO indoor ride that is at KD is kind of a tight squeeze, but it's worth it. You will be thrilled!

Don't be afraid of The Griffon or Apollo's Chariot. They are huge, but extremely smooth, and you will fit easily!

Let's all LIVE and Have FUN!

[runningfromfat]

There's not much I don't do because of my weight. The only things that come to mind are post a ton of pics of myself on facebook and buy expensive clothes. But both of those I see as rewards for getting to my goal so I wouldn't want to do them now anyways.

I've lived a fairly active life, traveled the world, been hiking/climbing and horseback riding. All that happened at various weights and I never really thought about it in relation to my weight. Even at my highest I was probably more physically active than most of my skinny friends (really it's always been about consistently exercising, doing the correct exercises, and dropping sweets for me). I've always figured if someone had a problem seeing a physically active fat person that's there problem!

Even now that I've dropped quite a bit I'm still BY FAR the fattest female at my gym. However, I'm definitely out lifting/running/sweating pretty much all the other girls there (and guys for that matter) so I'm hoping not to keep my fattest status for long!

[skinniminni]

forget about what i don't do because i'm fat... how about what i will do when i'm slim!

i'm going to:

• buy a whole new wardbrobe -so for now i'm saving money because nothing fits me
• socialise more
• have way more confidence
• and last but not least MAINTAIN a healthy weight because i don't ever want to get like this again

.... but until then i'm going to make the most of what i have and and eat right until its gone!

[Aud007]

Thank you for this post...I actually started IP because we planned a trip to Costa Rica this summer and while reading through the books, I realized I was too heavy to go horseback riding and zip lining and kayaking...and I thought I couldn't live with this. There are some limits that we voluntarily put on ourselves (like excuses) and I've decided I couldn't live with that anymore. Life is way too short and way too precious for me to miss on it.

Reading this post is a great motivation to stick to program and be active ;-)

And we surely can do it ;-) Have a great day!