I find that I avoid hugging people because of my weight. Do you find that you are also avoiding hugs?

Its like this thread was created for me. I've been a hug avoider (except for my son who I hug constantly) since I was a teenager. I have this fear that people will feel my back fat when they hug me.

sometimes. i actually believe that im bigger than I really am and i fear people wont be able to get their arms around me which is never the case. im my own own worst critic.

Oh, my gosh yes I was!

Well, first I was raised in a "don't touch" household, but I got better about realizing hugs are healthy, but then I didn't want anyone to feel my fat!

Now that I don't have back fat and my ribs are basically what you feel, I don't have a problem with it like I used to.

Look at all the things we had (or have) hang ups about because of our insecurities caused by being overweight!

I don't mind standing up hugs, but I won't let my boyfriend touch my tummy when spooning in bed. (Unless I'm sucking it in!)

I grew up in a huggy household and I have huggy friends. So, we all hug, regardless of size.

It depends. I'll hug my family and only my closest of friends but it has nothing to do with my weight. I'm only touchy feely with people I really love. I don't touch other people and I don't want them to touch me.

^^^This.

I have never really been a huggy person outside of my family and boyfriend... I have some really huggy friends that drive me crazy though. I have never really thought about the relation between not liking hugs and my size, but it could be a factor.... More often than not I find hugging to be awkward!

I've never been a very huggy person but I never thought it was because of my weight. I feel hugs are very intimate and I'm not able to hug anyone unless they are very close to me, even if they are a relative. I will never back away from a hug but I usually don't initiate it, either.

I like hugging, unless the other person is one of those people that creeps me out and makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

Then, I'm gone Johnson, I do not know you!

i dont like people in "my bubble" of space in general....hugs are fine with immediate family but thats all...like someone said, i wont back away from a hug but i wont initiate it outside of DH and my kids...i am also very leery of movement around my head and especially behind my head where i can't see it because i have vision problems and ear issues...so when my tall teenager is bending over to hug me while i'm sitting i still get a bit nervous with him looming over my head...stuff like that...

and i cant stand those work related icebreaker things where you all have to get in each others space and do stupid icebreaker things with strangers....ughhh i dont need to know you, i'm fine with being strangers

While I'm not a hugely physical person naturally, I don't avoid hugs. I even give reciprocal cheek kisses to my friends who engage that way. It's been a process but now I find I enjoy some physical affection with friends (and haven't ever had much issue with my husband regarding that, but we're not a highly touchy/feely couple).

I've never thought to avoid a hug because of my weight - if someone cares enough to hug me, why on earth would they care or judge me for being fat? It's not like my size was ever some big secret and nobody noticed

Stole the words right out of my mouth! I'm not an extremely touch-y person so it's not like I run around hugging strangers, but I don't think much about my weight when someone hugs me. They already know I'm big by looking at me, why would they be surprised by touching me?

I don't think I ever stopped hugging cause of weight, my grandparents lived around the block from me and I seen them daily and we always hugged. That's how my family is, not hugging would be bad manners. My real problem was hugging and sweating under my arms. I would always kinda not fully extend my arms. Weird but I really only sweat under one arm, which does double duty so I also do right arm hugs to avoid the left. Think that's y I never thought about having someone feel my fat, too busy thinking of them smelling me.