Printable View
You made me laugh. Yesterday one of my coworkers came in with her new pretty pink baby. Another coworker commented on how she wanted one of "those" as her daughter was now a whiny, pimply 13 year old. I ask would she think of having another baby and she said... are you kidding??? It will grow up to be a whiny, pimply 13 year old!!!! So I guess her answer was "NO"Quote:
Originally Posted by MomOnBike
Thankfully that teenager phrase passes but none too soon! :rolleyes:
LOL I wish I had had a second grade teacher like that... well, maybe for five days out of the year...Quote:
Originally Posted by KSH
I start getting mad... then I remember some of the really stupid things I've said. For some people it comes naturally, but some of us have had to work at figuring out how to be social without accidentally saying something stupid.
I've sort of noticed in our bike club there are a fair number of people who have to be really strong to ride so fast with their feet in their mouth :p ... but their hearts are in the right place.
And that... would be me!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Geonz
I can understand your reaction to the comment, but those who pose the side that she may have not been trying to be rude have a good point too.
I've had people come up to me after a period of pretty extreme weight loss (I have crohn's disease and can lose 15 lbs in a bad month) and say a variety of things that could be interpreted as rude.
My favorites:
"Boy what diet are you on? You look great!" - I'd love to say "the not eating for 2 months, 20 trips to the can a day diet." But I hold my tongue.
"Jeez look at how skinny you are. Are you anorexic or something?" - uh...sure.
Even my well meaning friends who I'm closest too get on my nerves sometimes with their stares or comments of how "thin" I'm getting. Yes I know, I weigh myself and I know my clothes are getting big. :)
I think weight in general is a sore subject if we're not content with where we're at on the scale. I don't think it's ever something we like having pointed out to us, whatever side of the coin you're on.
Just my 2 bits :)
Thanks for the thread, I've been wanting to vent these things for a long time. I try not to get irritated when:
At work when I would comment that my classroom was cold or I felt cold, I would be told that if I had more "meat on my bones" I would be warmer. Why was that ok when the same people would be so offended if I said " if you were thinner you wouldn't be so hot"?
"You're so little you must not eat anything" Yeah, I don't eat fast food, junk food or sweets.
"You're so lucky being small all the clothes on sale are in the small sizes" If that's the case how come I don't find the xs's on sale? Why is it so hard to to find a 30 D bra or size 4 narrow ski boots, or bike components for small bodies. I'm lucky that I can wear a size 6 shoe, only because I need a full length orthodotic!
"You don't need to exercise, you're too thin." Why are the benefits of exercise perceived to be for weight loss? I do need to exercise, to maintain a healthy heart, strong muscles, bones, etc. Besides I really enjoy skiing, riding my bike, etc.
When I was a teenage I was told by a guy friend that I had a nice figure but if I turned sideways no one could see me!
My aunt told me to be happy with the size I was because I would gain weight when I got older. Because of lifestyle choices I didn't gain the weight like she predicted but her comment helped me to be happy with my size and not to get to upset over these thoughtless statements.
For me its more important to be healthy and strong than to worry about what others think of "how little I am". BTW, I don't perceive myself as that small.
I see women in my neighborhood running, walking, cycling all the time and think how wonderful it is that they're out enjoying the day and doing something good for themselves.
And training for running a marathon is such an awesome goal.
I'll trade one 12 month old who was up at 11:15 (I couldn't fall asleep until he woke up, because I knew he would), from 2:15 to 4:15 with a fever (fell asleep after milk, Tylenol and lots of walking), 6:00 and 7:00.Quote:
Originally Posted by MomOnBike
I want a teenager, 'cause he'll sleep through the night!
And he can ride his own bike with us.
Never happy, are we?
--SJ
Yeah but that teenager won't be riding with you cause he can also sleep through the day!!!:D
Yeah I think any comments about weight- or lack thereof- should be off limits! My husbands best friend is extremley thin, and he's very sensitive about it. I learned my lesson long ago that you just should not discuss body size w/ a stranger! Unless of course THEY bring it up, and they are talking about themselves!
I have a friend who is very thin and wears a size zero. She's also very short so she has to have EVERYTHING tailored. We joke that because america is getting BIGGER as a popluation, the clothes are getting bigger too. So at least I can buy off the shelf. She has alot harder time. Used to be a time when it was hard to find things in big sizes.
Never underestimate the ability of a teenager to keep you up all night.Quote:
I want a teenager, 'cause he'll sleep through the night!
And some would rather take a bullet than ride a bike...
Sigh...this, too, shall pass. (But not *&%^^**!!! soon enough.)
OK, I'm whining - a bad week at home. This can and probably should be ignored.
Don't I know it - at 5'0", 104 lbs I have a very difficult time finding things that fit me these days - yup down to a 0 in jeans and not sure what will happen next. With all of the differently sized/shaped people who say they can't find anything that fits I really wonder who it is that clothing is made for!Quote:
Originally Posted by Running Mommy
People definitely aren't any more aware that it is easy to offend a small person too. I had a (tall) co-worker have the complete uncoothness to actually pat me on the head the other day. I was floored and my gut reaction was that I really wanted to smack her, but I also really want to believe that it wasn't done with malicious intent. I think she thought she was being cute, but it was really really rude if you ask me.
Running Mommy....simply put, you're gorgeous and you have the BEST smile I've seen in a while! You're awesome. Don't listen to anything different.
As a tall and skinny girl (5'9", now 137lbs with extra training this winter), I've heard all the comments and then some that Kathi mentioned (Kathi: fyi...they never have any 36A's either!) and have had to deal with all the "I wish I was tall like you" comments, as well. Truth is, my mother was forced to learn how to sew when I was little because I didn't fit anything in the stores for girls, and she sure as heck wasn't putting boy clothes on her little girl. As I sit here typing, my sweater cuffs are nearly halfway up my forearms, and this sweater is supposed to be full-length sleeve! I have to buy "tall" size jeans/pants or I run the risk of mistakenly broadcasting a flood warning (or looking like Michael J. - not Jordan! - sans the sequin socks), and capri's are a joke (just below the kneecap, usually)!
So I guess there are always going to be things "wrong" - for lack of a better word - for every body type that we perceive about ourselves, when what we really need to do is just silence the negative doubter within us and just love ourselves for who we are and how we look, and then be PROUD.
I repeat, RM, you're beeeutiful!! And so are the rest of you ladies! :)
RunningMa - I'm sure the lady didn't mean any harm. In trying to be nice, she was a doofus.
I've endured the skinny girl comments, usually said by other females. "Don't you eat?" is the usual or they made snide comments or goad me to have something when I won't partake in the inevitable 'sin table' (candy, cakes, brownies) that have been a mainstay of most offices where I've been assigned. Usually, I ignore the comment--chalk it up to the other person's "issues." When hormones or "bad day surlies" get the best of me, I've been tempted to reply, "Don't you exercise?"
Recently I got a much overdue haircut (just a couple inches off the ends and she put in long layers---not a radical change by any means). The first week after I got it cut, two female coworkers said to me, "oh you got your hair cut." Nothing more. My boss, a man, made the same comment but followed up w/"and it looks great."
I have so much respect for larger sized athletes (my husband is one). Fitness has nothing to do with size.
Too funny. At least your mom sewed you some clothes, I just got the "where's the flood" comments a lot. I was 5'11 by freshman year of high school. I've since shrunk a bit and am 5'9 and a half. (Another fun effect from crohn's disease :) ) Totally have to buy the tall jeans or pants or I look like I'm getting ready to go clamming. Tide's out, grab yer buckets! I don't know about you but I'm thrilled that the heels on the shoes are coming down a bit. Especially when I was taller, I could NEVER buy some shoes I wanted because they'd make me 6'2.Quote:
and have had to deal with all the "I wish I was tall like you" comments, as well. Truth is, my mother was forced to learn how to sew when I was little because I didn't fit anything in the stores for girls, and she sure as heck wasn't putting boy clothes on her little girl. As I sit here typing, my sweater cuffs are nearly halfway up my forearms, and this sweater is supposed to be full-length sleeve! I have to buy "tall" size jeans/pants or I run the risk of mistakenly broadcasting a flood warning (or looking like Michael J. - not Jordan! - sans the sequin socks), and capri's are a joke (just below the kneecap, usually)!
I was waiting until someone commented on rude comments about short/thin people. All comments about body size should be banned! I can only go into 2 stores and buy clothes off the rack and now some genius has decided that petite pants should be 30 inches instead of 28. So back to the tailor I go. I've heard my fill of "don't you eat?" comments, which if anyone really knew me, would never be asked. I usually laugh and say, "Of course, I exercise to eat!"
I've been on too many rides with people who appear to be heavier and out of shape and they are super riders who leave me in the dust. Enough said.
Yeah - I sometimes get the feeling that I'm not allowed to think that people could possibly be being rude about my size because according to them I'm so lucky- well I guess the grass is always greener.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Robyn Maislin