Overweight Cyclists?

[Sadie]

Thanks for this thread. It makes me feel so sad when people look at me and wonder how I could be chubby, but ride a bike. Food tastes good, what can I say. Take care of the body God gave you by treating it right and enjoying great things in life.

[sarahkonamojo]

I always figure that at least I am out there doing it. Of course, I hate getting passed by some skinny *** on the hills, but as long as I don't have to walk or turn back, I am a winner.

Good food is good for you.

I try not to use snarky remarks or comebacks. For some reason, they don't make me feel any better. I just figure it is their problem and not mine. At the LBS, I try to do my research and ask pertinent questions. And I am a loyal customer. It helps.

sarah

[beccaB]

This is a little bit different than the issue being discussed-it has more to do with people who have diarhea (sp?) of the mouth- I occasionally hear MEN say to me-"what, you don't dye your hair?" I am 48, but a very young looking 48 and my gray hair has been coming in slowly since I was 30. It's still mostly brunette, but there is a lot of silver. My husband told me he thinks it's sexy, and I actually think it gives my hair more depth. I guess I work around some crass people and they don't know how to control their mouths. I usually just say to them that I won't dye my hair to save the money for good beer!

[Triskeliongirl]

There isn't a lot you can do about other people's stupidity or insensitivity.

But you can control how you react to their remarks, and what you do about your weight problem.

I too had a weight problem for a long time. The first step is setting up a good diet/exercise program which clearly you have done so good for you.

The second is stacking the deck in favor that your plan will work. So, also get checked out to be sure there aren't medical problems getting in the way. In my case it was a combination of hypothyroidism and impaired glucose tolerance. Once these problems were resolved, my weight 'normalized', i.e. I lost weight eating more calories than during my failed dieting attempts when my underlying medical issues were not being controlled for.

I love food even more now that I am a normal weight, cuz food is no longer the enemy.

Congratulations for adopting a healthy lifestyle! The weight will come off, just don't give up, and don't let other peoples hurtful remarks deter you from your goals.

[kermit]

Hey Shaula. Looks like you are east of me. We built our house in Sparks, Georgia. My husbands family is from there, love it!

[Shaula]

Sparks near Valdosta or Macon?

[shootingstar]

I occasionally hear MEN say to me-"what, you don't dye your hair?" I am 48, but a very young looking 48 and my gray hair has been coming in slowly since I was 30. It's still mostly brunette, but there is a lot of silver. My husband told me he thinks it's sexy, and I actually think it gives my hair more depth. I guess I work around some crass people and they don't know how to control their mouths. I usually just say to them that I won't dye my hair to save the money for good beer!

Yay for your hubby and your grey hair!
Or another response: "I'm saving money instead for a better/2nd/3rd/4th bike" or something similar. Of course the guys might be suitably impressed if you had multiple bikes. Redirects their attention somewhere else.

[kermit]

Sparks north of valdosta, just south of Tifton, 1 mile off of 75. Have you looked into any riding clubs? My husband joined the azelia city cyclists. They have alot of group rides and just had a really nicely supported century ride.

[malkin]

Another related/unrelated situation:
When I'm out and about (in my professional capacity) with a kid with a disability, I've had people make stupid comments from "What's wrong with him?" to "Can't you stop that?" (usually the kid's screaming), to "What does he have?"

I'm usually somewhere between dumbstruck and ignoring, but I did quickly respond to "What does he have?" by saying "He has a red hat."

[Crankin]

That is the dumbest thing I've heard... the stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me.
I once had a daycare worker at my gym ask me if my kids had different fathers, because at that time they looked quite different, one blonde, one very dark. I replied, "Gee, no, I would have had to work pretty fast for that, since they are only 2.5 years apart."
As far as the weight comments, just keep riding. You are probably a better rider than a lot of people. I've been dropped by a lot of riders, who didn't fit the stereotypical mold of what some people think a good rider looks like.

[NoNo]

Another related/unrelated situation:
When I'm out and about (in my professional capacity) with a kid with a disability, I've had people make stupid comments from "What's wrong with him?" to "Can't you stop that?" (usually the kid's screaming), to "What does he have?"

I'm usually somewhere between dumbstruck and ignoring, but I did quickly respond to "What does he have?" by saying "He has a red hat."

When I was in college I became ill with some random thing that made my legs stop working. At best I could take a baby step with my left foot and drag my right foot along. Would pop up for a week, disappear for a few 2-3 months, and reappear. At various times while trying to literally drag myself to and from class, random people would stop me and say "What's wrong with you?" I guess they at least had the decency (nerve?) to ask, rather than the people that just used to stare.