I've mentioned this a bit before here on Cycling Forums, but I only just noticed this section of the forum recently, and thought maybe some people here might be able to offer encouragement or have gone through similar experiences.
I'm sure it is like this everywhere, but where I live I've noticed an exceptional amount of pressure put on people to look good, especially with notice to weight. I've had a lot of problems with my weight ever since I began to get sick. Not being able to exercise often because of pain caused by fibromyalgia & an autoimmune disorder mixed with medication that causes weight gain had my weight double in less than a year. I'm doing my best to lose weight - thought having difficulties that my doctor is trying to help me get through - as well as to get back into good shape again. Biking is my favorite way to go about that.
However, I'm made fun of & bullied a lot for my weight. I hopped onto my bike one time and some boys that were walking home from the high school nearby saw me and called out to me, calling me hurtful names that I would rather not repeat; some about my weight, other words just being mean in general. This isn't the first time this has happened, and I doubt it will be the last.
I'm not the only overweight person trying to get in shape that suffers from this sort of treatment. When an old friend of mine had a membership at the local gym, people would often made rude, hurtful comments or tell her she doesn't belong there.
Has anyone else had to deal with this sort of treatment? How do you deal with it? I find it really hurtful & hard to ignore. When someone makes a nasty comment, it sticks with me throughout the whole day. Have you found any methods that help with ignoring it and just going on with your biking?
I'm sure it is like this everywhere, but where I live I've noticed an exceptional amount of pressure put on people to look good, especially with notice to weight. I've had a lot of problems with my weight ever since I began to get sick. Not being able to exercise often because of pain caused by fibromyalgia & an autoimmune disorder mixed with medication that causes weight gain had my weight double in less than a year. I'm doing my best to lose weight - thought having difficulties that my doctor is trying to help me get through - as well as to get back into good shape again. Biking is my favorite way to go about that.
However, I'm made fun of & bullied a lot for my weight. I hopped onto my bike one time and some boys that were walking home from the high school nearby saw me and called out to me, calling me hurtful names that I would rather not repeat; some about my weight, other words just being mean in general. This isn't the first time this has happened, and I doubt it will be the last.
I'm not the only overweight person trying to get in shape that suffers from this sort of treatment. When an old friend of mine had a membership at the local gym, people would often made rude, hurtful comments or tell her she doesn't belong there.
Has anyone else had to deal with this sort of treatment? How do you deal with it? I find it really hurtful & hard to ignore. When someone makes a nasty comment, it sticks with me throughout the whole day. Have you found any methods that help with ignoring it and just going on with your biking?