I totally know how you feel, do you know how many people have asked me how far along I am? It makes me want to cry. I hate being heavier and everyone thinks it's just cause we eat a lot and we are lazy fat people who don't do anything. I hate it so much and it is so freaking hard to lose weight, it's not fair. It hurts big time.

Well, i can relate to that somewhat. However, most children were (and some still are) afraid of me, due to my size. At the time, i was not only very muscular, but had the spare truck tire to boot lol So i can only imagine what they thought of me. Hell, i got much the same look from just as many ADULTS !! lol Some women would even go out of their way to avoid me because i guess a lot of my female friends say that i look "mean" sometimes lol

Even with my big weight loss, this still hasn't changed very much. The average person on the street usually sees someone of my size as an oddity, that i'm on steroids, or that i'm some mean, mindless hulk ; which happens to be a KIND nickname from friends ;)

Anyhoo...back when i was much heavier, i used those looks and sneers as fuel and motivation for change. Since the stares and mumbles are quite common for many of us, we can either continue to be hurt or damaged by it, or we can embrace it as little "wake up calls".

Sramey, all i can tell you is that life is NOT fair ; it's not meant to be. Yes, it hurts, but change often DOES hurt , but if you commit to making the small changes in your life that will help you to lose the weight and feel better, slowly and surely, then the hurts will gradually become less and less.

As iv'e said on other posts, ..i'm on facebook also and i'm offering additional help, emotional as well as physical. This discussion board does help,...but sometimes it's easier to consistently see and hear other's successes more than their pitfalls.

What you need to remember is it is nothing to do with you. If people are so bitter and twisted about their own lives they make comments like that, or worse brainwash their kids to make comments, I feel sad that their lives are so tragic and boring that the best use of their time is making other people miserable.

Just think if it was some other group, if the kid had said "look at that black man mummy" or "look at that man wearing a dress" or "look at that lady with one leg" - it would rightly have been seen as foul unacceptable behaviour. It is never acceptable to insult or discriminate against anyone based on a physical attribute.

Don't let it get you down, you are not disgusting, they are.

If i read food / obesity related articles on yahoo then it sounds to me that there is a real culture of hatred against fat / heavy people in America at the moment.
I cannot say that ( luckily) I experience any of this here in South Africa.
It must be a terrible feeling to be pointed out by a child (who you can not really blame for being a kid) but then to get these kind of mean reactions and even insults from the parent and even bystanders.
What's wrong with people these days ???
No really, this is not about you Lyds but this is really a form of racism!

"If you don't want your kid to be the next picture on the back of milk carton, you'd better correct her."

That'll shock the mother into consciousness again and hopefully she'll correct the child.

you dont by chance live in minnesota do you. i was in walmart one day and this little girl she had to have been 4 she says mommy that lady is fat and the mom just looked i wanted to say you need to teach you child some manners. I am so glad my kids arnt like that.

I get the same comments and parents just act like they didn't hear it. Really if I heard your child from back there then I know you heard her standing right next to her. My daughter would never make a comment about anyone in a negative sense. I know how terrible it feels when this happens and how it makes you want to eat like no tomorrow. Hope someday people realize that just cause we are obese doesn't mean we are disgusting and lazy.

One time I was babysitting a couple of boys. Them and their parents are like toothpicks they are so little. And one of them wanted to sit on my lap, I didn't have a problem with it and as he was sitting there trying to get comfortable he goes "why are you so fat?".....it really hurt. Children can be really hurtful, but they don't mean to be. Try not to take it too personal, I know it's hard not to though. Just try.

my godson has manners. he is perfectly accepting and polite and he's certainly seen fat people before. he used to ask me constantly, auntie why are you so fat??

it's easier with my nephew because i could use it as a teaching moment! but when strangers stare and when kids make comments the tears come to my eyes too. little kids are so innocently honest.....kill em with kindness!! i'd try to just smile and wave and let them know (a) i heard you!! and (b) fat people are kind too....

it's on my pros and cons list....for losing weight....i won't have to deal with that once i lost weight....

Thank you for the replies. Im glad to know im not the only one who has to deal with this stuff. I know they are just children, what hurts my feelings is that their mothers just stand by and say nothing. Just doesn't seem right.

I am so sorry this happened to you! My husband had this happen so many times. People are so rude. I hope you start to feel better.