Why Large People Aren't in the Health Club
I attended a pilates class today. I'm new to this, so only expected to stay for part of the class. It was hard as expected, but I looked around at all the people in the class and discovered two things--they were all young and skinny. I'm obese and when I say that I mean slightly obese. My doctor told me when I was at least 10 pounds heavier that she did not consider my weight a problem. I was also told the same thing by the ER doctors as well as the people I work with. Here's my take on that: People in the US are so large that in comparison, I look positively skinny. Doesn't mean I'm not obese. Transport me back to 1950 and you'll think I'm very fat. I saw the Honeymooners a few months back and Jackie Gleason looks like he's of average weight. And don't forget that old movie series Dagwood. When I was a child I'd watch Dagwood eat his sandwich and think how big it was. It was the joke of the show that he'd eat these extremely large sandwiches. Nowadays that sandwich would be called the regular size.
Anyhow, back to the health club. IMHO, you don't see large people there because they don't want to stand out. They feel self-conscious in the sea of skinny people. I've heard this said before, but never really thought about it. Until today. I'm in the class, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Everyone is super skinny, super toned. I looked like the good year blimp. I was the oldest there too, but the room was dark so no one could notice.
So, here's the thing. I'm going back. I'm not vain and could care less what people think. But lets put it this way--when I left, I headed to a restaurant and was very pleased to see how really skinny I am standing next to the much larger people that is fast becoming the majority of the US. Too bad I can't just round them all up and have them join me at the health club. I bet we can show those skinny-ninnys a thing or two.
Anyhow, back to the health club. IMHO, you don't see large people there because they don't want to stand out. They feel self-conscious in the sea of skinny people. I've heard this said before, but never really thought about it. Until today. I'm in the class, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Everyone is super skinny, super toned. I looked like the good year blimp. I was the oldest there too, but the room was dark so no one could notice.
So, here's the thing. I'm going back. I'm not vain and could care less what people think. But lets put it this way--when I left, I headed to a restaurant and was very pleased to see how really skinny I am standing next to the much larger people that is fast becoming the majority of the US. Too bad I can't just round them all up and have them join me at the health club. I bet we can show those skinny-ninnys a thing or two.
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I have been going to Pilates for about eight years and I love it! I also rejoined Weight Watchers this past week where I have been I life time member since I was about 26. I totally agree with you and what you say about how people over eat with putting much thought into it. It has just become part of this generation. And as we age we have to work harder at losing the weight. Good luck to you and I hope you come to enjoy it as much as I do!
Thinking back to 43 years ago when I first got married, I\'d buy a 1 pound roast, cook it, cut it up in chunks, add noodles to the meat, have a baked potato, whatever vegetable, salad for dinner and then either cake or pie with ice cream for dessert. AND we would eat the beef and noodles a couple of times during the week, NOW, 1 person buys a 1 pound piece of meat and eats it for dinner all by their self (compared to the old days of the 1 pound feeding a family of 4 or 5).....yep, we overeat and can\'t figure out why we are getting fat/fatter....plus we aren\'t as active as in the old days. I look around at the young girls and they are all ready twice my size and wonder what in the world will they look like when they are my age, if they make it to my age....I\'m proud of you, keep up the good work....hugs, Sandi