Good for you....

I ran into some friends at the lake yesterday. Sara, my regular riding buddy, introduced me to 2 friends who had just purchased road bikes. They were planning a Sunday ride and Sara chimed in that I was doing Danskin Sunday and wouldn't be joining them this week.

"You're doing Danskin? Good for you!"

To me this type of response with the tone and intonation always translates to: WOW you're really big - That will be quite a feat for a someone of your size....

I hate it. It hurts me and I am not sure why this gets to me the way it does. This type of comment or look is why I want to lose weight. I just want to fit in. I don't want to be judged; I don't want to be pitied; I don't need a special "fat girl cheering squad" or a stranger's words of encouragement. I just want to be able to sign up for a class or do a race. I want to be accepted. I don't want to stand out.

I have been overweight for most of my life. I have tried most of my life to lose weight. I never ever wanted to be one of those people who had to WAIT until they lost weight before doing anything physically challenging. But I guess now I have a better understanding of why they do.