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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be sick of my hobbies being judged differently just because I’m fat?

281 replies

hobbiesevademe · 16/05/2026 19:53

Basically just the question in my title.

I run, but slowly. Of course the fact I’m slow in some moral failing and I must aim to lose as much weight as possible and get faster. But if a skinny person is a slow runner, it’s something that’s praised and respected.

I bake, really bloody good cakes. And it’s obviously because I like eating cake, right 🙄 but if someone skinny bakes an impressive cake, it’s a work of art.

I sew, and it’s grandma-ish and frumpy. But if a skinny person sews their own clothes it’s cool, sustainable and “cottage core”

I like sports and it must be to get guys, but when a skinny girl likes the same sports it’s cool and she’s accepted.

i read, and it’s “lonely” and a bit pathetic.

im a bit sick of being labelled negatively for everything I bloody do. I feel like I can’t win.

OP posts:
Imdunfer · 17/05/2026 13:17

BauhausOfEliott · 17/05/2026 13:13

Counterpoint: I’m 5’3” and at my slimmest was a size 8-10. My friend at the time was the exactly the same dress size as me - we literally used to swap clothes - and around the same height, maybe an inch taller at the most.

I weighed 11 stone and she weighed 8.5 stone. She had a higher body fat percentage than I did.

You watched her weigh herself?

At 11 stone and 5ft 3 you were packing one hell of a lot of muscle if you weren't fat.

Onelifeonly · 17/05/2026 13:17

Well you've got a few choices:

  1. Don't tell people what your hobbies are and / or don't post about them online.
  2. Assume they are ignorant and go into great detail about how amazing a hobby sewing / whatever is - i.e. be ultra positive about the great weekend you'll be having.
  3. Ask them what they are doing and make a dismissive comment about it (revenge)
  4. Be confident in yourself and laugh / ignore / look puzzled by any mean remarks.

Or get to know normal, polite, respectful people. I'm sure you already do!

BauhausOfEliott · 17/05/2026 13:13

Imdunfer · 17/05/2026 12:45

I'm sorry but I think you're fooling yourself by comparing yourself to what is now normal in the high street.

I am over an inch taller than you and I weigh 4 stone less. I am not thin. There is no body shape that would not make you considerably overweight at that height and weight.

Counterpoint: I’m 5’3” and at my slimmest was a size 8-10. My friend at the time was the exactly the same dress size as me - we literally used to swap clothes - and around the same height, maybe an inch taller at the most.

I weighed 11 stone and she weighed 8.5 stone. She had a higher body fat percentage than I did.

BauhausOfEliott · 17/05/2026 13:02

hobbiesevademe · 16/05/2026 20:01

Pretty much everyone. I post on a running forum and get told I need to get a move on. I speak to colleagues about sewing and they say I need to “get a life”

How the people on your running forum know you’re fat, though? They’re judging you for your running speed, sure, but that’s the only thing they know about you unless you’re announcing your weight or dress size in every post. Presumably they’d say the same thing if you were a thin person running slowly (and a lot of thin people do run slowly).

If people are being unkind in your running forum (rather than trying to encourage you to improve your time, which I suppose is the point for most runners) I would look for a more supportive place to post.

I’m not denying that people can be judgemental about weight - of course they can. I’m overweight myself, and currently working hard to change that, so I’m certainly conscious of those issues. But nothing you’ve described suggests that things people have said about your hobbies are actually anything to do with your weight.

Imdunfer · 17/05/2026 12:45

Sartre · 17/05/2026 09:26

It isn’t fat at my height at all. I was fat at 14 stone + for sure but I don’t look fat under 13 stone. I’m 5 ft 7. Hourglass so I carry weight well, maybe that helps but I didn’t hear OP saying shit about her weight. I’m just baffled where she’s hearing people praising slim people for sewing or running slowly.

I'm sorry but I think you're fooling yourself by comparing yourself to what is now normal in the high street.

I am over an inch taller than you and I weigh 4 stone less. I am not thin. There is no body shape that would not make you considerably overweight at that height and weight.

Bababear987 · 17/05/2026 10:51

hobbiesevademe · 16/05/2026 21:42

Sorry everyone, I’ve been cutting a pattern out 🤣 yes people do actually say that to me. I was asked what my
plans were this weekend and I said that I’d be sewing, to which they responded “you need to get a life”

I just feel like I’m being hugely judged for normal things

Well they're being rude but i dont get why you think they wouldnt think someone who's thin and sews also needs to get a life.
Why are you bringing weight into it?

UnaOfStormhold · 17/05/2026 10:28

I'm sorry you've had nasty comments. But is this an issue about weight or just misogyny? I notice for example that my husband gets loads of praise for baking cakes and knitting where a woman might be told to get a life.

Comedycook · 17/05/2026 10:17

It's rude to comment on other people's bodies, but we all know society views being thin as a win. Fat is demonised and we are fed a constant stream through the media about how we can and should stop being so fat and told how we can achieve thinness. Yes having your body commented on can be upsetting but being called fat is an absolutely loaded term in a way that skinny isn't

WonsWoo · 17/05/2026 10:04

I think you sound awesome @hobbiesevademe

Wynter25 · 17/05/2026 10:01

Yabu

hidingmynuts · 17/05/2026 10:01

hobbiesevademe · 17/05/2026 08:53

Obsessed?

yes, you do sound obsessed with the idea everyone is focused on your weight or your hobbies.

They arent.

Thumber · 17/05/2026 10:00

hockityponktas · 17/05/2026 09:56

I’m sure the people who keep arguing that slim people being called skinny isn't offensive are just trying to get a rise. But I’ll bite.
how is it not offensive when the first thing someone says to you is “eww aren't you skinny” and looks you up and down with a face of disgust?
when you’re at a meal with help yourself stuff and they constantly make comments on the types and quantities of food you are eating. To the point when later on you get accused of making yourself sick. “You can’t possibly eat that much and be that skinny”
Prodding you in the side to see if they can feel your ribs, announcing to rooms of people that you must be shit in bed “it’d be like riding a bag of bones” constant comments of watch out if the wind blows, watch you don’t fall down that drain, can you even pinch an inch etc etc
Not one person, multiple over the years, sometimes acquaintances, sometimes family, sometimes random members of the public.
It is rude and offensive and unkind.

Anyway, I’ll stop derailing your thread now OP, I’m off to make a cake and later I’ll be gardening. Your hobbies sound perfect to me, find your people and enjoy your hobbies.

Exactly this! I had someone comment on my “skinniness” years ago and saying something about how they prefer to have a cushion between themselves and a woman’s pubic bone when having sex (ie a layer of fat on the woman’s pubic bone). I was 17 years old and this was the Dad of my boyfriend at the time 🤢. Vile. People have PLENTY to say about being slim.

hockityponktas · 17/05/2026 09:56

I’m sure the people who keep arguing that slim people being called skinny isn't offensive are just trying to get a rise. But I’ll bite.
how is it not offensive when the first thing someone says to you is “eww aren't you skinny” and looks you up and down with a face of disgust?
when you’re at a meal with help yourself stuff and they constantly make comments on the types and quantities of food you are eating. To the point when later on you get accused of making yourself sick. “You can’t possibly eat that much and be that skinny”
Prodding you in the side to see if they can feel your ribs, announcing to rooms of people that you must be shit in bed “it’d be like riding a bag of bones” constant comments of watch out if the wind blows, watch you don’t fall down that drain, can you even pinch an inch etc etc
Not one person, multiple over the years, sometimes acquaintances, sometimes family, sometimes random members of the public.
It is rude and offensive and unkind.

Anyway, I’ll stop derailing your thread now OP, I’m off to make a cake and later I’ll be gardening. Your hobbies sound perfect to me, find your people and enjoy your hobbies.

Thumber · 17/05/2026 09:55

I’ve been judged and had people comment on my weight my whole life. I’m “skinny” as many would put it (if you don’t like being called fat, don’t call people skinny - if you carry on calling people skinny, don’t be surprised if they call you fat). I’ve been questioned on my eating habits, had parts of my body pointed out where bones can be seen, had soooo many comments on my weight and looks and size. Strangely enough no GP has ever had an issue with my weight and yet every Tom, Dick and Harry does. But do you know what?… who gives a flying f*ck?! I definitely don’t. I do “boring” and “frumpy grannyish” hobbies. My friends think it’s hilarious and is something they would never do, and funnily enough they don’t think this due to my size, it’s because it’s hobbies that do unfortunately fit a certain stereotype. If you think of someone knitting you get an image of that person in your head, the same as if you think of someone who beat boxes or street dances or does parkour, someone who crochets, does paint by numbers, sewing or adult colouring books. Many people would think I need to get a life, but sometimes their idea of a life is getting smashed in the pub, staying out until 2am and maybe even doing recreational drugs. That’s their idea of a life, not mine. People will ALWAYS comment on your life, unfortunately. This is because there are unkind people in the world. You take from that what you want, or you can completely ignore the comments and carry on doing what makes you happy. People definitely don’t make these comments due to you being overweight.

BillieWiper · 17/05/2026 09:44

hobbiesevademe · 16/05/2026 20:01

Pretty much everyone. I post on a running forum and get told I need to get a move on. I speak to colleagues about sewing and they say I need to “get a life”

But how do you know they wouldn't tell a thin person to get a life? They sound appallingly rude.

You're saying on one hand being fat isn't a problem but then also saying everyone says mean things
to you exclusively because of the fact you're fat?

HappyHacienda · 17/05/2026 09:40

DrRylandGrace · 17/05/2026 09:35

Yes, it is.

Nope. It isn’t.

HappyHacienda · 17/05/2026 09:39

I don’t understand why runners need to discuss it soooo much.
Just run.

DrRylandGrace · 17/05/2026 09:35

Comedycook · 16/05/2026 20:03

It's really not

Yes, it is.

likelysuspect · 17/05/2026 09:32

Sartre · 17/05/2026 09:26

It isn’t fat at my height at all. I was fat at 14 stone + for sure but I don’t look fat under 13 stone. I’m 5 ft 7. Hourglass so I carry weight well, maybe that helps but I didn’t hear OP saying shit about her weight. I’m just baffled where she’s hearing people praising slim people for sewing or running slowly.

OP is being ridiculous and I dont believe she is hearing these things but if she is its not about her weight its just about peoples comments

Im just correcting that 12 stone 10 isnt overweight, it is, unless you're a very tall man, even at 5.7 (Im 5.5) it will be in the overweight category

Theres a thread (or there was) about weight lifting with some snooty OP saying she is baffled that people are turning up to a weights class and not 'progressing', not 'lifting heavy enough', all sorts of judgey sneers about how other people are wanting to do exercise. That isnt based on the persons size, that was based on just what they're doing. So there will be always someone who comments on someone's hobbies and exercise, whether the hobbyist is fat or thin.

Sartre · 17/05/2026 09:26

likelysuspect · 17/05/2026 08:33

12 stone 10 is fat, of course it is. At my height that is right on the border of being obese and Im not short by any means.

It isn’t fat at my height at all. I was fat at 14 stone + for sure but I don’t look fat under 13 stone. I’m 5 ft 7. Hourglass so I carry weight well, maybe that helps but I didn’t hear OP saying shit about her weight. I’m just baffled where she’s hearing people praising slim people for sewing or running slowly.

Imdunfer · 17/05/2026 09:18

hobbiesevademe · 16/05/2026 20:01

Pretty much everyone. I post on a running forum and get told I need to get a move on. I speak to colleagues about sewing and they say I need to “get a life”

That would be a normal response from colleague who doesn't like talking about sewing and see if as a pointless activity. Bit blunt, maybe, but nothing to do with your size.

Is a running forum the best place for a slow jogger to be posting? Couch to 5k type sites might be better? I'm currently slim and shuffling jogging at 9kph for 3k, I would expect some comments about how useless I am if I joined a running site.

I suspect your main problem is your own self esteem, you post doesn't read as if you like yourself very much?

PluckedFromThinAir · 17/05/2026 09:14

MummyWillow1 · 17/05/2026 09:12

I do all of the same things. And I am a size 18-20.

Ran 8km last week. Don’t sew that much but I could run up an outfit with enough time. Read loads. Bake amazing cakes, a skill I have passed on to my daughter. I also attend a gym class three times a week.

I also have a really good job in intelligence and compliance and am ear marked for director level promotion in the next 10 years.

You sound like an amazing person, stop letting negative people into your life, cut ties with them and keep being amazing.

You sound pretty awesome yourself!

Horses7 · 17/05/2026 09:13

You’re overthinking all this OP.
Do what makes you happy and ease up on the forums and discussing your hobbies.

MummyWillow1 · 17/05/2026 09:12

I do all of the same things. And I am a size 18-20.

Ran 8km last week. Don’t sew that much but I could run up an outfit with enough time. Read loads. Bake amazing cakes, a skill I have passed on to my daughter. I also attend a gym class three times a week.

I also have a really good job in intelligence and compliance and am ear marked for director level promotion in the next 10 years.

You sound like an amazing person, stop letting negative people into your life, cut ties with them and keep being amazing.

anyolddinosaur · 17/05/2026 09:09

OP it's a bit "everyone hates me" - which always makes me think you should go down the garden and eat worms. I'm sure everyone is not making comments like this all the time, just some assholes now and then.

If someone says "get a life" ask them to describe their so superior life (use those words) then tell them its boring.