I'm so mortified by what this woman said to me, I don't want to go back to the gym.

[DeclansAFeckingDream]

I'm so embarrassed. I have lost 4 stone in the last year by eating more healthily and I started going to the gym about 6 months ago in a bit to become more toned and generally feel better. I'm now a size 12 and happy enough with that. I'm 57 and I haven't found it easy.

I really enjoy the gym now and go about 4/5 times a week, on my own, and do my own thing. I feel great. This evening as I was just about to start using the rowing machine, a woman (who is super fit and absolutely stunning) approached me and said 'I don't mean to be rude, but those leggings do nothing for you because you can see your cellulite through them, you might be better with joggers'. She then went back to her equally stunning friend and they seemed to have a good old giggle.

I'm so mortified. My leggings are normally Sweaty Betty ones, not 'up the bum' ones and I wear a long tee shirt too. I felt quite good when I went in tonight and now I'm back to feeling like an overweight old bag and I never want to set foot in there again. I will though, I've worked hard to feel healthier - I just understand why anyone would say something like that. I daresay she can see my cellulite, but why bring someone down like that?

Congratulations on your weight loss, and it's great you enjoy the gym.

Some women really enjoy being a bitch, she knew exactly what she was doing saying that. Glad you're going back to the gym and not letting a pathetic, nasty woman put you off.

Gross… she can fuck right off

Probably a tactic to get you off the equipment that she wanted to use.

Don't give it or her any more headspace.

In future if she or anyone approaches you and makes an unsolicited personal comment, you stand tall and repeat loudly what they just said to you in an incredulous manner, followed by a loud, 'I have no idea who you are now fuck/bugger off and stop harassing me. Oh and your breath absolutely stinks!'

Oh, the gym mean girls. They are always about somewhere.
Firstly, well done on looking after your health so well. I’m a similar age and what you are achieving is more about feeling great and preventing illness as you get older. It’s fantastic that you look better, but it’s your health that means so much more.
Someone who feels it’s alright to insult a stranger is not actually very healthy at all. She might have an Instagram figure, but her mind is in a pretty bad space.
Have you ever met a woman without cellulite? I haven’t.
Keep being your fabulous self and take no notice of the Gym Bunny Bitches. The one thing that will sort them out is time.
In the meantime perhaps suggest to her that while you can’t see your own arse looking at her face causes you real offence - only joking, but the thought might cheer you up?
I feel absolutely inspired by reading your post. Well done and keep going.

Love this phrase, but what are they??

I’m so impressed with your weight loss and how you’ve managed to develop a love of the gym. I have tried so many times to learn to love exercise. You’ve done an amazing job and please don’t let some nobody get in your way. You’re amazing!

I think these type of leggings which I absolutely hate

https://images.app.goo.gl/KQmJgbZcg5BT87jn6

Leggings with a ruched line of elastic running up the arse crack of them. Some have some shaping around the bum cheeks too. It's basically a manufactured wedgie to make your arse look more shapely. But they're truthfully ugly as fuck.

Frankly you sound amazing. I’m afraid to go to the gym because I think it will be full of amazing thin toned young bodies. Also I’ve not one clue about the equipment, which ones to use and how they work. Can you give us some tips on your weight loss and what items you use at the gym.

What a cow! Everyone's cellulite/fat dimples can be seen through leggings like that, even super fit women like her! Ignore her.

Wow. What a cow. I can’t imagine anyone normal saying something like that to a stranger (or even a friend!!!) in a public gym. It’s so petty, vindictive and strange. Echoing what everyone else said: ignore her and keep doing what you’re doing. Well done on your weightloss and improving your fitness and health!

Wow. How dare she? What an odd thing to do.

Keep going OP, this person is obviously very strange with loads of issues!

Please don’t stop going to the gym, you are doing brilliantly!!!! You’ve achieved so much.

If this person approaches you again please tell her, “at least my cellulite is just superficial, your ugly heart and soul will need a lot of work, no leggings will hide that.”

karma will get her

Ignore her. You are doing the best thing for you. Don't stop going just because of one horrible comment. Her opinion is worth nothing.

You have done brilliantly to lose all that weight and get fit. She is an absolute cow - please ignore her and keep on being you, you sound absolutely great.

She's an absolute c**t OP. Don't pay her any mind, she must be deeply unhappy with herself if she goes around behaving like that, it's a reflection on her and not you. Well done on your fantastic achievements so far, keep up the inspiring work!

Work2live , she wouldn't be stunning after id finished with her !!!

Seriously there are women like this out there? I mean grown women not school kids?

What a bloody bitch

@DeclansAFeckingDream well done on you for getting yourself fitter and healthier, its not easy at our age, takes a lot of time, energy and dedication.

body "shaming" by definition cannot be positive ever. It has nothing to do with health concerns or having a discussion about excess weight, and disagreeing for the current trend to promote unhealthy body and lifestyle. Making a factual statement is not "shaming", it doesn't mean you start addressing complete strangers out of the blue!

This woman was just nasty for the sake of it, there was nothing helpful or constructive. It's like saying to someone: I can see your nose or the shape of your boobs. Duh? WTF is anyone suppose to do about that? They are there!

Having seen many women in leggings, I doubt there was much to see anyway. The comment is just spiteful and nasty and I guess untrue. Sweaty Betty leggings are great.

Report camera girl too!! Gyms are public places you don't get to dictate who can stand where and when. Either you accept paying customers will be at the gym along side you and your camera. Or you pay to hire the place out privately for a session.

This!!!

She was an absolute bitch.
God knows everyone usually always has a bit of cellulite on show in gym leggings - I bet she does too if you look hard enough.

Please don’t let her put you off - rise above it and if she says anything again, wipe the floor with her.

Yes to clarify I should probably have said it is never about health concerns.

Society still very much promotes smaller bodies and shames people with larger bodies, even if that largeness is now loose skin as opposed to fat.

Crikey. I think I would have said 'oh can you? well I can see the ugliness in your brain through your hairstyle, perhaps you would like to change your attitude?'

I can't even begin to imagine what awful life circumstances must have colluded to turn her into such an ugly person. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Also - you're 57 and you've lost four stone? You're my hero!

Most of the body positive people online I’ve encountered are either fairly slim but proudly showcase some so called “problem” areas, so as to encourage others to just accept themselves despite their perceived
imperfections (cellulite on thighs,
not having a washboard stomach, bigger arms etc) or actual larger plus sized /fat woman that you often see working out and eating nutritious meals or just enjoying their life and displaying their fun lifestyle fashionable clothes.

The idea behind it - at least for me - is whether you’re fat or slim or in between don’t hate your body! Be positive about it! Any change you choose to make shouldn’t come from a place of shame or hate.

Had I hated my body when I was 3 stone overweight I’d have never had the courage to go to gym and do something about it and just keep on interacting with people outside.

Knowing there are people out there saying you’re beautiful just as you are really helped me not to hide away from the world and sink into a pile of takeaways.

Of course it’ll mean different things to different people and there will always be extremists in every movement, but for the most part I think it’s a positive.

I remember one very toxic guy I dated made a negative comment about my stomach. I was 9 stone with a 26 inch waist but my stomach just had always been a bit chubby. Yes it was factual and he was technically right in his observation, but it was completely unnecessary and cruel to say so. I was early 20s, but even then I knew to get rid of him after that