Be honest, when you see fat people running?

[22O725]

When you see an overweight person out running what do you think? As a morbidly obese person I always used to admire their confidence and ability. I am now an overweight person (size 16) and I still feel like the size 24 I once was. I feel like everyone is looking at me and thinking ‘look at the state of her’.

Do you judge fat runners badly or do you think ‘well done’?

Good for them!

It gives me hope to be honest. And respect for them getting out there. Never negative thoughts.

I don't think anything. Afraid I am not awash with admiration either. Mostly lost in my own podcast.

Good for them and I hope they know about parkrun and what a wonderful, inclusive and fun community it is for runners!

I don’t judge on how they look. They’re usually puffing and a bit pink compared to the slim Jims (I realise there are fit bigger people, before anyone jumps on that) but generally I think good for them.

when I’m driving past in my car I always say - out loud - Go on Girl !! I love it, same as when newbies join my gym that clearly have a long journey ahead I try to be as friendly and helpful as possible. We all started somewhere!!

Then this is not the thread for you, I was asking for people who do have opinions.

I think, christ I should join them! As although I'm naturally slim, I'm very aware of my appalling level of fitness. Then I feel guilty that I don't exercise and don't gain weight as I know people who work out to the extreme, eat half what I do and struggle with maintaining a healthy weight. Being slim doesn't mean fit though, I'm a prime example of that.

When i see anyone running I usually feel guilt that I am not running. Or glad that I ran earlier and got it out the way!

I just think good on them. But this applies to anyone I see running. Other than really athletic people who don't even break a sweat and they I just wonder how are they not bright red and super sweaty!

I think well done. As I do when I see people at events who come in last/ at the back. Or who are struggling. Because I know that it takes a lot more to get out there or enter something when sport doesn't come easily.
I was a 'I just can't run' person until I eventually learned that it was that I'd never learnt to run - like throwing and catching it was just assumed at school that you could, and if you couldn't then there was no hope for you.
Thus, even when I was running my first marathon (slowly, this is no 'I couldn't run then I was super fast' story) I didn't actually believe it was possible for 40 something me to do until I was at mile 22.

I’m full of admiration for anybody who runs to be honest and if they were larger I’d be impressed. I actually have a friend who ran a couple of marathons when she was around a size 22. Her size didn’t seem to hold her back and she loved doing it.
i know she did get annoyed with people who assumed she was doing it to lose weight rather than because she enjoyed it.

I think it's brilliant. I'm full of admiration for anyone who runs, especially since you risk comments from clowns.

I don't judge but I do wonder about the benefit of the small number of calories burnt through this type of exercise relative to the impact on the knees and ankles. But that's up to them.

I do admire them, but it often looks so difficult and I wonder how long it will be before they give up. I often think they’d be better off in a really friendly exercise class or PT class with people facing similar challenges so they can support each other through the journey. There’s a great exercise class near me like that that does a combination of workouts so it doesn’t get boring

Perhaps it’s not about the body and just about the fitness. I have no interest in lifting anything.

I think they must have just started their running plan. If someone is shuffle running I also think they must be sore/will be sore tomorrow.

I'm average size and I know how hard getting into running is so I always think well done for being out for a run when I see someone who looks like they are on that journey themselves. I do sometimes think how much harder it must be to be running carrying more weight, especially in the summer.

I think bloody good for them and wish them all the best .

Drive past a running group called ‘fit mums and friends’ every Monday evening on my way home from work and there is a woman who runs with them who I reckon is a size 18-20. Every time, without fail I say ‘good lass’.

I'm overweight myself so would be envious that they could do it - I have painful joints that rule it out for me.

I honestly don't think anything other than a friendly positivity towards someone who is doing the same thing that I sometimes do.

I used to have what you might call affirmative thoughts - admiration and respect for people pushing through the extra challenges of being an overweight runner. But I gradually began to realise those thoughts were a bit patronising and daft. Every hobbyist runner who is not a superfit speedhead is just bumbling along at whatever speed they can manage, dealing with whatever personal challenges and obstacles make running hard for them.

Eg I am in my sixties, with dodgy knees, erratic motivation and poor personal discipline. There is no reason why I should feel in a position to pass any judgement on a runner whose challenges happen to include extra weight.

Same at the gym. Sometimes when I see an extremely overweight person exercising I catch myself thinking "Good for you!" but I try to pull back from that thought. It seems othering and uncalled for.

I admire them...theres a man who lives round the corner from me who was obese and I used to see him out running every day....he lost quite a bit of weight. Good for him.

Personally I'm overweight and detest running....but even if I liked it I wouldn't run because I have heard so many horror stories from other women of men shouting at them or bothering them while they're running and it would put me off.

I genuinely think “good on you” it’s so so hard to run, I can’t be arsed with it although I’d love to be a runner. Anyone that try’s to better themselves should be built up not knocked down.

I think "ooo, a fellow runner".
Usually glance at their trainers as I'm nosy and that's it.