to think its not socially acceptable for fat people to exercise

[starshaker]

If you go to the gym then you get looked at like a lazy blob who actually has no right to be in the presence of "normal" people who want to exercise without having their eyes insulted by having to look at a fat person. In sports shops there isn't a selection of clothes that will fit fat people.

Then you get people who feel its acceptable to comment when you say you go to the gym/do yoga/cycle. God forbid if a fat person wants to swim.

Im fat, i deny myself food, i exercise till i hurt but i am still fat.

(I am seeing a dietician and having bloods done to see if there is something medical wrong)

It's my excuse anyway OP.

I think you're dead right OP. I put on a lot of weight for a long list of medical and over-eating reasons and decided to hit the gym to deal with it. Y'know, manage my own problems! It was like being back at school. My last visit included 2 very slim/fit women looking at me in the changing room Nd mouthing "seriously?" to each other. It was so desperately painful and upsetting that I could barely look at myself for weeks. There was a great article by(i think) Marcus Brigstocke a while back talking about what it is like to be overweight. I would love to put it in front of the gym sneerers and ask the magic question "Did you mean to be so rude?"

Starshaker -
I agree with NeedsMoreCake: "gallstones are another sympton of pcos.....
so, its more likely to be related to that, than anything else.
plus, low carb, doesnt have to mean high fat."

I'd get the PCOS checked out by your GP and come up with some plan about PCOS, diet and weight, in the context of the gallbladder surgery and your current digestive needs. You can make some changes to your diet that won't be impossible without a gallbladder. You really don't have to follow some diet plan slavishly, and it sounds like you are on the right track already - just a few tweaks to reduce the amount of refined sugar should help a bit - as long as you exercise hard enough to get out of breath for about 30 minutes about 5x per week. That should get you back to the horses and then you can ignore the gym people :-)

I've never found this, I'm large (size 24) and people are largely supportive.

I have no gallbladder and cant eat citrus fruit I lost 10 stone 12 years ago and due to losing it too quickly I got gallstones. (was told this was the reason by the surgeon.)
Ive been back at SW since the end of last summer and have lost 2 and a half stone.

Ive gone from a 22 to a 16 so seem to lose more in inches and then the weight catches up.

Like Darkesteyes, I was told the reason for my gallstones was losing weight too quickly (wasn't even intentional; I gained four stones during my first pg but lost it within a few months - weeks, really, from bf and just being able to move around again - and not o/d-ing on carbs to keep the sickness down).
Hadn't even thought twice about it before, but had always wondered why they'd formed when I didn't fit the stereotypical gallbladder patient profile.
But any attempt at low carbing always left me in agony; haven't tried it since having the gb removed, but I don't trust it as a way of eating.
I realise I'll get short shrift from the low-carbers (I have in the past), and they can probably out-argue me and prove me wrong. But I agree with whoever said half a pound a week is a realistic target, and sugar is your enemy.
And please don't try to convince me the stones develop through low fat eating; I ate everything in sight when pg, and definitely didn't worry about fat content.
Anyway, op, sounds as if you don't intend to go down that route; concentrate on protein with every meal, brown carbs and veg, eat enough at each meal to take you through to the next, with maybe a snack in the evening.
And avoid the gym - try Shred or Mutumamas or similar at home.

I really sympathise with you, you are facing my worst nightmare (doing all the right things re diet and exercise and, not only not losing, but actually gaining weight!) I really hope your doctors can find some answers for you.

I'm afraid I do notice very overweight people, especially in an environment like a gym where there aren't very many. I wouldn't think anything negative though, I'd be impressed and inspired that you were at a gym, taking control of your situation. I'd know I wouldn't be able to show courage like that and I think that if I were overweight (especially if I was trying hard to lose it with no results) I'd be curled up in a duvet eating which would obviously just make things worse!

But I have a massively fucked up attitude to weight and eating and I suspect (hope!) that I notice and judge weight far more than most people do. Most people say they just get on with their own exercise and are too busy to watch others. I can't imagine it but I hope it's true.

And of course some gyms etc are worse than others. My favourite 'gym' is Pineapple Dance Studios. Now there's a really twisted environment - I have relatively obvious anorexia and pass without a second glance but someone who is, ooh, a 'massive' size 16 maybe (that's sarcasm btw!), sticks out like a sore thumb and, knowing the atmosphere and clientele pretty well, would, I suspect, attract some rather negative attention.

If you're sensitive and have had negative experiences maybe you're better off sticking to individual and home stuff for a bit. Not that I think you should have to, but just for your own self esteem and sanity.

Hmmm. My advice gym-wise would be not "stay at home" but "pick a gym that's not full of cunts".

Not all gyms are the same. It even is worth having a chat with people who go there and trainers etc and just asking "I'm a bit nervous/self-conscious about my weight. Would I have any difficulties going there? Would people generally be OK?"

I think tbh most gyms are fine. The one I used to go to was a very bad example as it was invaded by very judgy people and gym bunnies. Don't be scared away from any gym, just check the vibe beforehand (as you would for a pub or anywhere else you'd like to spend time in).

I think it is mainly in your head and wouldn't let it put you off. I'm sure that most people are like me and think 'good for you'!

I love it when I see overweight people at my pool going on a regular basis. You know that they have made a decision to change their lifestyle, and you also know that they're probably not going to be overweight for that much longer (unless there's underlying problems like with the OP).

However, what does irritate me is when just after New Year the place is absolutely packed, and you just know that these people are going to give up within the next week or so.

YOUTUBE!!
I get up at 5am and do a Gillian Michaels DVD for free from YouTube 3 times a week. I also bought a box of free weights from Argos, read the book Body for Life (life changing!!!!) and do those exercises 3 times a week.
Clothes? Can wear pjs as no one sees into my living room!
Cost ? FREE!
Get the book Body for Life for Women, it's inspirational and will change your body and mind forever

5am? To exercise? Nope, never going to happen here.

It's a shame you feel like that. I believe you that there are some people ignorant enough to judge and be rude. But not many and you should not let them put you off. When I see someone fat exercising, I think "good on you - that's the way to become trimmer and healthier". I suspect my reaction is the more normal one. Go for it.

BTW very skinny people get comments too that are hurtful and ill judged.

I'm a bit of a gym obsessive (currently injured so can't run outdoors) and there are quite a lot of very obese people in the classes I go to.
They certainly aren't sniggered at or anything of that nature.
From my experience, the people who are the subject of eye-rolling at the gym are the ones who don't try, regardless of their size.
For example, I go to a spin class which is as tough as you want to make it. The instructor is dripping in sweat by the end as he puts the resistance up to the point where even he finds it difficult, and really goes for it on the sprint sections.
But then there's people who book places on these oversubscribed classes and then turn up, pedal slowly with no resistance on whatsoever, and then wonder why they're not breaking a sweat.
These people really wind up those of us who sometimes can't get into classes because they're fully booked.
But anyway OP, my advice to you would be to keep doing anything that makes you push yourself and makes you sweat.
And run if you can - I did a run/walk programme and, four months in, could run 10k in under an hour. I then went on to run marathons and it's changed my life, inside and out.
(oh yeah, and I eat exactly what I like - I just don't like to eat rubbish anymore as I can't train properly if I'm full of crap food!)

I'm a size 18 , and I don't feel that bad when I'm looking for clothes, or at the gym. I think it may be your own worrys your projecting x

I've just got a pair of size 22 running capris from www.takingshape.com/uk/activewear.html

They're really comfy and look nice too.

I'm sorry, I can't add anything to what others have said, but good luck.

Ok loads of replies so gonna try and do answers in order.
I'm not using yoga to lose weight. I am doing it to strengthen my back as i have back problems (i know im falling to buts id be as well getting the vet to just put me down) and walking long distances hurt. This is getting easier with help from the yoga. Also it is helping me relax which i desperately need.
The walking i do is with the dog. Its not a little stroll its walking up the hill, forests and over the fields. I am mostly out of breath doing it, possibly cos it hurts. I used to run but then i became ill and spent 2 weeks in hospital, then needed to take it easy while i waited on the surgery and after the surgery it took a while to feel ok. Ended up with a blood clot on my lung too which added to recovery time. After all this i had put on more weight and lost any sort of fitness i had.

I only feel admiration for very overweight people who exercise. I respect them and would never give them bad looks.

Weight Wise is an off shot of an eating plan called Counterweight which is used by quite a few health boards around the country. Counterweight is nurse led and they use your BMI to set your calorie/portions and it encourages you to eat cleaner. The nurse also talked me through booklets to help with emotional eating and exercise amongst other things.
I started the plan in August 2012 on 2000 cals a day at 15 1/2 stone and I ate pretty much as you do now so was positive that I would put weight on, I gave it a 2 weeks chance and lost 2kg (nurse weighs in kg)! Now I have lost 4 stone do 15 exercise classes a week as well as a few weights sessions in the gym and at least 3 10km off road runs in preparation for my second Tough Mudder in less than 3 weeks time.
I would give eating more a chance but stick to lean meats and good carbs, they are not the enemy your body actually needs them but stick to brown rice/pasta as much as you can and turkey is also a pretty good lean source of iron. I start the day on 2 eggs and 2 bits of toast and I can easily fuel 2+ hours of classes/10 km run and my energy levels are through the roof compared to how they used to be.

Im currently just swimming as massively pregnant but I started going to the council gym in June 2013 to lose weight I put on in my first pregnancy. By September I was down 30lb to my previous pregnancy weight. I started just going and rowing then doing rowing or running and weights and some mat work. I was watching my carbs carefully too but not by substituting for high fat... instead I would make a vegetable broth and put a few big spoons of this in a pan and use to poach a piece of fish or chicken.

I felt really self conscious when I started. Maybe someone laughed at me, I don't know because I wore headphones and just got on with my shit. When I still had weight to lose but ha worked out my own gym routine I felt so confident...I was there because I knew what I wanted to do and got on with it. Maybe this will help if you can get the staff to help devise your routine.

If I see anyone overweight there I always thought good on you that was me not long ago - you can do it too, and seeing someone progress is so satisfying! Generally even if some people are twats most are rooting for you! You can do it!

Can I just add that it all seems so achievable to rebuild fitness and strength but once you really start and commit you are results so quickly and continuously.

Within around 3 months I lost 30lb, could run 5k from not being able to run before and could leg press 100kg and lift 50kg. I had a hernia operation in march 2013 so I know what its like to start from scratch again, plus I have some stress incontinence so the running was a big achievement. But achievements make you feel amazing and proud of yourself. I felt like superwoman and despite this pregnancy meaning I'm just swimming I haven't lost it all...my muscle tone is still good. It was all so worth it.

Also, try reading some inspiring stuff to get you focussed. This lady was my motivation...

www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/