To think this is why many people stay away from gyms?

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4309516/Female-bodybuilder-body-shames-woman-gym.html

It's in a very similar vein to the playboy model who body shamed the woman who was showering in an American gym last year, and it's just awful.

My DH and I joined a gym and I used to hate going for fear I would look ridiculous, and I know others feel the same.

I hope she is banned from the gym at the very least.

Most people involved in fitness, work or hobby, are the least likely to "body-shame" someone who is trying to exercise. There is respect for fellow sport people, whatever their level, and everybody starts somewhere. If there is bitchiness, it's against someone similar (you can have nasty verbal cat fights between 2 zumba teachers for example), it's not against someone who is only starting.

However, you might be mock if:
you turn up caked in make-up, pose, take selfies and even worst chat or rest on equipment so no one else can use them.
If you are on the phone on a treadmill, you do deserve a smirk.
you have an attitude, and think you are an athlete when you are clearly not.

I have seen some obese people (courageously) attempting a very high intensity program with ridiculously fit people. There was never any negativity, they felt embarrassed whilst the others were just thinking "well done to start". Frankly, most people focus on their own exercise and don't have that much time to gossip about others.

I'd rather have excess chub around my hips than on my face.... what is wrong with that woman's lips??

I'm with worra - what she said and did was spiteful and unkind. That's a given, and days a lot about her emotional intelligence. But attacking her for her appearance and literacy is sinking to the same level.

Says, not days!

What a twat that woman is

I think this shows how insecure she is about her own appearance. Why else would she go to the trouble of getting her phone/camera out, taking the picture, uploading it and then making unpleasant remarks about the other woman? Sad.

Overweight people can lose the weight - this vile woman will be ugly on the inside forever. For someone who has done that much to her face, she has no right to judge anyone.

I'd rather look like the woman on the treadmill that that odd looking duck-faced person tbh

Jux and Jane just go!

I am an overweight woman, and in January I joined a basic local authority gym attached to the high school because it's cheap and it's great. I go in the day time. It's full of larger people, older people, all sorts. There's no judging or unkindness, we're all trying to improve ourselves.

I don't wear tight gym clothes, I wear loose leg soft trousers and long sleeved tee shirt. No one cares! People like the one in the news story here are thankfully the exception to the norm.

What's that fuckin daft duck pout all about

It's saddening to think articles/people like this put people off joining gyms.

I joined a gym recently after several weeks of plucking up the courage. They couldn't have been more welcoming to an older, fat lady with fibromyalgia. The staff were amazingly kind. And the other users of the changing room were lovely. Friendly and kind and definitely not at all judgemental.

I'm only using the pool. My biggest worry is that somebody would want to weigh me, calculate my fat content and put together improvement plans. I'm pleased to say none of that happened. It's there is you want it but not compulsory. What a relief!

So to anybody thinking about joining a gym, don't be put off. Try it and see. I went and looked round mine a couple of times before joining.

Wait. She took this photo without the other woman's knowledge, added a caption referring to love handles and then suggests that the woman is ordering takeaway... but it wasn't her intention to body shame? Riiiiiight.

Ms Andrews needs to take a long hard look at herself before she criticises anyone else for their looks. At least she has now seen the error of her ways due to the inevitable backlash and hopefully this will make a lasting impression on her future behaviour.

"It wasn't my intention to bodyshame, hurt or disrespect anyone."
What the fuck did you post it for then?!
What an utter, nasty bitch (and that's not a word I like to use!)
On one hand you have people moaning about too many overweight people, then you get people like this cow laughing when people actually get up and do something about their health and weight.

Respect to all those who go to the gym and exercise, you're awesome!

Thank you all for your kind words, I did start going to a gym a while back but my financial situation put and end to that, it was quite quiet in there most of the time now I'm in a better place money wise I can sign back up, I can't wait now! I am a size 12-14 but 5ft nothing so I do look quite overweight.

think a barely literate woman who looks like a drag queen is on very shaky ground when it comes to criticising other people!

Yup, this.

Also, what a lying cow. Didn't mean to do it?? Yes, she did. Body-shaming was JUST what she meant. She can't even own her bad behaviour. Ugh.

"It wasn't my intention to bodyshame, hurt or disrespect anyone."

"Hi, yes I did post the snap that bodyshamed, hurt and direspected a woman at my gym - but it wasn't my INTENTION to bodyshame, hurt or disrespect her in that moment. Go ask God, he'll tell you..."

Americans are simply excellent at the art of the non-apology.

I particularly like this line 'It wasn't my intention to body shame, hurt or disrespect anyone.

But i'm now left wondering what exactly was the reason for it then?

Taken from the article - "I want to explain what I've done. I saww this girl waling on the treadmill talking on her phone and I made a video and a comment that she's probably ordering a takeaway. The whole point of this video was that she's using her phone when on the treadmill."

Right, OK. So presumably some buff, toned gum bunny would have warranted the same treatment from you then, as it's "all about the phone usage?" You'd have posted a comment saying a slim, gym honed girl was probably ordering a takeaway, too? Doubt it.

If it's about the phone usage, why a comment about ordering a takeaway if it's nothing to do with her size?!
I think there's a saying here you need- "stop digging, love!"
Own the fact you were being nasty, bitchy, and body shaming, apologise and stop digging yourself into a great big hole.

Excuse the typos

I won't go to a gym because I'm painfully shy and the thought of others looking and judging me just like this woman has makes me feel ill. I'm not even particularly big, just wobbly

Whats so wrong with using your phone on a treadmill? Do the calories stop being burned as soon as the screen turns on?

I assume the gym will pull her membership. If not, shame on them too.

Whats so wrong with using your phone on a treadmill?

I find the inability of some people to ever put down their phones amusing - even just for 20 mins. Besides, is it not impossible to read your phone screen on the move???

The only people I judge at the gym or the pool or in classes are those who dick about, show off, are excessively loud, hog machines, don't wipe machines down, hog lanes in the pool. I don't give a fig what they look like.

Other people annoy me actually hence why I spend so much time running alone outside!

To anyone nervous of starting to get more fit I urge you to join a beginners running group. You won't find a nicer, more supportive crowd of people.