Someone just congratulated me on my non existent pregnancy

[TerracottaTortoise]

God this is embarrassing. Just out for a walk (working up to couch to 5k following a severe depression that left me housebound for months and months) and a complete stranger got my attention, rubbed their belly and said "not long now" followed by a thumbs up and a rocking baby action.

I could have died on the spot.

I recently posted here about how self conscious I felt about exercising in public and was really trying to embrace the 'not giving a shit' attitude that everyone encouraged me to do.

I already feel disgusting but this has really cemented how gross I must be.

AIBU to be hurt and upset by this or am I really THAT overweight that I look like I could pop out a child imminently?!

It's the top you're wearing unfortunately. But that said, I would never publicly make such a comment.

Oh op! I think it's because you're not crazy overweight, but because of where it is situated that looks closer to pregnancy. I think it's a styling thing. I also had that mistake when I wore a flowy top once that went in at thr wrong angles! But it was more a knowing smile and getting offered a seat on public transport

Please keep going op!!

Just wear a different top.

It's not you

It's the top which hugs you in all the wrong places

Ye its the top and the fact your weight is around your belly area

Anyone who thinks that looks like an almost term baby is insane!

Anyone who stops a complete stranger in the street to congratulate them on their pregnancy is a bit weird.

It's not a flattering top but you don't look pregnant. Well done for getting out and starting to exercise. Please don't let this put you off.

You definitely do not look like you are about to pop out a baby! People are really fucking weird at times try not to let it get to you, i know it's hard!

Wtf. No you do not look ready to drop ffs. It looks like a tiny bit of bloat. I'd kill to look like you! I'd say that person has issues. And clearly no social awareness on appropriate conversation!

Was it a man or woman who said it?

According to the joys of the Internet women with a body like yours are supposed to wear Spanx when they leave the house (or is that just my misogynistic feed?)

I don't think you look 9 months pregnant but there's a lot of variation in bumps so I don't want any pregnant people to few bad reading my message

People are dicks. How early/late did you go out? Exercise is a great thing to do for your body and I hope that you will continue to go out despite this blip

I don’t think you look pregnant at all 🤷🏼‍♀️ I actually think you have quite a nice figure. Agree with PP that it’s not the most flattering top, but if you were exercising then I don’t see why that matters. Wonder what % of women on the planet have a flat stomach, I don’t think it would be very big.

It’s not you, it’s the outfit. It’s unflattering you your shape & highlights the tummy area. You would look perfectly slim in a different outfit!

I am slim but have bowel issues & often look exactly like your side profile when am bloated. I definitely look pregnant at times, depending on what am wearing.

What you have on I would absolutely still wear by the way! You could still wear this top differently & it could look completely different, depending how you style it.

It's the top making your belly look bigger in comparison to your frame which is not big.
Although I think they must have been trying to get in a dig because if I thought you were pregnant I'd think it was early stages with loads of time to go!

How about everyone stop shaming the OP for the top she chose to wear which is perfectly fine and thereby excusing the bar shit crazy STRANGER who thinks it’s appropriate to make comments about someone’s possible pregnancy?

Well done OP for getting out there after a difficult time. Please don’t dwell on this just crack on with your new regime! 💪🏻

You do not look pregnant!

I have the exact same stomach and I know how it feels. I try and dress a bit differently but it is exhausting worrying about it

A close friend of mine once sent me a peeved message, asking why I hadn't told her that I was pregnant. I replied that I wasn't, and asked why she thought I was. Turned out, I had been seen at a wedding by an acquaintance, wearing a tight dress. It had been quite a sizeable buffet! I was pretty slim, and certainly didn't look pregnant, so I just shrugged it off. Don't base your opinion of yourself on random idiots!

To the pp who asked, it was a man who said it - he was out with his dog.
I went out at 6am to try and avoid as many people as possible.
I know the top isn't great but it is comfortable and I can move in it well if that makes sense. And I was doing quite well at realising people weren't looking at me or caring what I looked like. Obviously some do.

There’s an influencer on Instagram who posts good outfits for covering bloat... something like the tummy diaries?

I don't know why people have told you it's your top. It's not your top! You don't look pregnant at all!

When I'm fit and back to my healthy weight, I look like that when I get period bloating. You really don't look that overweight.

I would wager that the person who said that to you, especially with the miming of holding a baby, was being deliberately rude. Why? Because some people's lives are so shit and unhappy, they feel the need to drag other people down with them.

Pay it no mind (as much as you can) and focus on your happiness 😊 wear what the fuck you like, have whatever body shape you like and don't allow yourself to be pressured.

Ah that must have been mortifying, but don't let it put you off! Before i lost my 'mum tum' I just wore really baggy clothes to run which helped me not be self conscious. Please don't feel disgusting, that stranger sounds a bit deranged to be honest!

You look fantastic op and this happened to me when I worked in the opticians I had a cream top on I wasn’t fat just postured myself wrong( I was trying for a baby too at that point for 2 yeas) I was so upset the woman said when is your baby due!!!

Op please don’t think it’s because you look fat people would I kill for your figure xxx

@Scruffyoak

You do not look pregnant!

I have the exact same stomach and I know how it feels. I try and dress a bit differently but it is exhausting worrying about it

Me too, and I am very self conscious about it. I'm generally very slim but when I gain weight its around my middle and I find it difficult to disguise but I try to remember that its more of a problem for me than anyone else.

Just out for a walk (working up to couch to 5k following a severe depression that left me housebound for months and months)

Well done OP I know it can be very difficult to start, but I find walking great for my mental as well as physical health. Good luck on your new health journey and don't let one idiot put you off.

@Babs709 yes I love thetummydiaries! Just bought a skirt she recommended.

OP the man was being a douche! Saying that I am size 10/12 and in the past year have had 3 separate occasions of people giving me a seat on the tube because they thought I was pregnant. Bloat will do that to you :/

FWIW I think the top is fine but am thinking a higher rise pair of trousers would have perhaps hidden that tiny tummy better. Nothing to care or bother about though and I bet that man had a beer gut!

[quote Juno231]@Babs709 yes I love thetummydiaries! Just bought a skirt she recommended.

OP the man was being a douche! Saying that I am size 10/12 and in the past year have had 3 separate occasions of people giving me a seat on the tube because they thought I was pregnant. Bloat will do that to you :/

FWIW I think the top is fine but am thinking a higher rise pair of trousers would have perhaps hidden that tiny tummy better. Nothing to care or bother about though and I bet that man had a beer gut![/quote]
Embarrassingly I'm already in workout leggings that cover my whole belly and suck it in quite significantly, and I still got that comment 🤦🏼‍♀️

He was being a bellend. I'd just smile and say thanks, because then he'll think that you are actually pregnant and won't get the satisfaction.

I think that that person was actually being facetious and thought that they'd pretend they thought you're pregnant for their amusement, ie they were being a total twat. (A man once asked my 3 year old DS if he was going for "a nice walk in the park with your nan". I was 39 when I had him so not a young mum, but I certainly didn't look like an archetypal grandmother!)

I do think there a number of people who will do this deliberately, as well as those who are socially clumsy and "put their foot in it". You don't look nine months pregnant, you just look as though you're carrying some excess weight on your abdomen and your top is quite clingy, so accentuates it.

Don't let this thoughtless person get to you, they aren't worth the headspace. Focus on your goals and enjoying the fresh air and exercise. Don't let one idiot spoil things for you