Everyone just hates fat people

[mamabeeboo]

Yes I'm fat and yes I'm taking the WLI.

I've had it out with a friend of a friend during a catch up dinner yesterday and I'm fuming.

I've lost some weight and still have a good 5 or so stone more to go before I'm anywhere near the 'normal' BMI category. So no, I'm not wasting away or disappearing, or losing weight too fast.

The mistake I made was being honest about the jabs. But I stand by it, I think it's important to get healthy, regardless of how you do it, just get there.

ANYWAY, this person has suddenly decided to feel concerned for my health, now that the loss has become noticeable. With some silent nods from others about how you should 'just eat less and move more'. No shit is that what was supposed to do?!

A big discussion about:
just have willpower
just have smaller portions
do it the normal way, you don't know what you're putting into your body
it's not healthy
just put down the fork
it's about dicipline
it's not really losing weight though, is it (huhh??)
it's more rewarding to do it the normal way so you can feel achievement

It's gotten me thinking of how so many people just hate fat people. You want us to pay for being fat, to suffer at the gym doing workouts we don't like or can't do with joint pain and back pain etc. You want us to 'just have willpower' like it's that easy. You want us to try all the diets and fail so you can feel superior with your 'discipline' and that you 'look after your body'.

You hate the fact that these WLI have levelled the playing field.

I said all this yesterday and it became very frosty. These aren't my friends, I was there for the birthday girl, but I won't sit there and take it.

I'm posting because I'd love to hear what you might have heard when talking about WLI. (Or if anyone agrees with the above 🤔)

I’m not trying to be a dick, but how has it levelled the playing field?

Isn’t it just an extra help for those who don’t have the “willpower and discipline” in your words?

@Menopants We have more to add but unfortunately we have run out of space. My favourite one was ‘I know someone who got track marks’

I agree, and yet many people do not earn their slim bodies, they have them through the lottery of genetics and environment. They do not consciously make 100 decisions a day because they are not being pulled in 100 different directions every day. They eat, they stop. they make good and bad choices and most of the time it has little effect on them. Their bodies are efficient at managing their food intake. There is no magic, their bodies work differently, therefore their brains work differently.

I think one point that’s being missed here is that the majority of women aren’t 100% happy with their appearance, regardless of size. We all see images implying that we’re expected to be a size 6/8, with big perky boobs, a full pout, gleaming teeth, and glossy hair. Women who are a size 12 may have a daily struggle with their weight/willpower too. They know that they don’t have the connections that Hollywood stars do, not do they qualify to medically get their hands on WLIs. So perhaps they feel like it’s not fair that they can’t get WLIs too…to help them beat their willpower and get down to that elusive 6/8 dress size.

@eqpi4t2hbsnktd So because you struggle, you want other people to struggle? And you feel it is unfair that they don't have your struggle? I mean, you're totally disregarding the fact that people using WLI are obese, or overweight with weight related health problems and you are not. So you are already in a better position if we are comparing! And you don't have the risks of taking a prescription medication to lose or maintain your weight. So another plus point for you. So what exactly are other people cheating at, or cheating you out of by using WLI? Don't forget, that if you ever get to a position of being obese then you too can access these medications, should you need them.

To be honest, I have much more respect for someone who has worked hard for their body over taking some weight loss jab to suppress hunger to be skinnier.

The difference that separates a lot of fat people from those who are fit is usually discipline, willpower and the dedication/education to actually look after their one body.

Gym/working out and learning about proper nutrition is rarely easy but that's not an excuse. There's more to getting healthy than looking slimmer, it's about developing endurance, will power, stamina, real achievements, producing happy hormones, increasing muscle mass...all of which a jab cannot do.

So sorry but the playing field isn't levelled at all and you're being delusional if you think it is. Someone who injects themselves to reduce hunger to lose weight is not on the same level as someone who truly worked hard to get fit and eat well.

Very true! And this is why it's so satisfying to challenge these ideas, make it clear that you don't think there's any more or less value to being thin through effort. That soon enough society will see both as the same.

I'm trying WLI, it's not a magic injection to help you lose weight. I still need to eat healthy, exercise on them or they won't work,or ill lose muscle mass. I've gone on them after years of diet and exercise not working for me.
Slimming world, intermediate fasting, weight loss shakes ect. I'm an active person, exercise daily, don't drink, smoke ect and try to eat healthy.
Yet I still developed type 2 diabetes, thyroid issues, high blood pressure ect.

I don't see it as cheating, I look upon it as a helping hand to help my hormones, insulin work with my efforts, instead of fighting against me.

Very helpful of @UnwantedOpinionBelow to provide an excellent example of the moral judgement assigned to the size of people’s bodies that I mentioned in my post above.

I’m still unclear what happens when you stop taking wli. How do the hormones and blood sugar issues you mention balance then?
Despite your snarky comment I’m still not clear how anyone taking wli doesn’t revert at the end to how they were at the start? I’m sure there is an answer else they’d be no point taking them?

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope that you are recovering. I read that there is ongoing research into using WLI to help those with cancer recover, via reducing inflammation as well as lowering weight.

I could be wrong but I think you are then on a lower maintenance dose to just remain where you are weight wise. I don’t think you just stop.

I have a friend taking them and the weight isn't falling off but coming off slowly. They are moving into the overweight category now and I am so pleased for them. Having seen the journey they have taken with NHS support. They have tried so many different weight loss clubs. Weight watchers, slimming world, NHS dieticians, free gym passes but this is finally working.

They have such an emotional attachment and food noise is a big issue. This has helped significantly. It hasn't gone completely but it's made a huge change. I'm relieved as I have worried for her health and supported her when I can.

If someone is saying the move more, eat less maybe they are ignorant to the struggles you have gone through? It's hard for some people to understand. I must admit I didn't know everyone didn't get food noise (I do but not as extreme). I hope your weight loss journey continues to go well and you have good support around you.

Just to warn anyone else posting in good faith that this thread is in Active and the AIBU crowd will likely arrive shortly...

@Zebedee999 don't you think it's better to get to a healthy weight and try to maintain, than to remain obese? Would you rather people just stay fat? The reason people use WLI injections is very often because they are stuck in a yo-yo cycle of diet/regain using traditional dieting methods.

I've been losing weight for 10 months now, the longest period I have ever sustained a calorie deficit. I am fitter and healthier than I have been in more than a decade. I am exercising regularly, more active in general, sleep better, eating healthily and I know that I need to avoid regain. Don't you see that as a better outcome than another diet that I've tried and failed at?

Sadly for you, those who are thin because of WLIs are going to be seen as exactly the same as those who are thin because of working hard. The average person on the street won't pay enough attention to differentiate.

I think we may see more body building as a response to this from those who want to try and separate themselves, but you'll have to do a lot more than simply be fit in order to fit into that category. It'll probably also be both physically and socially complex for women than for men, given the longstanding social narratives around who should take up more physical space.

I think the NHS should prescribe them much more freely. Obesity costs a fortune, T2 diabetes, joint replacements, heart problems, cancers…we should be using any and all help available to get us as a nation a bit slimmer and healthier! Good luck to you OP.

“Everyone”

🙄

I am either intrigued if really overweight (I wonder how much you eat / little you move)
But other than that…. Utterly indifferent

I am very pleased about the weight loss drugs…. Less pressure on the NHS

The thing that concerns me about the drug is what happens when the goal weight is reached- can the person sustain it without the drugs? It is so common for successful dieters to put the weight back on after doing it the ‘hard way’ .

The thing that concerns me about the drug is what happens when the goal weight is reached- can the person sustain it without the drugs? It is so common for successful dieters to put the weight back on after doing it the ‘hard way’ .

In response to whoever quoted me saying I am a good example of judging bodies: there's a science behind why people may judge bodies...being obese and carrying a lot of fat has been proven to be unhealthy and is in most people's control.

The majority of people find health attractive. Sorry to disappoint.

It mystifies me that everyone thinks we haven’t tried all the fucking diets and found them miserable and soul destroying and ultimately unmaintainable. It’s not an easy choice, no one thinks it’s a quick fix and most of us are going to do our damn hardest to keep the weight off once we get to where we want to be. Whether through maintenance doses or fasting or having utterly overhauled our diets and relationship with food in the process. The WLI mean you have the headspace to do this btw, one of the benefits of them switching off the food noise. Why for the love of god would you want someone to be obese and suffering all the additional problems that can bring when they could be able to move freely again and exercise more and feel more in control. It’s not costing them a fortune! Ugggghhhhhhh.

Which is exactly what most people do on the jab anyway- it doesn’t melt the pounds away lol

How about this?? I seem to be the only person in the world that is taking WLI and it isn't helping me lose weight at all. I am terribly embarrassed.

I’m taking the injections and am not remotely bothered about judgement. Slim people hate me for being fat, and now they apparently hate me for trying not to be, so it’s all the same to me. At least this way I’ll get to wear nicer clothes.