Fat people can only exercise naked !

rockgran. - I totally agree: loose clothing, good sports bra and a comfy pair of trainers!

Sorry, this is just my personal opinion but this recent spate of adverts showing grossly overweight young women shaking their bits around in swimwear makes me cringe.

It was especially awful when this advert followed an appeal showing starving children in Yemen.

Of course if they are going to exercise that is A Good Thing
they do need appropriate clothing

About 20 years ago I was referred to the gym by my doctor because of high blood pressure and reluctantly decided to go. It was paid for by the NHS so cost wasn't putting me off - it was the thought of all the 'lycra lovelies' I expected to be there. In fact in the day time sessions there were lots of older people as well as people my own age, many like me referred by their GP. None of us wore skin tight exercise gear. I went in leggings and a baggy polo shirt - comfortable and loose enough to keep cool. I did get fitter and my blood pressure dropped but I lost no weight at all despite attending regularly and gradually increasing the amount of exercise I did. My personal trainer's comment - "Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad!" Exercising made me hungry so I guess that's why I didn't lose any weight.

I've now lost about 3 stones, partly as a result in a change to my medication meaning I don't retain as much fluid. Once the fluid retention was reduced ordinary movement became less painful and I'm now much more active. Swollen legs and ankles encourage a couch potato lifestyle as even walking can be painful especially in hot weather. My kids bought me a fitbit which has helped too as I gave up the gym when I started working again.

Personally I don't think skin tight sportswear is suitable for larger women. It isn't flattering, and comfortable loose casual clothing is perfectly suitable.

I do think there is way too much fat shaming though. I've always struggled with my weight and still could do with losing quite a few stones more, but my priority is staying reasonably active and eating healthily. I'm due to retire next year and perhaps will have time to get a bit more exercise although since getting the fitbit my daily steps have approximately tripled from what they were.

I no longer leave things on the stairs to take up when I have to go and can't avoid it. Now I take things up and see it as a positive reason to move. I walk to places where I used to drive, and when I drive I park further away from my destination to get a short walk in. I think weight is far less important than fitness and activity level.

It's high time we stopped assuming that everyone who is overweight is a lazy glutton who ate all the pies and accept that we are all different. Some of us have medical conditions that make weight loss more difficult and we need to support each other not be so quick to criticise.

The mannequin pictured is hardly obese

Sorry but I have to disagree - there's out-of-shape and there's obese - and she looks obese to me..

I do not accept the so-called "Hate Speech" should be legislation. I can distinguish between people who are different for whatever characteristic. This is not unlawful. If I make a chair from thin wood knowing it will break if a person of a particular weight it is not unlawful for me to distinguish said person cannot be allowed to sit on it. I can say: "Your too fat you will break it". Nike have simply identified (distinguished) large people from less big people.
Is it right I should be squashed up by a very large person, during a long flight? what about my comfort?

Minorities again.

Are you a majority?

Yes indeed. I'm one of the majority who wouldn't want to be squashed up against a much larger person on a flight or coach/bus. Someone whose body overflowed onto my seat and took over the armrest.
I stand corrected if I'm wrong and you can show that the majority of 'flyers' actually don't mind and never complain about sharing their paid-for seat, either on bus, coach or aircraft, with half of someone else.
From my own experience and that of others writing in the comments section of online news articles, my initial assertion is correct.

Firstly, is obesity the last bastion of discrimination. If its not ok to make derogatory comments about culture, colour, race or sexuality is it ok to be abusive about weight?

Not quite, there's a lot of bigotry directed at the Rainbow community but as a fat woman I certainly get a lot directed at me. Mainly for the assumption I must sit watching TV and eating cream cakes and pies!!

These days I don't even bother to argue but in the old days I may have pointed out I don't have a TV, am gluten free (therefore cake and pie free too) and a gym member. But then I realised I don't need to justify myself to morons.

And secondly, if exercise is good for you , doesn't it make sense that larger people have access to the appropriate clothing to do their exercise in?

When I wrote my first book in 1998 about health at any size and staying healthy (which, incidentally has nothing to do with being a size 12) I put forward this idea to several leisure-wear manufacturers. You should have heard their reactions - from hysterical laughter to repulsion.
Not one was positive.
Hence they lost out on many thousands of dollars worth of business.

On the day the trainer comes she starts off her day by putting her Lycra on. She says it puts her in the frame of mind.

Petra that is so true - I used to walk in old grey joggers and a t-shirt but would never do that now as the feeling of 'zest' hits as soon as I get into my expensive colourful gear and bouncy Skechers. I'm convinced it makes me walk further!

I think the adverts glorifying being obese as wrong, as I would clothing for those suffering with anorexia. There is nothing attractive in it, it's a medical problem. I don't want half a seat on a bus, train or plane, who would. I have Arthritus in my spine, to sit for hours with someone half sitting on me, is agony. People don't get to double their size if they don't eat too much, it's not possible.

So what? How unbelievably rude. I expect they are poor people who are well known for their desire to eat fast food and can't be bothered to cook.

So , the conversation moves to having half a seat on a train or plane or bus...so logically thinking then is it not the best idea that people who are overweight are encouraged to become more healthy and by default if having clothing that makes them feel inclusive when exercising not a good thing?

@anja I too cringe at that advert and will probably be flamed for it.

However I think there's a subtle difference between Nike advertising appropriate clothing for exercise and the ad I'm thinking about (a Simply Be one I think, with various women jumping around in swimming outfits)?

Nike ad showing clearly obese woman- encouraging women to exercise (good!)
Simply Be ad - normalising obesity (not good).

Why do you cringe?

It’s funny isn’t it that as we become more inclusive as a society and regularly see people with disabilities on television and the media how we don’t ‘cringe’ at them ?

It wasn’t a million years ago that children with Downs Syndrome for instance were expected to amount to nothing and in some cases were hidden away .

Is obesity the new ‘cringe worthy’ thing? Should fat people be hidden away?

I’m not sure I agree that the Simply Be advert is normalising obesity or glorifying obesity. Fat people need clothes too ! It just seems to me to be saying even fat people want swimsuits and sundresses and beach wear so we cater for them as well . I think it bears thought that people who take larger size clothes have a VERY limited choice of shops in which to buy clothes.

It’s all very well saying obesity is bad and slimness is good but you can’t go from one to the other without time passing , it’s not an overnight fix , so what do you wear in the meantime to help you get from a to b ?

Personally, I believe it's about self esteem and how women feel about their bodies.
I wouldn't want to be seen in an outfit like the one Nike is promoting and if that was my only choice, I wouldn't go to the gym at all. It's a lovely look for those who have flat tummy's and perfect dress sizes. When I exercise I wear clothes that are comfortable AND flattering.