Years ago..my ex grandmother in law (who was really mean to me) bought me 2 pair of underwear for Christmas,,she's dead now. They looked really small so in front of everyone she held them up and said "yall think these will fit Karen? Yeah they'll fit,,see??" Then she stretched them beyond recognition to show everyone that my fat butt would fit those bloomers. Besides the fact she did this in front of 75 family members..some of my ex's cousins were kids my age that I went to school with. I was humiliated and it affected me for years. It probably wouldn't have bothered me so much now but back then I was so insecure and self consious about my weight..it was so embarrassing. I could see others were embarrassed for me and even commented to me about how bad they felt for me,,which made me feel worse. I just wanted it to be over and bury my head somewhere. I wanted to post this so I can get over it..anyone else have a really sucky moment?

I wanted to add that I've written an entire memoir about my issues with fat. It opens with my most embarrassing moment (at the time), which had to do with a moment of not fitting on a roller coaster.

If interested, you can read it here: http://lindasherwood...er/chapter-one/

It's an entire chapter, so it is much too long to post here.

I remember reading a bit about you and your dad from a post here. This time I bookmarked your blog. I read chapter one.

More please.

My worst was last summer when I was vacationing in Portland with my fiance. We were walking around the Pearl District and had been having a great time when some guys drove by in a truck and one pointed at me' date=' they drove by again and this time rolled down their window, shouted, "FAT BIT*H" and threw a candy bar at me and then sped away.

I was mortified and also so embarrassed that my fiance had to be there too. I guess I was afraid he would realize that I was fat all the sudden and leave. He didn't and actually threw a book at the truck for me. But still. Terrible.[/quote']

I feel for you so much! I have had people yell things at me out of car windows as well, and I just don't get what would make you want to hurt and humiliate some random person you have never met. I am only 27 but I have had enough of these types of experiences to last 2 lifetimes! I can't wait to get my sleeve so that I can get my life back!

Oh, forgot one. I had abdominal surgery a few years ago. Not laparoscopic kind, but the full on messy open abdominal type. It was only a few days after surgery and I was determined to get better fast so my daughter and I went on a slow walk. I weighed about 200 pounds at the time.

Well, I was walking along and tripped. You simply cannot catch yourself after surgery of that type so I just fell and HARD!

This man in a truck pulled forward to get a better look and just pointed and laughed. Usually I can just laugh these things off, but I had actually prided myself for getting up and walking a mile a few days after major surgery.

I still think had it have been him, he would have been in his bed on painkillers and whimpering. Stupid #$%@.

Reading several of these have triggered other memories for me. I remember me and a friend went to a club and I was wearing a white top with black polka dots. Some dude went "mooo" as I walked by. It hurt a little but my friend stated loudly that he must have a really small penis and that I could shake it off because he's just an ugly drunk stranger.

I am a nurse, I work full time at a clinic and I have worked part time at a nursing home since I was 17, Older people have no sensors and/or they think you can't hear them comment as you walk away-- obviously other patients and staff hear these comments as well.

here is a list of comments I have heard when I have been walking away from an elderly person. Sometimes I just giggle seriously. I have tough skin luckily, These are not people I love saying things to me-- that would be a different story.

"look at the size of her rear!"

"she's about as wide as she is tall!"

"her arms are twice the size of your leg!"

"these young girls let themselves get so fat!"

"tell the fat blonde nurse I need my medication!"

lol

OMG!!!! I would have kicked his ass and tossed his **** to the curb!!!! That is just freaking sick and he should be ashamed!!!! Jesus was watching as well!!!! Tell him I said he is a freaking looser!!!!

I did actually, but we ended up getting back together. He apologized and said he was just embarrassed and upset, but I know there was a lot of truth to it all.

Most humiliating fat moment for me: Last September, my Counseling Division at the community college where I work, was required to do Stryker Chair training. Stryker Chairs are the ones used in an emergency to get people down stairs. We all stood there listening to the trainers and then one person, whom I thought was a kind person prior to this, looked directly at me, then the trainer and said, "If someone is . . . too heavy, do we even have to try to take them down the stairs? I mean, let's just say for example, if Deann (that's me) is injured, how am I supposed to get her on the chair?" I has mortified -- I was standing there with my Boss and co-workers and I'm sure this person expressed the thoughts that others were thinking, but to be called out like that was simply humiliating. My reaction was, "I hereby absolve you all of the responsibility of taking me down the stairs."

This same thing happened to a dear friend of mine. She is just the sweetest lady I'll have the pleasure of knowing. She is very large however and one day during an emergency awareness powwow someone pointed her out and asked if they would have to carry her frame down the stairs or if there would be others who could assist. It was not said in a polite manner and was said in a way to absolutely humiliate her.

Some laughed, most didn't. It was appalling to me anyone would laugh at that. She was so mortified and cried about it for the rest of the day. I wished I could take her pain from her and take it for my own because I've grown enough to be able to handle situations such as that.

She did retort back and almost word for word what you said. I was at least glad she stuck up for herself.

I remember being at universal Orlando and the attendant had to almost sit on the safety bar so I could ride the hulk coaster. He asked if I was alright in it' date=' and of course I said yes even though it was so uncomfortable and in pain.

Childhood name calling stuck with me for years, like lard butt when I played baseball. Hoping I would not get picked last... in gym.

Or just this summer cracking a neighbors dining room side arm chair because I was too big... Even though it did look really narrow.[/quote']

I can definitely relate to this one with the Harry Potter ride. I tried out the tester seats in front of the ride, which happens to be in plain view of everyone in line already. I couldn't get the bar down far enough for the green light to clear me. I really did want to ride the ride, but I just said, "it is what it is". Well, two well-meaning teenage boys came over and decided to help, by giving me tips on how to suck in my gut, while they push down to clear it. Then, a mom with her 3 kids came over and she proceeds to help them push the bar down. There were people waiting to try out the seats and I was a spectacle. I know they meant well, but I was so over it. I just wanted to get up, but they were blocking me and I didn't want to be rude. Finally, a worker came over and told me to get in line, and sit in the outside seat, and I would be fine. So, yay, I did get to ride Harry Potter, but I made my first call to the bariatric surgeon as soon as I got back to Texas.

Something that I think is sad is that I read/see so much "just take it" from you guys. I've not read too many messages of standing up for yourself, or not allowing yourself to be the victim of the bully. I don't know if it's a case of being beaten into submission from a lifetime of the same type of comments/situations/etc... or if it's not feeling the self worth that you deserve to be treated better, or fear of confrontation or what. But it's something that I hope everyone posting to or passively reading this thread can overcome, and see in themselves that your fat does not define your worth as a person.

Everyone here is better than the sum of these insults and ridicules.

Yeah it was pretty bad! But I do love Portland and am even thinking about doing my Dental Schooling there.

Hello!!

I am from Portland (born and raised). So sorry to hear this happened to you!! I am bummed to hear this!! So sorry. In thirty years I have never experienced anything like this. Golly.

It is not fair! You don't get a chance to fight back or even see why someone said that.

Being sleeved is amazing for so many reasons, one of the main ones for me is that it really helped me realize that I am someone who deserves respect and shouldn't ever have to be treated like that.

I feel for you so much! I have had people yell things at me out of car windows as well, and I just don't get what would make you want to hurt and humiliate some random person you have never met. I am only 27 but I have had enough of these types of experiences to last 2 lifetimes! I can't wait to get my sleeve so that I can get my life back!

Something that I think is sad is that I read/see so much "just take it" from you guys. I've not read too many messages of standing up for yourself, or not allowing yourself to be the victim of the bully. I don't know if it's a case of being beaten into submission from a lifetime of the same type of comments/situations/etc... or if it's not feeling the self worth that you deserve to be treated better, or fear of confrontation or what. But it's something that I hope everyone posting to or passively reading this thread can overcome, and see in themselves that your fat does not define your worth as a person.

Everyone here is better than the sum of these insults and ridicules.

Oh, believe me my friend, if I could have gotten up off the pavement fast enough, I would have given him holy hell. Most of the time I am pretty good with a retort, but honestly, I didn't happen to me that often. I didn't grow up fat either. I was 100 pounds until I hit my early 30s. I was teased for being short and skinny as a kid. Weird huh?

Sometimes these embarrassing moments can hit us at our lowest times in our lives. A snappy retort is good, but for some of these unthinking people, a look of disgust intermingled with disbelief is also called for -- before you deck them that is

If it's a family member treating you thing way consistently they need to be told point blank that their behavior will not be tolerated. There was actually a lady on this board whose husband was taking cruel pot shots at her. I wanted to kick his ass for her, but she was so beaten down she could only cry about it.

These people can't really be happy people can they? I mean the rude people.

You are right. We are so much better than that. We also need to remember that as we lose our weight. Sit next to that overweight person on the bus, train or plane with a smile. If you actually get into a conversation about weight, tell them about what you've been through.

It just happened to me a few minutes ago. I work at a botanical garden and one very portly gardener said to me, "I noticed you lost weight. How did you do it?"

I told him.

It may have sounded nosy on his part, but he's one of the few at work who has bothered to notice out loud.

Something that I think is sad is that I read/see so much "just take it" from you guys. I've not read too many messages of standing up for yourself' date=' or not allowing yourself to be the victim of the bully. I don't know if it's a case of being beaten into submission from a lifetime of the same type of comments/situations/etc... or if it's not feeling the self worth that you deserve to be treated better, or fear of confrontation or what. But it's something that I hope everyone posting to or passively reading this thread can overcome, and see in themselves that your fat does not define your worth as a person.

Everyone here is better than the sum of these insults and ridicules.[/quote']

When my mom told me that drug companies wouldn't hire me because they don't hire fat people. I stood there a minute but I sure did come back with, " it's probably a good thing you work for your husband because companies don't hire b*****s." lol two wrongs don't make a right but it felt good.

Something that I think is sad is that I read/see so much "just take it" from you guys. I've not read too many messages of standing up for yourself, or not allowing yourself to be the victim of the bully. I don't know if it's a case of being beaten into submission from a lifetime of the same type of comments/situations/etc... or if it's not feeling the self worth that you deserve to be treated better, or fear of confrontation or what. But it's something that I hope everyone posting to or passively reading this thread can overcome, and see in themselves that your fat does not define your worth as a person.

Everyone here is better than the sum of these insults and ridicules.

I have alot of life trauma,,I won't get into that. I'm not sure if it's the reason I am what I am or whether it was the fact that my parents beat it into my head that i was to respect my elders. My incedent with the ex grandmother in law happened when I had just given birth to my first child and I was in my early 20's. That's an isolated incedent actually,,she ruined almost every Christmas for me during my marriage. I might mention,,she was only in her 50's so she wasn't an "old lady"..and she definitely knew better. But she was "my elder" and she was the queen of the family and everyone always took up for anything she said to anyone,,including my ex husband..and they would defend her by telling how sick and weak she was so no one should upset her. So I would always keep my mouth shut as to not stir up trouble in the family. Most of the time I would just leave so she got the idea, I think but it never stopped her. What I couldn't understand is why my ex wouldn't stand up for me. Anyway, I have grown a backbone since then. I try to stand up for myself but sometimes I can't think quick enough or I'm just too in shock from whatever was said to even speak. Alot of times, I just don't know what to say,,I usually get knocked down so it was better to just keep quiet. It happens to me alot. At a given time, I think what I'm saying is the right thing but sometimes people will put up a fight to prove me wrong and I just don't have the energy for that. I'm in therapy, I repress things and hold things in alot,,I'm also a laugh it off kind of person but behind closed doors,,it's a different story. I opened up here because I knew I could get real support and there were probably others that had some of the same experiences that I had.

It breaks my heart to read everyone's stories. I have a few similar ones to share.

I was in 6th or 7th grade and wearing an oversized sweatshirt that was white with reddish-brown spots. I had to talk to my math teacher so I went into his classroom while he was with a class of 8th graders. One of the older boys said mooo and that I looked like a cow. Mind you, I was 130lbs at this point. It's amazing that I remember every detail about that experience because it was 25 years ago. I guess some things just stick with you, especially at that age.

Fast forward to two summers ago. I was at a local fair and wanted to ride the scrambler with my then 5 year old son. I've never had problems on rides before (especially not the scrambler-types). It took all of my might to climb up into the seat and squeeze myself in. Once I did so, the safety bar wouldn't lock. The carnival guy came up and said, "No, it's not going to work for you." I felt so bad to have to tell my son that we couldn't ride the ride. And I was embarrassed because everyone on the ride and in line saw what had happened.

Last summer I was at an end of the school year pool party. It was a really hot day and I was chasing my 3 year old twins around and watching my older son swim. A few neighbors and I were talking and one neighbor (and fellow mom) said, "Oh, you went swimming?" And I said, "No." Her response..."That's impressive!" I was dumbfounded that she said that to me. I was totally drenched in sweat (even my hair was wet), but for her to say that that it was impressive? It really left me speechless.

So happy that I now have my sleeve. I'm already noticing that I don't get overheated and so sweaty outside anymore. I'm encouraged that all of us will have positive stories to share as we continue on our sleeve journeys!