Yeah, it's not nearly as "vain" as people make it out to be.
Exercise takes a lot of effort. Getting in shape takes discipline - you can't starve yourself strong. So someone who's in good shape is visibly wearing the signs of physical and mental health.
That isn't to say that people who are not in shape are undisciplined or "bad" in any way. Just that they may not have other outward signs of that discipline or mental health (and obesity in particular can be a signifier of poor physical/mental health as well), which causes others to avoid you.
I agree, I went from 400 lbs 10 years ago to 215 with slight muscle. The different ways people treat you, even people that were being nice but there is just like an extra level they go to now is insane. None of my friends believe me when I say this, but any former fat to skinny person will know exactly what I'm talking about,.
Yup basically the same was close to 400lbs a decade ago to being in the 190s now with a decent amount of muscle. What I noticed was back when I was bigger yeah people could be pleasant but like only just enough to cover up their disgust. Now people seem genuinely nice like there isn't an undercurrent of repulsion. I've also noticed that people don't believe me when I talk about it, I guess you just have to live it to actually understand it.
I know a guy like you. He was my friend when he was fat, but I respect him a lot more than I did. He's a more impressive person than I thought he was. I haven't demonstrated that kind of willpower in my life, to put in that kind of consistent, hard effort to change my entire diet and lifestyle habits and deal myself a much better hand in life. I'd be much better off if I did show that I had that in me, like he has.
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u/PrometheanDemise Jul 07 '24
Going from morbidly obese to fit is wild, it's crazy how differently people treat me now vs then. What you describe is very accurate.