Getting Laughed At

I don't think I've had people laugh to my face, but I would not be surprised to know that a number did behind my back.  I started this year at 297lbs, and the idea of me competing in an endurance event was laughable even to me.  But as I started working out, and thought seriously about triathlons, it because less silly and more serious to me.

I can tell you one thing for sure though, nobody that actually does race, or is training to race will laugh at you. 

I'd just let your neighbor's laugh go.  Does it really matter what he thinks, when you have so much support here, and likely from your close friends and family?  I think the best thing about having neighbors, is you can always have people to think are idiots.

If you use it to go the extra mile or swim the extra lap, then good.
If you use it and the anger burns you up, then not good.

Hopefully you wont get to angry and you neighbors lack of support will only be a drop compared to the ocean of support you'll get here.

The next time he laughs, says something smug or whatever to you say "I'll see you at the start line".   AFAIC, until he signs up for a tri and starts training, you're ahead of him.   So let him laugh.  You'll be laughing at him when you cross the finish line while he's still at home.

Keep going, keep positive and have fun.  Especially when training.  We do train more than we race after all.

Hey

I guess when you look at it from his point of view you see.

50 year old guy,  6' 5'   256 pounds with a belly hiding under black UA clothes and the guy can't swim.

Still motivating for me!

Now I have a swimming lesson set up for Thursday PM.

I will win overcome the laugh thing & finish my race.

Kevin

Doesnt matter.  Who cares what shape your in or how old you are.  You're trying to better yourself with an obtainable goal.  And that s/b commended and supported.  His reaction was rude, not supportive. IMO, he laughed b/c you are doing something that he would never think of doing.  So he's making himself feel better about his own workout and lifestyle by putting yours down. 
Hopefully Karma will bite him in the @$$ someday when someone younger and in better shape will laugh at him when he tries something new and out of his comfort zone. 



Edited by ratherbesnowboarding 2009-07-08 2:33 PM

(missed the edit option by 2 minutes)

I just came across this quote from one of my teammates in the TdF challenge that uses it in their signature (thanks crews) and I think its fitting.

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people think you cannot do" ~ Walter Bagehot

Totally agree - rude.  People like that get off on making you feel small.

You can do this and you will.

So why was the neighbor at the pool? I think those that laugh only do so because they are so afraid that they will fail uin what you are detirmened to do. Getting laughed at is part of being an individual and not a human lemming.

I don't see the humor. Maybe he doesn't know what a triathlon is and was just laughing at himself for feeling dumb. That's about the only thing I can think of.

My neighbor is 53 and just told me that he's going to spend a month at Everest Base Camp this Fall. I was impressed and a little jealous, most of us see athletic endeavors in a different light than your average schlub.

I say "Screw them!"  It's so easy for people to judge and yet never try themselves.  I've done a couple of mini-tris but my first sprint isn't until next weekend.  I haven't told many people what I'm up to but I've noticed the odd look when I do mention it to people.  I'm 5'5" and 140pounds - Definitely not muscle bound but I don't think looking at me - it should come a such a shock.  Just think of how strong your heart is in comparison!!  Keep focussed and stay strong!

use it as motivation!

I was a competitive swimmer throughout my youth. Always the "fat kid". (but shockingly fast for the fat kid. ) I continued to swim into HS. My football coaches loved it, it was the best winter conditioning program ever! The swim coaches....well...even one of the coaches asked me if swimmming was still something I thought I should/could do at my size! at 6'2'' 270lbs I said hell ya and it motivated me every day that this Skinny, scrouny, no muscle speedo loving dweeb didn't think I should be swimming still! (I only harbor a little ill will towards him) LOL!

You are doing triathlons! those who laugh are weak and probably couldn't do what you are trainning to do. (no triathlete I know would put down another who is attempting our sport!)

Keep working!

Should of grabbed him, pounded and tenderized him just like you did to that delicious 22oz steak you ate the night before.

Odd he would laugh to your face.  Just forget it and swim on.

He apparently has inferiority issues of his own that are just not visible while he is clothed

Ok seriously some people have to make other people feel small so they can feel big just ignore him. I can only imagine how I look in spandex on a bike let alone in spandex jammers swimming.  The only difference is if I see some other big person I smile and encourage them.  At least they are doing something.  Keep up the good work and just smile and laugh with him, that negates his superiority.

I wouldn't worry about it. You just have to realize that some folks find the idea completely absurd. Have you ever looked at Maslow's order of needs?  I find folks who pursue goals to be of a higher order because they are seeking self-actualization. Likewise, I have a few neighbors who live what I consider to be very boring lives. Two just seem happy to have basic friends and don't care what they look like. They don't comprehend why I do the things I do. It doesn't make them bad people, we are all just different.  Just know there are lots of us who understand and respect what you are doing. 

We can never appeal to everyone.  It just isn't going to happen but no worries. 

The greatest revenge is to live well!  If this clown needs to run you down to feel like the big man then that's on him.  I'm another big man that swims at a pool that almost always has VERY competitive swimmers practicing.  You can tell that some of them are looking you up and down but when it comes down to it, the beauty of triathlon is that it's an individual sport and you're training for yourself!  Keep it up!

I agree 100%
Heck, I sometimes forget that there will be other people there and that they are actually competing. To me, this is all about finishing and the results we get in the process. 

gee... bit rough to laugh at you directly like that.. that would of upset me a bit I think.

I have had a few instances on the road from idiots  in cars buzzing pass you yelling out all sort of crap regarding my size.. and my father saying 'what ? you're too fat' when I told him I was attempting a tri.. these sorts of things really chip away at your confidence and make you really second think what you are doing.

a few months down the road, I have trained like hell and have lost some weight.. swim pretty ok and run 5k just fine (not fast) I now feel fitter and stronger than I ever have in my life.

The most important thing is to not stop.. just keep training, and keep dreaming. 

You should have asked what he thought was so funny? Then tell him to sign up for a tri.

We all have insecurities and we all question ourselves. I'm not in the best shape and just last week at a group OWS I began to question myself. No one would have known what was going through my mind, but when you see some really talented people you think to yourself how will I ever compete?

Rather than letting those negative thoughts consume me I just try to use them as motivation

And remember, just by entering the tri and training you have already achieved more than he has by just sitting on his couch.

Never had anyone laugh at me like that. But I did have a lady say " just think how fast you would be if you lost weight", "it's the beer that's keeping you fat".

I did not know this person, never seen her before.

My first impulse was one of anger or sarcasm...
But I agree with the with "good living is the best revenge"
(Although nothing wrong to offer to see him at the starting line...)

In reality, if you inspire an A-hole like that to try it, maybe he will learn a lesson in character.

It is good math. One less A-hole, one more person respecting the sport and its athletes.

Of course, what is possible versus probable are two different things.

It happens to me everytime i see my neighbor, our kids are best friends, when he sees me getting on my bike for a ride he yells over " will you give it up already " so he does get me motivated but in the beginning it did make me wonder if i was up for this. I weighed 266 at 6'1" and now i weigh 237 and working on it.  Eventually they all will say wow he really did it !! and he looks great so we keep plugging along. Let it motivate all of us and get us where we want to be !! Good Luck !! I am off to run and swim while my neighbor watches TV and eats Bon Bons !!!

If I yelled at an adult neighbor (or any adult) and my parents found out.  Oh damn would my be getting whipped.