does having overweight friends hurt you?

Why would you be friends with a fat person? Gross.

Seriously though, the shit is going to hit the fan in the next 5 years when fat people become the new lepers due to healthcare, studies like the one quoted above, airplane seating issues, you-name-it.

Fat is the new Leprosy!

You sound like a terrible person, and I mean that in the meanest way possible.

You are going to end a 3 friendships because you think these people are going to make you fat? That is honestly one of the worst things I've ever heard.

He gave you the flu because he's fat?? You're a dumbass! shit!

If his 'friends' don't understand how important running and fitness are to him they are not exactly being good friends to him. The old saying misery loves company applies here, the fat friends want the OP to be like them and he doesn't want that.

I've had and still have friends who were/are overweight the ones who are really my friends don't try to sabatoge me or my training b/c they know how important it is to me. The ones who say things like 'you should gain some weight' aren't really my friends and I only associate with them when I absolutely have to.

First, look up "causation" in a dictionary. Second, look up "correlation" in a dictionary. Third, compare the definitions to see if they mean the same thing.

First of all, I'm a woman. Second of all, yes, I'm thinking of ending three friendships because they always tell me that I'm too obsessed with running, running is a bad thing, why worry about a little weight?, etc. And they were aggravated when I asked them as kindly as possible, after thinking long and hard about how to ask, if they would please warn me when someone is sick. They are fat IN PART because they don't care if they get sick, just a small piece of the puzzle but still part of it. They are sick like three times a year, which I've managed to avoid because I practice HEALTHY habits, like eating well, getting plenty of sleep and exercising. I haven't been really sick in more than 10 years because I am healthy. And yes, they do start to seep into your brain. Like I only cook healthy desserts, have for my entire marriage of 6 years, but they cook cream and butter filled horror stories that taste really good. So I've started cooking some of those because they taste better and guess what? Gained 2 pounds, which they think is crazy that I would care but I have always cared, which is how I didn't gain the 60-100 that they have gained. These were friends from my childhood and we have all changed. I don't think it's mean at all--it's mean that the statistics PROVE that fat friends make you fat. And I think there is good reason behind those statistics. It is inconsiderate that they don't understand that I don't want to stay awake until 2 a.m. and "just live" with not getting enough sleep because that makes me not want to train. It is inconsiderate that they try to make me drink when I don't drink!! It is inconsiderate that they smoke near me and I want to protect my lungs. When my mean self is growing healthy into my old age and they are languishing with heart disease for 30+ years wondering what happened, then we will see who was right!!!!!!!!

You need a priest and a psychiatrist. I can't believe you said this:

Do you realize how you sound?

I feel like I get sick because of my healthy lifestyle. If I sat around all day in a warm house, I doubt I'd ever get sick.

I get sick about 3 times a year too, but I blame it on running in the rain after lifting at the YMCA (germ central), wrestling with sweaty buddies, stuff like that. I eat a healthy diet for the most part, I don't even like greasy food.

not a good friend wrote:

It is inconsiderate that they smoke near me and I want to protect my lungs.

That's the only thing you've said that actually makes sense. For the rest, you are really complaining about your own lack of willpower, which is your problem, not your friends'.

FAT GIRLS AREN"T REAL PEOPLE.

Seriously though, I have pretty much ditched any friend, pretty hot girlfriend included, that did not support or at the very least understand my running.

I've had skinny friends that were a serious cancer to my running. Not really close to any fatties.

It just comes down to whether or not they are a real friends and support what makes you happy

not a good friend wrote:

I don't think it's mean at all--it's mean that the statistics PROVE that fat friends make you fat.

Critical thinking fail.

It's true that being around people who make unhealthy choices will lead to some peer pressure to behave in the same way. However, peer pressure isn't something that you have to follow. Your friends didn't twist your arm into cooking unhealthy desserts. Your friends don't force you to stay awake until 2 am. Your friends don't force you to drink. "No" is not a bad word.

It's a sad person who has to avoid everyone who isn't like her because she can't set boundaries unless every temptation is removed from her bubble.

yetanotherchick wrote:

not a good friend wrote:

I don't think it's mean at all--it's mean that the statistics PROVE that fat friends make you fat.

Critical thinking fail.

It's true that being around people who make unhealthy choices will lead to some peer pressure to behave in the same way. However, peer pressure isn't something that you have to follow. Your friends didn't twist your arm into cooking unhealthy desserts. Your friends don't force you to stay awake until 2 am. Your friends don't force you to drink. "No" is not a bad word.

It's a sad person who has to avoid everyone who isn't like her because she can't set boundaries unless every temptation is removed from her bubble.

It is also a sign of wisdom to recognize your limitations/weaknesses and take them into account in making decisions.

I don't mean to hiajack this thread but can someone predict my 10k time?

I did 5x800 averaging 2:21. The rest was 3 minutes between reps.

here for 1 thing only wrote:

I don't mean to hiajack this thread but can someone predict my 10k time?

I did 5x800 averaging 2:21. The rest was 3 minutes between reps.

33:00

This is my point. I cooked the unhealthy desserts to please my husband, who likes tasting them at my friends house. I do realize that I could have better boundaries and this would not affect me. But the fact that such a high percentage of people gain weight when they have overweight friends kind of proves that I'm not alone, I believe. I tried at first to convince them to try running or any form of exercise with me. This did not work. And this is a very subtle influence, but real nonetheless. I go to their house for parties and there is NOTHING to eat but fat-laden spinach cheese dip and chips. I bring healthy appetizers/meals and people just aren't into it. My husband agrees that having friends that aren't into running, as we are, probably isn't a great thing. This is a sad situation because I really like these people otherwise, but just feel that for whatever reason I am not strong enough to stay around them and stay myself. In fairness to them, I have also been injured for longer than usual, and that hasn't helped, but normally I would still manage to maintain through a combination of cross-training and healthy diet. I have still maintained mostly but just feel like in the end I will gain even more weight because they just say things literally like "who cares if you become a little chubby? What's the big deal??" Bottom line is that one of them smokes, they all drink, they eat terrible food, and they haven't moved in anything remotely resembling exercising in many years--nor do they want to. I attended a big party over several days where they had literally I don't even know--maybe 50 bags of candy & chips for their kids, who are also really obese. I just think that it is disgusting and honestly even though they are nice people, I just think that sometimes you can be so different from someone that you need to go your separate ways.

Do you feel better rationalizing this? Write wall after wall of text so you can feel better about yourself. These girls deserve a better friend than you.

I'm guessing you might be fat.

not a good friend wrote:

I'm guessing you might be fat.

4/10 It was a good troll until this post when you broke character.

Ok. No, you are not crazy for thinking about this, first of all. No, it does not make you a terrible person, second.

When I started training at the post-collegiate level, I began to realize that my lifestyle was not lining up with my training. Most of my friends at the time were people that I would go out late with 2 or 3 times a week, or that I would always get together with during the day at a pub or wine bar.

I had a really hard time saying no to being out with my friends, because we were all very close, and being out at the pubs, clubs, and bars all the time was the way we had all met and thus continued to hang out. Unfortunately, as I transitioned to more serious running, I began to show up to workouts off of 3 hours of sleep, hungover, and was of course about 10 lbs over my race weight all the time.

Finally, I began saying YES to prioritizing my training. I did little more than swear off booze for all but one night of the week, and stuck to my guns, telling my friends that I had to start taking advantage of the running opportunities I had while I still could. They understood, but inevitably, I lost some of my best friends because our schedules and lifestyles were so divergent. I mean, they would text me at 11pm the night before a workout telling me to meet up downtown, and I had the choice to either suit up, or reply "wish I could, got a 6am run though". Eventually about half of my crew stopped inviting me out, and the rest I have to make an intentional effort to see on that one night of the week I go out.

That's how it goes though. A tiny fraction of the population has competitive aspirations and opportunities in athletics...and only some of them make an impact in the world of sport. If you want to do that, you need to make the sacrifices very few people will. Don't shun your friends. If they really care about you, they will support you, and will respond when you try to spend time with them, even if it is much less frequently. The other will fall by the wayside, but it's your choice to make. There's nothing wrong with living it up in your 20's, with your friends, but it just doesn't mix very well with serious fitness and training, especially in the running world.