My guess is that the younger a woman is, the more likely she is being judged harshly for her appearance or treated as if her appearance is the only thing she has to offer the world. At 20, most of us have no career, no property, no husband, no children, no published work, no nothin' except maybe some outstanding…

If the number of +1s on his comments didn't convince you, I'm not sure that anything I can say will, but here's a shot:

This is the key that I think all of these arguments are stopping short of saying. It's patronising because it assumes too much about a person's lifestyle or level of experience with exercise. No one said "good for you!" to my mum when she tried yoga for the first time because she's already thin, so they assumed she…

"I don't understand why I have to think different since my intentions were to be helpful, but I will just keep it to myself." Did you pull that from a "Privileged Peoples' Handbook". LOL! Look I get it, you have hardships in your life, we all do. But people who experience what you did are telling you it's…

Of course you can. And you can ignore the comments of everyone else who has concurred. And those have far outnumbered those who have agreed with you. But, whatever. Do what you have to do to feel like you "won" the discussion.

that's not how it works and I would hope that you do know that but are being intentionally dense right now. "Some fat people" out for a jog aren't seeking your support. They're just out running. Your intent in the case described initially was, by your own admission, "I'm going to encourage this stranger because they…

let's just say "yes," because clearly you have issues understanding intent and context.

She's the type that tells black people they're "so articulate" when they speak a sentence with correct grammar. Then she goes back to her all-white, liberal suburb and posts about how enlightened she is on Facebook.

No seriously, please, as a fat person who is far to embarrassed to exercise in public, I beg you please, just ignore us. Like don't accidentally run us off the road or anything, but if that happened to me it would have only made me feel more embarrassed. I'm begging you. That guy probably didn't want know, FOR SURE,…

Also! In addition to my last post:

When I first started water aerobics, a woman who I'm sure was commending me told me I was courageous for wearing a bathing suit. I literally had to slow blink. She told me I was courageous for wearing a bathing suit. A. THE. POOL.

Please read my reply again. Let it sink in.

THANK YOU.

No, you don't get it. In "encouraging the fatty who is doing such a good job," you are being super condescending, though you think you are being helpful. You're demonstrating a "look at the zoo animal" mentality. People just want to exercise in peace, to not attract any attention. Fat people want to go to the gym…

How delightfully patronizing of you.

I woke up one morning and decided I wanted to get a Ph.D. in math. Why doesn't everyone?

Because, for most women, even those who have a serious commitment to fitness, this body IS unobtainable. Nor is yours. Not everyone can go to the Olympics, no matter how hard they try.

The word for a GREAT body that falls slightly short of a Victoria Secret runway model is "normal"? Okay then.

Wait, I'm confused. This fit form is a "normal body?" I would kill to have a "normal body" like this. On the other hand, I am far too lazy to do the kind of work she clearly does to have it. Also, I am middle aged. Which I think makes my flabby middle aged body "normal." Or, at least, average.

I have but one star to share, but you deserve all of them and more.