Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Conversation with Coworker at the Gym last night...

Last night, 6:35pm, Philadelphia Sports Club

Her: Hey Kathryn, How's your regime going? Are you watching what you eat? I see you're working out.

Me: (...shocked pause)

Uh, I've been watching what I eat for a long time. This is quite thin for me.

Her: Oh, really?

Me: Uh, yeah. I'm kinda on the thin side for women in my family. I have been working out and eating healthy for most of my life.

Her: Is your family healthy?

Me: Yes.

Her: Oh, because my sister is your size and she doesn't exercise at all. She eats okay, but she doesn't exercise. But she's from German Peasant stock, I'm guessing you are too.

Me: Uh, yeah... I guess. Well, enjoy your workout.

Her: Okay. Good night.

I'm not certain that this transcript does the encounter justice... it felt more like this:

Her: Hey Kathryn, How's your regime going? Have you lost any weight yet? I haven't seen you in the gym in a week or more... Are you watching what you eat? I see you're not working out very much these days.

Me: (...shocked pause)

Uh, I've been watching what I eat for a long time. This is quite thin for me.

Her: Oh, really? I would never have guessed. Are you sure that you're really watching what you eat? I just moved here from Miami... maybe you should try the South Beach Diet? Or maybe Atkins? Anything, really, I can barely keep my breakfast from coming up... yeah, that's the last meal I ate. I try to only eat the number of calories that is equal to the amount of money I make in a day.

Me: Uh, yeah. I'm kinda on the thin side for women in my family. I have been working out and eating healthy for most of my life.

Her: Is your family healthy? Wow, if they're even bigger than you are they must be dropping like flies. You should start a family fat-camp. I would come and speak to them if you want me to. I'm very sensitive in these matters.

Me: Yes.

Her: Oh, they are healthy? You are lying. Because my sister is a big cow, like you, and she doesn't exercise at all. She eats like a pig and she doesn't exercise. I'm so embarrassed of her, that's why I've pretty much exiled her from my life. But she's from German Peasant stock, so she's lazy and stupid, and I'm guessing you are too.

Me: Uh, yeah... I guess. Well, enjoy your workout.

Her: Okay. Good night fatso. Try not to eat too much tonight.

4 comments:

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Unknown said...

Wow. I really wonder at people who ask other people about their weight. Who does that??? I have had so many people ask me if I were pregnant over the last couple of years (ouch!) and, after a while, I felt more like embarrassing them with something horrid instead of just saying "No, I've just gained some weight." *grr*

Suffice it to say that you are one of the most beautiful women that I know and an inspiration to me in healthy living and trying new ways of using bodies to express ourselves. You moved to Philadelphia and almost instantly had signed up for hikes and African dance classes and painfully early morning yoga classes. That is amazing to me.

One of my favorite CDs is The Story's "Angel in the House" and there is a song on there called Fatso that points out the insanity of spending your whole life pursuing thinness to the point of being sick about it and for all of the wrong reasons. The song is brilliantly sung in such a way that you can almost hear the songwriter experiencing each moment.

Lyrics: http://music.yahoo.com/The-Story/Fatso/lyrics/56472903

Music Preview: http://www.amazon.com/Angel-House-Story/dp/B000002HCQ/

Kathryn said...

Oh Kathy... you are the nicest person ever. Thanks for getting all indignant on my behalf.

You're the best!

We still need to make it to candlelight yoga one of these fine days.

And I've heard a rumor that there is a small chance that we might see each other in Mexico... where you can see me in all my glory - - on the beach!

Unknown said...

I know! How exciting to be lounging around on the beach and celebrating Ellie. Destination weddings are most fun when you have friends there. :)

I will be in touch to figure out a date we can have you over for dinner or to meet up in Philadelphia. Right now my shoulder isn't cooperating for candlelight yoga, but I'm not sure that you've been over to Trestlewood as yet and we haven't seen your new abode.