Oh, this strikes a chord! I've never been the slimmest person. I only have to look at a bag of donuts and the pounds pile on! But like you, shortly after I took up dancing to help me get over my loss last year, one of the blokes there told me I should just eat vegetables and fruit and nothing else! I didn't go back for a week as result, I felt so humiliated! Then I thought, why should I stay away because of him? So I went back. Now, despite the weight, I have passed several dance tests with honours and am very pleased with my achievements! One of the ladies I have become friends with there nicknamed him 'lettuce leaf' after I told her about what happened. Now I just avoid him! And despite the weight, I still dance better than he does as well!
I know I should lose weight and I do try, but have a sit-down job, which doesn't help. I have changed shape a little due to the dancing and am sure some of the weight now is due to an increase in muscle development too, but I still look like'Ten-Ton- Tessie' in photos, so I will have to start working on this harder too, As you say, you worry more about your health when you are on your own. I am trying to avoid cakes in the run up to Christmas, so that 'i can enjoy some Christmas cake over the festive season, not that I am feeling particularly festive. It will only be the second on my own, but mum always loved my Christmas cake too, so I want to make one, partly in memory of her. I made her my Christmas cake for her birthday a couple of weeks before she fell ill with her last illness and am so glad I did as she didn't make it to Christmas.
Anyway, I suppose I'm trying to point out that people do say hurtful thoughtless things, but as a lady just on the wrong side of my mid-fifties, I consider myself to be just at the start of a new phase in my life, sadly without my lovely mum now, but still doing things she would have enjoyed and for the first time in my life without the responsibility of looking after anyone else but me, which, although I also find my weight concerning in terms of my health, especially as I am on my own, I also feel I have a lot to look forward to and enjoy and I intend to do just that for as long as I can. Life isn't over for you when you're only in your fifties or sixties or more, come to that! We have a lovely chap who is still regularly coming to dancing at 98! So you should never give up! And pay no heed to those who make mean, thoughtless comments!