stereotype : the fat american

I don't mean for this thread to be shallow in any way. Since moving to the UK I have found myself to be so sensitive about my weight. Being a shunky girl its not upcommon in general to feel that way about maybe some of it has to do with the joke that maybe I look(ed) like a stereotypical American. I know that sounds rude although sometimes I hear people taking the piss that all Americans are obese, wear fanny packs and walk with their mouth open. Needless to say, even though at the time it was funny to here (I have a bit of a dark sense of humor) it does make me wander if people look at me in that light.

As a whole my body has changed so much in the last year (thanks weight watchers)  but I still have my fair share of squishy bits. I was just wondering if I was making up this stereotype in my mind of it others felt the same.

As a whole my body has changed so much in the last year (thanks weight watchers)  but I still have my fair share of squishy bits. I was just wondering if I was making up this stereotype in my mind of it others felt the same.

My British BF often makes jokes about it, but it's just that ... a joke. I haven't really felt the stereotype coming from anyone else. In fact, if not for my BF, I probably wouldn't even be aware that it existed.

By the way, there are a number of us doing WW here, so you're in good company!

Squishy girls rule!! 

Go, go squishy girls!!
If anyone feels fat just visit Coventry City centre. It will boost any chunky persons ego!
Im cracking up at "walking with their mouth open" I never heard that before! LOL  Do Americans walk with their mouth open? Im quite sure I dont.
Also keep in mind...NEVER say "fanny pack" here! 

Also keep in mind...NEVER say "fanny pack" here! 

Oh, so true!

Yeah, I think Americans are more apt to be "mouth-breathers" than most other people. I haven't heard that opinion from Brits, though. I guess it's just my viewpoint.    <don't attack me, people!>

Dunno, there's plenty of overweight 'mouth breathers' in our town centre, too!

Yeah, I think there is a stereotype but unfortunately, the UK is fast catching up to the US in the obesity rates. Not sure there's much room for finger pointing anymore...

Dunno, there's plenty of overweight 'mouth breathers' in our town centre, too!

OMG you guys are cracking me up!!! 

There are plenty of people here with "squishy bits" -- and then some, so I wouldn't worry that you stand out even if you aren't model skinny. I used to think that I stood out as an American too, but now I realise that it's all in my head, and people will pretty much automatically just assume you're from here.

As for Americans walking around with open mouths, which is pretty funny, I've noticed many Brits tend to keep their mouths very stiff and cover their teeth alot with their lips, even when they smile. There is a saying about their teeth, you know, so the mouth stereotype goes both ways.  I wouldn't worry about it!

Sinnymaker, if you're interested there was a thread here a while back about stereotypes:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=11716.0

They definitely do go both ways!

There is a strong (and well-earned) stereotype of fat Americans, but I've noticed unless you're in a posh part of London or some other well-heeled area, you see big shlubby British folk with their pale, often tatooed flesh hanging out. So it goes both ways!

thanks for the replies guys informative and some are just have me rolling on the floor. As for weight watchers < waves hands in the air > I have been going to meetings and use esource. Five stone down and keep on truckin.

you see big shlubby British folk with their pale, often tatooed flesh hanging out.

Reminds me of Onslow of Keeping Up Appearences!

you see big shlubby British folk with their pale, often tatooed flesh hanging out. So it goes both ways!

Hey, my husband represents that remark!(JK!!)

thanks for the replies guys informative and some are just have me rolling on the floor. As for weight watchers < waves hands in the air > I have been going to meetings and use esource. Five stone down and keep on truckin.

FIVE STONE?!?! You rock! I've gone to meetings in the past, but am now doing WW online and using support here on UKY -- which is incredibly helpful! We have some awesome squishy girls on the board!

I am pretty much going to echo - albeit in my own signature "Autumn-esque" way - what has already been said in this thread.  While I try to work on and tone up my "squishy bits", I am assured by my husband that he loves squeezing and kissing and licking said bits.  Personally, while having some trouble not fixating on my weight (due to a past riddled with anorexia and a horrible ex who never thought I was good enough), I try not to be as obsessive as I once was; Jamie helps tremendously with this.  His enduring, intense desire of me is a great boost to my confidence.  After all, he could have had some model-perfect-Brit-bird, but instead he chose me: a not-so perfect (even though he says that I am) American gal.  Now, that being said, I, too, have not seen very many model-perfect types in our town centre either.  I think that the truly uber-perfect types are relegated to those ultra posh places affore mentioned.  We have more than our fair share of British flab in Leicestershire.  I see it everyday where I work, as people walk by (and into) the shop.  I see more than a few English women around me who are by far "fatter" than I am. 

I will not be the stereotypic anything; I have always strived to break each and every defining mould.  No one around here has called me fat or told my husband that they think I am (and, believe me, if they thought I was they would tell him).  When I annonced I was going on a detox diet and Jamie told a lad at work about it, the bloke remarked, "Why is she going on a diet?  She doesn't need to lose anything."  Of course, I explained the difference of the diet that I was on - it wasn't a weight loss diet, per se', but a cleansing diet to help me feel a bit better. 

The thing is, no matter where you go or where you're from, people - women especially - are utterly consumed with worry about their weight.  I wonder what we would all be able to accomplish if we actually put all that energy into doing something worthwhile and constructive.

I endeavor to, one of these fine days - sooner, hopefully, rather than later - just relax and be happy with myself and simply not give a rat's ass (or ars*, as the case may be) about what ANYONE (other than my husband) might think about how I look! 

~A

Well, when I moved here, I was the stereotypical fat American.  So much so, in fact, that I was very conscious of not speaking too loudly in public as I was sure that people would hear my accent and go, "Of course!  I knew she'd be American -- look how fat she is!"   

I, too, have lost five stone since I've been here and I now feel "normal" (despite still being overweight for my height).  I am certainly not the largest woman in Newcastle, nor was I ever...but I am not so conscious of my accent anymore because I know that people can't look at me and automatically peg me as a fat American.

The more weight I lose, the more attention I pay to overweight people (or I guess I just notice them more) and yep, I do think that the UK is inching up on the US in terms of obesity.....not much room for them to point the finger any more!