Alex never thought getting into a cab after the gym would result in a tirade of fat-shaming

WHEN Alex jumped in a taxi after her first gym session of the new year, she was met with a tirade of fat-shaming comments about her “battle” with weight.

29-year-old Alex Spurway was left gobsmacked after being fat-shamed by her taxi driver.

I THINK I just got fat shamed and paid $13.50 for it.

We’ve all given into our sins over the holiday period. I know I have.

Smashing two packets of family sized Doritos with a bottle of red wine was one of my finest moments.

But when the New Year hits, it’s time to get serious: no alcohol, lose the almond croissants and move your ass.

Yes, I overindulged over the silly season. But I didn’t expect to be fat-shamed by my cab driver for it.

For me, that day was today. My first day back at the gym after three weeks of eating and drinking bliss.

It wasn’t pretty. One of the trainers even commenting when he heard ‘a few grunts’ mid-lunge. But I was proud to be back at it, with a set goal for the next six months in mind.

After my workout, I jumped into a cab to head back to work, and this is where it all went south. Noticing my workout gear and very red face, the cab driver asked me if I had just been for a run. I answered “no, it’s my first day back at the gym, after a couple weeks off, man did it hurt”.

He then proceeded to tell me he had a resting heart rate of 40 which even surprised his GP he’s “that fit” and told me he goes to the gym five times a week and runs on the weekend.

It was time for me to get my ass into gear and hit the gym.

The next sentence to come out of his mouth was priceless.

“OK, let’s get real here, you battle with weight”.

Mi scusi, mate?

He then proceeded to give me three tips on how “my battle with weight” can be handled.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

A balding, 60-year-old man decided to fat shame me in his cab and I had to pay $13.50 for it.

I then copped three ‘quick’ tips on what I need to do to combat this ‘battle of mine’.

“SUGAR has to go! Make sure you do weights! It’s 20% exercise, 80% diet …” he said.

I thought, ‘thanks mate, that’s groundbreaking, I really needed you to tell me that because I haven’t heard it all before.’

My cab driver asked if I had always ‘battled’ with my weight.

I asked him whether he ate sugar and he responded “I’ve got my weight under control, so it’s not an issue for me”.

I couldn’t help but smile through the whole ordeal. But in doing so, I started thinking horrible thoughts.

1. You’re old.

2. You have sun spots.

3. You obviously hate fit b**ches (That last one was about me).

I honestly couldn’t believe it. Was I dreaming? Did I ask him for a breakdown on his fitness routine and how he can help me lose those extra 10 kilos I’ve been desperate to shake off?

Or was this a test? A test of my patience and whether I’ll do a cab run at the end of it.

NO — it was real and despite everything, he was dead serious.

The cab driver’s fat-shaming was like a slap to my sweaty red face.

Apparently fat shaming can happen to anyone at any time without any warning. It was like a slap to my sweaty red face.

I’ve decided next time I’m fat shamed or given unwanted fitness advice, I’ll burp loudly, ask the cab driver to stop and squat my way to another cab.

Alex Spurway is a 29-year-old radio producer living in Sydney, who despite the trauma of being fat-shamed by a taxi driver will still indulge in a packet or two of Doritos in 2017.