Sometimes things accidentally slip out. It’s possible that the person cringes everytime he thinks of his comment. I know I’ve made few over the years that I wish I could forget.
Of course, he could be an utter prick, too.
Congrats, Zev, on the great weight loss!
The salesperson was a jerk.
My first instinct? Well, that you tell us the store and we each take 5 minutes to call and tell them about the incident that occurred to our friend - and explain that they will never have our business.
My actual response? Well, what a jerk and an idiot but like DAVEWOO71 said, you can’t let it ruin your day. We’re so quick to defend each other, it might be an over-reaction for us all to call. I still sort of want to, though. heh.
Congrats, Zev - you’re doing great!
Tibs.
Huh?
Look up perspective mate.
(wtg on the weight thing Zev )
[loud]
“Hey! Motherfucker!” (Note: “Motherfucker”=terrifically effective attention-getter.) “Do you have any concept of what it means to have a JOB? Because you’re about to find out what it means to be without one.”
[/loud]
And to the manager we go…
ZEV—
Nice weight loss. I got a car, don’t walk anywhere anymore, and gained 60 pounds; I now WISH I was a 44.
As to the salesperson’s remark, well, I think you and the rest above are being WAY too sensitive. Sure, it may not be in the best of taste, but I would have seen it as a HUMOROUS remark.
People can say worse. I was crossing the street, and someone in a passing car shouts to me, “You’re too fat!!” But even that was kind of funny.
Mazel Tov, Zev!
~zorch–You’re probably in the minority if you’re not sensitive about being overweight. I hardly think Zev was being overly sensitive. He just walked out of the store. It’s not like he SAT on the guy or anything! {j/k} ::d&r::
Hey, I am little bit sensitive about it, but it’s reality. Anyone who sees me knows instantly that I’M FAT. I don’'t have ‘reverse anorexia,’ where I look in the mirror and think I’m ‘too thin.’
Actually, I’m feeling a little down right now. I think I better go make myself some buckwheat pancakes, with real butter and real maple syrup. I may not be back for awhile…
-zorch, the guy said that to someone who was congratulating himself on his weight loss thus far. It was a proud moment for zev: needing a new belt because the old one was finally too large. He was thinking of himself as relatively thin, and the salesclerk dismissed him as not only fat, but stupid (apparently having to be told that he’s too big for a size 42). I see no humor in that.
Thank you everyone, for your kind remarks. Having had the weekend to think about it (and having had an incident happen to me over the weekend, which I’ll describe later), I’ve since shaken the matter off. I got several other compliments over the weekend, so I feel better anyway. As for sales guy, I’ll just let it be. If he bothered me, he’s sure to bother other people and will get his just rewards in due time.
Over the weekend, the caretaker of my synagouge (an elederly man of about 70, who I know wouldn’t go out of his way to hurt me) came over to me and said, in a low voice:
“I think you need to run around the block a few times.”
“Why?” I asked.
He patted my stomach and said “You look like you’re putting on a little weight.”
“Actually,” I told him, “I’ve taken off about 30 pounds already.”
“Oh,” he said. “Well, in that case, you’re doing a good job” 
(BTW, Jodi, you’re right. You’d never catch me saying that. Heck, I didn’t even want to type out the explitive in the OP!")
Zev Steinhardt
Good for you on the weight loss, Zev! You know you’re looking better every day. Some guy who sells men’s belts doesn’t matter!
zev, I understand that the guy at your synagogue didn’t mean to be rude, but what on earth could possess anyone to make such a comment?! Like it’s ANY of his business at all how fat or thin anyone else is??? And saying that you need to run around the block a few times is supposed to be “helpful”? I am just baffled by people like that.
zev, if you’re still bothered at all, I think you’d not only be doing yourself a service if you got the matter off your chest by writing a letter to the store manager, but would also be doing a service to anyone else in similar circumstances who might potentially be treated this rudely by this guy in the future. If you got the guy in trouble, you’d actually be doing a good deed, IMHO. Maybe he’ll keep his mouth shut the next time, IF he keeps his job.
And congrats again on the weight loss!
It may have been a bit tactless, but I know he meant well. He probably thought that I wasn’t aware of the fact that I was putting on weight and meant to politely (and quitely) let me know about it.
Besides, this person is a bit on the elderly side, and somewhat brash in his personality. Everything he says has to be taken with this in mind.
Zev Steinhardt
You’re a good guy Zev with a lot of caring friends and you’re positively addressing what you saw as a health problem.
Jerk clerk makes a living selling belts.
Don’t lose ANY sleep over this.
Hey-
Congrats on the progress! 30lbs is pretty good, and a 44 is only a few months away from a 40…just think of all the expenses you will have then, and all of the sales-people that you will have to deal with then!
Keep it up! It’s nice to have others provide the positive feedback, but the fact remains that you are doing this for yourself. A healthy body is something you have for the rest of your life, and I applaud you for making the commitment to that end. Don’t focus on what others have to say. Focus on how good it feels to be healthy again. Because once you are down to your goal, the compliments peter out. If you are only doing it to gain compliments from others, you’ve got a short time horizon. Stay healthy for you, let other people’s opinions go (except for mine in the following sentence). 
Congrats!
-Tcat
I have the opposite problem. As an extremely petite person, I have endured endless snide comments such as"we don’t have that in YOUR size", or “why don’t you try the children’s department?”. Of course, it is in the most condescending and contemptuous tone of voice. As if to say how dare you be 4’11"(and a half)? All I want to know is when are the retailers (and the minions of Satan that they have sell their merchandise) going to realize that not everyone is a size 6!!! Or, in your case, a 34. Congrats on the weight loss, and try not to let these idiots get to you.
yeah zev, I do think this particular guy meant no harm, but it’s still none of his business to “let you know” that you are putting on weight. I don’t think there’s been one overweight person in the history of the universe who was “unaware” that he or she was putting on weight and needed someone to break it to him, no matter how gently. If this guy is a bit confused about things because of his age, that’s one thing - but if he’s “brash” and feels it’s okay to inform others of their supposed shortcomings, then you are a much more polite person than I would be.
Check out
Great store. My husband shops there. He’s, uh, big boned. He loves the store. They have sizes 50 and above, too. (Which you don’t need. Good Work!) The clothing is very attractive and not just small fashions super-sized. (I’m somewhat large myself. I hate when they do twiggy styles in size 20!)
The site has a store locator so you can find a store near you.
Did I mention, they have a great staff, too.
I guess you missed the part where he said he was shopping in Manhattan. 