Plus-sized woman was broken after gym bullies humiliated her — but one stranger's kind words lifted her spirit

A plus-sized woman shared a deeply emotional moment from her gym visit, explaining how a cruel comment from fellow gym-goers had left her shaken, until a stranger’s words turned it all around. In the clip posted by Stephanie Hoffman on her TikTok @adventure_anne, which was viewed by over 17 million and liked by 2 million people, she admitted she was still emotional since the incident had just happened. "There’s a lot of thoughts that go through your head being a bigger woman in the gym," she said. Surrounded by different body types, from ultra-fit to casual beginners, she confessed that her insecurities often flared up.

She recalled that recently, two younger men followed her out of the gym — one coughed into his hand, but what he muttered as he did stayed with her: "ogre." When she caught sight of their reflection laughing, she realized the word had been directed at her. The incident cut deeply. "That kinda hurt my feelings, not gonna lie," she admitted, noting that her history of weight struggles and self-neglect already made her sensitive to such ridicule. Anne explained that the memory stuck with her. But then, just as she was leaving the gym again days later, she heard a man calling out to her. At first, she braced herself for more cruelty, but the tattooed, tough-looking gym regular stopped her to say something unexpected: "I see you in here every week. I’m proud of you."

That one sentence floored her. In tears, she shared how much it meant to hear genuine encouragement from someone who didn’t know her story, her insecurities, or what she was carrying. "He changed my day," she said, "You have no idea how much people going through something appreciate the kindness, cause he didn’t have to say it. He doesn't even know what I am going through." For Anne, the moment was a reminder that small acts of compassion can outweigh even the harshest words. It is even more meaningful considering how many women go through exactly what Anne went through in the gym. A 2025 mixed-methods study of 279 women found that many feel judged for appearance and performance in gyms and frequently report harassment and unsolicited comments, which undercut confidence and prevent them from enjoying their exercise.

Anne's video has since gained widespread support, with viewers praising her resilience and the stranger’s kindness. @Sullspark shared, "Listen, I’m 134 lbs, covered in tattoos. When I see someone working on themselves, no matter what size, I’m thinking, 'get it girl/boy!'" @missverhoeven wrote, "We need more people like him. Stay strong sister you got this! I’m proud of you too!" @Kriztee828 added, "I'm super proud of you girl. We all struggle with our insecurities and it's natural, but you pushing through and continuing your progress speaks volumes."

@bicepbren commented, "Directed towards you but a reflection of them… not you. Sounds like you’ve been through or are going through a lot and are still in the gym? That’s character." @johnnybfast noted, "The scary guys are always the kindest. I'm sure he has watched you, and knew you needed to hear that. We want you to reach your goals! Glad you are putting in the effort to better yourself."

You can follow Stephanie Hoffman (@adventure_anne) on TikTok for more daily life content.

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