Compliments on Weightloss - Caused by Pain - looking for Others dealing with this

srsly_sarah

I hope I'm not being repetitive, but I couldn't find anything in the search function.

And I'll start with this, so I won't waste time. Please read it:

I know how to be polite, so I am not looking for advice. I'm looking for other people who are struggling, too, since support is crucial in all aspects of chronic illness and weight loss. I am hoping some of this pain is temporary. I don't have the energy to tell nosey people how I lost weight every other time - good nutrition and moderate exercise - because that isn't believable. I don't really know what to do with the compliment/fishing for info. I would like to know what other people with chronic pain do.

Backstory, if you also struggle with this:

My weight has been up and down (I still track my weight, although not my food like last year) and can really tell by my clothes. I try to say thanks and move on, even though I feel like a fraud, but some people do press me for "secrets."

Honestly, this time, I lost weight much more slowly and steadily through the inability to eat due to chronic (sometimes debilitating pain - I use a walker on bad days and am still looking for a diagnosis - specialists can take their sweet time and jerk us around where I live, thanks to the monopoly) pain and severe depression, coupled with medication.

I go to physical therapy at the pool (my request) to prevent atrophy and make sure that I lose fat and not muscle, and maybe even get hungry (or sleepy).

Sometimes I just want to yell at people to try a Chronic Pain Diet, when they won't quit asking about my weight loss. I can handle it graciously, but I lack some motivation. I still have 10 pounds to be considered a healthy BMI (or so) although other people feel free to comment that I look "anorexic," which I don't take lightly, since my brother suffered from eating disorders for years. I happen to carry weight differently (in my chest) and lose it from my face and collar bone area first. Since I like long dresses and skirts, that shows up. I discussed it with all of my doctors and they aren't concerned. It's not so rapid as to be concerning, and at 163 pound and 5 ft 6, I have plenty to lose, I guess?

I guess I'd like to know that I'm not alone. I happened to be trying to lose weight (and I did! I just gained it back after I had my appendix removed, became more sick, quit my job, and essentially became housebound) and now that I'm back to my previous weight, people feel ok asking me about it or ex boyfriends see a picture and feel free to start telling me that I am pretty and asking me how my marriage is going! I do tell them it is pain and using a walker builds muscles to scare them off.

Thanks!