Does being told you are thin ever get old?

forevermaryb

After being heavy most of my life, I lost 70 pounds and have been maintaining for over a year and a half now. While people I've known all along have generally (understandably) stopped making comments about my weight, I still feel surprised when someone says something about me being "skinny" or "thin". I usually get a thrill over it or look over my shoulder to make sure they are actually talking to me. Now, I'm 5'9" tall and weight around 145 (BMI of around 21), so I am at a healthy weight. The comments aren't personal or meant to be negative; more along the lines of a new massage therapist I went to who said she could feel the tension in my hip flexors because I was "super thin" or the girl at the department store who said I would look good in a particular dress because I was "so small". Do you ever get tired of hearing you are thin (or any other synonym)?

ElizabethKalmbach

Yes, but there have been points in my life where I was trying NOT to be "thin." It is a compliment when it's something you've worked hard for. It's a heavy reminder if it's the symptom of an illness you're resisting.

That said, enjoy it. You've earned it.

forevermaryb

I should add that I don't mean the comments from those "well meaning" people who say you should stop losing weight (even though I have for a while now), or that you're "too skinny". Those get old. I get tired of saying I am healthy.

999tigger

Id imagine its a bit dull if you have an eating disorder.

Hornsby

It did for me, so I started lifting weights. No one says I am thin anymore.

flatlndr

It did ... until I started replying that "I'm back to my university years fitness level". That leaves them speechless. I can see their mind turning over, wishing they could turn back the clock too.

LivingtheLeanDream

No, I never get tired of it ..but then I'm not super thin but slim, so maybe it's different for me.

sammys1girly

ElizabethKalmbach wrote: »

Yes, but there have been points in my life where I was trying NOT to be "thin." It is a compliment when it's something you've worked hard for. It's a heavy reminder if it's the symptom of an illness you're resisting.

That said, enjoy it. You've earned it.

I very much agree.

lisab64mfp

Depends on how they are saying it. There are some people who say it w/a sour puss look on their face.

Bj0223

In the last couple of years I have lost 78 pounds and I know what you're talking about. I was getting a scan done of my gall bladder and the tech also scanned my heart and said I had a very healthy aorta and then made the comment, of course you are so small. I had to keep myself from laughing! I was flattered and felt great the rest if the day.

I think it is a compliment for those of us who worked hard to lose weight. I feel this is part of my reward and hopefully the comments will keep me away from going back to old habits.

FitForL1fe

Hornsby wrote: »

It did for me, so I started lifting weights. No one says I am thin anymore.

lol +1

Debmal77

I really, really want someone to tell me I'm thin!! Congrats on your weight loss!

TimothyFish

Yeah, it gets old.

mitch16

999tigger wrote: »

Id imagine its a bit dull if you have an eating disorder.

Depends on the eating disorder. In my disordered state I thrived on it--it pushed me harder--"you think I'm thin now--just wait!" Not a good thing, but I didn't tire of hearing it. (This was half a lifetime ago however.)

nathalier71

yes - it does get old. I'm also tired of hearing - you lost more weight! you've got to stop! when I've not lost a single pound in almost a year! the worst is they'll argue with me! Last time I told the lady - I should know, it's my body!
argh.

Unknown

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BrettWithPKU

Hmm. I don't know that I've thought a whole lot about this. But honestly, I'm looking for an athletic build. So I think I'd prefer being called "in shape" to being called "thin." I'm sure "thin" is desirable--being the opposite of "fat"--and I certainly wouldn't consider it an insult, but I think I'm motivated more by general physical fitness than the size of my waist.

JohnBarth

Where I'm irritated is while I've lost a lot of weight, I'm still on the higher side of obese (near morbidly) at a BMI of 38ish. Co-workers that say "hey skinny" when passing in the hall make my blood boil. I know they're trying to be supportive, but I'm far from skinny yet. Sorry, rant over.

sijomial

I've been called "too thin" and that's just plain irritating.
Interestingly both times by fat, failed dieters.

People react to the same words differently BTW - to me "thin" and "skinny" are negatives and "slim" is a positive descriptor.

68myra

having a touch of body dysmorphia, i don't like being referred to as thin or skinny because i automatically think they are either lying (just being polite) or blind. I was at a dr. office once, and the nurse asked if i'd been weighed yet, and then immediately changed her mind and said, "I'll just write slim". When I replied, thanks for the compliment but I don't share your opinion, she said: I thought you'd say something like that.
intuitive chick. it was my first visit there.

gkauf744

I've only been at goal weight for about 3 weeks, but so far I haven't managed to walk by a mirror without checking to see whether I really look slim. I am totally tired of the "stop losing weight" comments. Although the "you need to eat a cheeseburger" comment was really funny. I've never in my life been accused of needing to eat a cheeseburger. lol.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

After working my *kitten* off (literally) and making the sacrifices and pouring sweat to get where I am....no. Never.

FitForL1fe

AllOutof_Bubblegum wrote: »

After working my *kitten* off (literally) and making the sacrifices and pouring sweat to get where I am....no. Never.

*kitten* A +1

rhtexasgal

I don't get tired of it. I just grin and say that I feel great!

fitfabforties

no, it never gets old for me.....:)

michaelafoor916

I think we all need to be nicer to each other. Not trying to go all tree hugger hippie on everyone but seriously... we are all equal- yet we have thin people calling bigger people "fat" in a derogatory way and we have bigger people calling thin people "skinny" in a derogatory way... we are all on our own journey and battling our own demons. the last thing we need is to turn our back on each other and judge.

okay.. done ranting

disasterman

I really don't like unsolicited comments from anyone about my size one way or another. I like when people say I look "fit" or "healthy" or "like I'm taking good care of myself". I've had all of those and Yay! But I did not like "a little heavy", "like you could lose a few", or "check out that belly!! which I've also had. And, "are you sure you're not losing too much?", "your're going to disappear", and "too skinny, better slow it down".... blech.

susiederkins21

I'm not sure if I would mind it. It's been awhile and I have a long way to go before I'm thin. I have been called "more aerodynamic" by one of the doctors at work, and I did like that compliment!

dopeysmelly

No, I don't get tired of hearing comments that I'm "skinny" or "looking great" or whatever, but in comparison I felt absolutely elated when someone told me at the gym that my arm muscles look amazing, because it just means I can do more with my body, whereas my body size is, well, what it is.

FitForL1fe

challenge them to a Feat of Strength

michellemybelll

nope