Am I the only one who HATES comments on my loss?

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Replies

  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Sometimes yes. While I like that they are noticing my loss in my head im screaming 'nooooo im a work in progress dont look at me till I am done!' lol

    Now, I do understand this. When they ask how much weight loss, I tell them 35-40lbs. And I want to tell them there's another 35-40 to go, but I don't want to come across as self-deprecating.
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
    There are times I really hate people commenting on my weight loss or weight in general. I work with the public & hear everyday that I should stop losing weight, people asking what I am eating or doing to lose weight, if I had weight loss surgery, or they don't want to hear that I am losing weight just by counting calories for the most part & some exercise. I swear this one person every time I see them they say, "wow you're losing weight," as if they forgot they told me that the last time they saw me.

    I especially hate when people ask me how much I weighed before as if that's any of their business? How would they like me to ask them how much they weigh?

    I had someone today say, "wow you must've ate around 5,000 calories," when I told them that I eat around 2,000 now & not some low calorie diet.
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    Yes, I look very different. Yes, I'm much healthier. No, you may not touch me and no it's not your business to broadcast my weight loss to the world.
    Just.wow. I can't believe people would not understand how this violates someone's personal space. My wife can touch me (and is encouraged to do so :bigsmile: ) to verify the loss. All others...HANDS OFF!

    And yet, they do it anyway. Not everyone. Most people just say something and move on-and that's nice. The ones that make a public spectacle and start touching and stuff make me feel like a carnival attraction. That is the kind of commentary that is uncomfortable. Everything else is really just fine. It's nice to get compliments. It's not nice to be manhandled.
  • I feel the exact same way, but for a different reason. My fathers side of the family is extremely overweight, and they all suffer from diabetes. My mom is obsessed with me not becoming like them. Even though I get tested regularly for diabetes and I'm no where near their weight, she is constantly worried about it because I'm in a wheelchair and can't exercise.

    I understand her concern and where she's coming from, but she takes it to the extreme. And if I lose weight, she hounds me about keeping it off, and wants to know what I'm eating and etc.

    My friends and family know this is a sore subject for my mom and I, so if I lose weight everyone wants to comment on it, but in reality I just wish they would ignore the subject. It's embarrassing for everyone to know my issues with weight/food, but it's hard when weight is such an external visibility.
  • kar328
    kar328 Posts: 4,159 Member
    I swear this one person every time I see them they say, "wow you're losing weight," as if they forgot they told me that the last time they saw me.

    This^^ I have a coworker who tells me this every time she sees me. We work 12 hour shifts, her on days, me on nights so there are times she'll tell me this on two shift crossovers twelve hours apart! While I appreciate the support, it kind of loses something there lol. Most of the time I"m fine with it, not overly fond of the coworkers in general, but their comments have mostly been supportive and not intrusive. There's one who will now ask "is that chocolate you're eating?" as I walk by and I simply answer "Yes." She tries to tell me what's good and what's not on occasion. I do like her and try to give her a pass as English isn't her first language and having worked with lots of people over the years from other countries, I know there are cultural differences in the way we say and do things. I know she means well.

    The overall comments are fine as it took me a long time to see the difference in myself so when people started commenting it was some validation to me that it was working. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing but I have enough weight to lose that eventually it started to show. They know I'm on here but nothing specific. I keep my "friends" list full of people I don't know in real life so I can be honest with myself, talk about numbers, etc. And I fully appreciate the support of my online friends.
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member
    I am an introvert by nature. I don't like people up in my business.
    I'm sensitive about this too. I'm proud if they notice (and a couple did - but in a respectful not up in my kool-aid kind of way that I appreciated). I warned them that I'm not comfortable about the crazy attention (that some love - and that's ok) and didn't want to talk about it or I'd start feeling weird about it and stop. They understood. Others probably wouldn't. Others would project their extrovert selves onto me and make it into a "thing."

    This, ^
    and this v came to mind....

    Do you think the comments in the real world put too much pressure? That's what I feel . If I gain some back because of a bad week then I'm conscious of their comments.
  • Praying_Mantis
    Praying_Mantis Posts: 239 Member
    I agree with you, OP. Comments on my weight are not compliments.

    A compliment is "That shirt is a great color on you", not "You've lost weight". My size or shape is not open for commentary.

    Thinking of it -- why do people think they're complimenting, when they're just stating a fact or asking a question?
    "Did you get your hair cut?" is NOT a compliment. "Cute haircut" is a compliment.

    /end rant
  • shanpwn
    shanpwn Posts: 66 Member
    I don't love it, it makes me feel like my body is public property. I know most people are paying me a compliment, but I'd prefer they just said I looked healthy.
  • bettyjoburdett
    bettyjoburdett Posts: 120 Member
    How about the comment " Oh you have such a pretty face" and inside they are saying, too bad your so fat! It's like people had to find something to say and that was all they could come up with.

    Oh, and I used to have an Aunt who I saw maybe once a year would always offer me money if I would lose weight. That made me feel really bad!
  • littleburgy
    littleburgy Posts: 570 Member
    It's possible that people that ask about what you eat are also wanting to lose weight and just want a little advice.

    But usually I try not to discuss someone's weight loss unless they mention it themselves. People lose weight for a variety of reasons and I'd feel dumb if I told someone "you've lost weight, you look great" and it turns out they had just been very ill, stressed out, or something like that. Awkward.
  • Foodiethinking
    Foodiethinking Posts: 240 Member
    Disable it from posting on the feed then!
  • I've lost a total of 50 lbs (40 before joining) and I really don't like it when people comment on my weight at all. I would rather they say I look happy and alive and glowing than "thinner." I had someone at work ask me what I did to "fix myself." I'm still 25 lbs away from my goal, and my one friend who has noticeably gained 35+ lbs is now starting to say that I look "too thin" and that I'm obviously being very unhealthy, when in reality I *know* that I would benefit from losing more weight.
    It's just annoying.
    But when I get comments I do react politely. The only people who have stopped commenting are my immediate family, because I've told them it bothers me.
  • 9bars
    9bars Posts: 40 Member
    I was very awkward with it in the beginning, but I meet a lot of people in my job so the comments are constant and I've got used to dealing with it. Most people are lovely, one friend tells me every time I see her how fabulous I look and it puts a big smile on my face as its so genuine. Some do bug me though, I had someone say Friday..oh yes you have lost a lot of weight, they were all talking about you earlier (her dept). I'm sure she meant it nice and its natural people talk, but it made me feel horrible.

    I also had family members who never bother with me from one year to the next turned up at my work to gawp as they had heard I had lost weight, they were quite open that they had come to see my weight loss. Their fake compliments made me feel like something in a freak show.

    I do wonder when it stops and people get used to you being a healthy weight. It had settled down for a couple of weeksand I thought great that's it, but I've been exercising more so although no weight loss I've lost some inches and this week had lots of comments and questions again. It is nice to know your hard work is paying off though :)
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    I don't like it either. If someone says, "You look good," that's fine. However a big production surrounding the concept of "loss" and "diet" is another thing. I am in recovery for an eating disorder and weight loss can be a good thing or a bad thing, and they don't know anything about that.

    Secondly, I work out a lot with weight training. Almost every day someone comments on my weight loss. I tell them I'm not really losing weight and they tell me I'm lying. I tell them I've been gaining muscle and they can't see my muscle under my clothes, so they don't believe me. It is insulting to argue with me asking about my "diet" when I am not dieting. I am busting my tail in the gym every day gaining muscle, not "being a good girl and sticking with my 'diet.'" I work in a bar and drunk people think my life is theirs to dissect.
    I have to eat many meals in front of drunk people. I work by myself. They all talk about my food choices and where it's going to end up on my body or comment on my "diet" if I'm drinking protein. GRRRRR. Food is personal. It's like having someone in the bathroom with me all the time.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    I can't stand when people comment on my weight loss. Or ask about what I'm eating etc.

    I can't quite put my finger on why it bothers me so much. I really feel like it's none of their business. I feel embarreshed if they mention my weight, and almost angry if they ask what I'm eating, like I'm being judged or held accountable to them or something.

    Anyone else feel like this?

    EDIT: In real life. People who know me.

    I do too. So i never tell people "I'm dieting" or mention anything about weight loss.
  • amblight
    amblight Posts: 350 Member
    If someone says they can tell that I've lost, I don't mind it at all.. but when someone asks me what I'm doing to lose weight, I want to crawl in a hole and hide. I'm not exactly sure why it bothers me so much.. because I'm just eating better and getting more exercise. I guess it's the humiliation of someone wanting to know why I'm not as fat as I was?

    You know, that last sentence I think is very true: When ever I do answer people who ask how I lost, I usually say it's more a question of how I gained - I gained 15-20kg (33-44lbs) VERY quickly by drinking exessivly, and the bad habits that came with that (5am fries on the way home, drinking noting but cold chocolate milk for the next day to cure hangover, feeling to sick to move at all etc.), so it's no wonder that just by dropping that, I lost quite quickly too.
  • amblight
    amblight Posts: 350 Member
    Do you think the comments in the real world put to much pressure? That's what I feel . If I gain some back because of a bad week then I'm conscious of their comments.

    On here I love the support it's very uplifting. I guess the difference is most people here are on the same journey.

    That's probably true too, the pressure.. For example, I told my grandma one time that I was trying to watch my white bread, rice and pasta intake a bit (I didn't even mention it in connection to weight loss - I study food science and nutrition, and we had talked about what everyday foods were essential, and which didn't hold much nutritional value, and those items were the ones on the list that I didn't feel I would miss anyway), and now everytime we meet, she quizzes me on how much bread I've had, and if we are doing a big lunch with the whole family, she will say "Oh, don't send the bread basket to amblight" etc.

    And yes, I do feel like it's different here, because people are in the same boat. People I know in real life are either very lean, or have given up (in fact, my mom is the only person I know who is obese besides me - and she is very sad about haven gained back everything + more that she lost 10years ago, so we are not in the same boat)
  • amblight
    amblight Posts: 350 Member
    Just lie and tell them you haven't lost any weight and don't know what they are talking about. End of conversation.

    I do sometimes, especially if it's people I see frequently. I had a class reunion not so long ago, and then it was a bit difficult to say I hadn't lost, but I see my mom maybe every 2 or 3 weeks, and now I just say I haven't lost since she saw me.
  • amblight
    amblight Posts: 350 Member
    Yes, I look very different. Yes, I'm much better. No, you may not touch me and no it's not your business to broadcast my weight loss to the world.

    This exactly!!
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    i really like the comments. the skinny comments just make me laugh as i know i am not skinny. they are my friends and i dont see why i should be upset for compliments on my hard work. i have even had comments from my daughters teachers at school and even my other halves tenant has complimented me. a colleague from work i havent seen in over a year was gobsmacked when he saw me last week. none of it is a prob.

    its part of the process you will have to find a way to get used to . what i do find amusing is that people only tell u when u have lost no one ever tells u anything when u are fat but they are both obvious
  • LouiseChe
    LouiseChe Posts: 24 Member
    I float somewhere in between on this. I don't mind the positive-phrased comments. In fact, I find them motivating and encouraging. However, some people might need to learn a bit of tact. I had a long holiday and a few days before work I met one of the woman I work with. She said, "Wow, you've lost weight? Guess I'll be the main fat person at work this year!" I had no idea how to respond - I know she meant it as a compliment (at least I think she did) but I was also a bit offended. I did a nervous laugh and changed the subject.

    That said, I've generally found that people are pleased for me and are really nice and genuine about it. I do understand about not liking the 'how are you doing it?' comments. For some reason that makes me feel uncomfortable and awkward too. However, I've always been a shyer, not want to be the centre of attention kind so when it is broadcast in front of people I get a bit anxious.
  • hortensehildegarde
    hortensehildegarde Posts: 592 Member
    To be perfectly honest, I think it's my old friend 'fear of failure' creeping up again. I don't want people to know that I'm trying to lose weight, because I don't want them to see me if I don't succeed or if I lose the weight and gain it back again.

    this. I don't want people to know I am trying because then they might know I care or might see me fail.

    Also I agree with the people that it makes you feel like you were/are less worthy if you don't lose the weight.

    I just would prefer for no one to notice, but that is another benefit of doing it really slowly I guess.
  • withabandon
    withabandon Posts: 168 Member
    I am also really uncomfortable with it. But I also believe it's inappropriate to comment on someone's weight either way - too skinny, too fat, whatever.
  • ball_FXDWG
    ball_FXDWG Posts: 44 Member
    I ran into a woman today I use to work with who I don't see often, she asked me if I stopped eating with a smile before getting serious and saying with complete sincerity "you aren't really sick are you?"

    I still feel extremely overweight but comments like that make me feel better. I also saw a girl I went to high school at a restaurant today and she had no idea who I was. That is also a good feeling in a way but also weird, like I'm hiding something by not revealing it.
  • SomeNights246
    SomeNights246 Posts: 807 Member
    It depends for me.

    I have found that some of them actually seem slightly negative. Such as being told "You're getting TOO skinny" when I was still overweight. Often, I get that it's meant as a compliment. But it makes me feel uncomfortable. How do I reply? I mean, really? What do you say? Thank you never seems to be sufficient.

    The things I feel like stamping on a shirt and wearing everywhere:
    1) Yes I am the same person.
    2) No, there is no magic pill that made me lose weight.
    3) Yes I had to change my lifestyle.
    4) No, it was not a fad diet.
    5) No... I am not going to disappear.
    6) The rest of me? This IS the full me!
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    To be perfectly honest, I think it's my old friend 'fear of failure' creeping up again. I don't want people to know that I'm trying to lose weight, because I don't want them to see me if I don't succeed or if I lose the weight and gain it back again.

    this. I don't want people to know I am trying because then they might know I care or might see me fail.

    Also I agree with the people that it makes you feel like you were/are less worthy if you don't lose the weight.

    I just would prefer for no one to notice, but that is another benefit of doing it really slowly I guess.


    Regardless of fast or slow if we have a lot of weight to lose eventually they will notice. I think we just need to deal with tactless people appriopriately and just say thank you politely to the positive comments. Unfortunately you cant control what other people will do and say. One thing I will correct people on is when they say I am on a diet. I politely tell them I am not on a diet. I eat the same things I always did just less of it.
  • For me it depends on the comments, friends and family that are into fitness Im good with their comments because they are meant to be positive and we can talk about or fitness goals and advise each other. But most of my co-workers and friends tell me I am getting too skinny or I am already skinny I don't need to do any of this yadda yadda. And I feel like those are meant to be more negative, so I don't like hearing that, my body...my choice...I need to be happy with it no one else.
  • ClementineGeorg
    ClementineGeorg Posts: 505 Member
    I can't say I hate them, but they sure make feel uncomfortable.

    In the first year since I started MFP and losing weight, weight loss was a `no-no` subject for me. People comments are always strange... they comment about counting calories, what I eat, how I eat, why I'm not losing 10-15 lbs per month, how X and Y losed quicker, and so on. And I dislike weight loss comments.
    I am counting calories, eating 1700-1800 calories a day, exercising at home, doing it slowly and MY WAY. I couldn't have done it another way, so others people advices are most times irelevant.

    I still hate comments about the weight loss process, but as I coma closer to a goal body, I do enjoy people noticing I lost weight and telling me. But please stop there; don't ask me how I do it, why I do it, what diet am I following, where I workout and so on.
  • jennie5693
    jennie5693 Posts: 42 Member
    I don't like it because it means they viewed me as fat before.

    Other people's acknowledgement of what has disgusted me about myself for so long... hurts.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I don't feel quite the same way as you describe but I do feel like I understand what you are saying. Occasionally someone will comment in such a way that I feel like they're saying, "You were gross before and now you're almost normal!" Worse is when they say something like "Keep it up!" because while they may have the best intentions to me it sounds like, "Yep you're still fat better keep going to be less fat!"

    Try to take the comments at face value. Or just ignore them.