Ever get embarrassed about weight loss?!

anemoneprose

I have found that when I respond, "Thanks, I am working really hard at my fitness." that tends to stop the conversation. People in general seem to want to know about special diets and magic, they aren't that interested in plain hard work.

This.

It's like they think you must've done something special. It couldn't just have been you working hard, eating right

Sometimes there's no winning, once someone brings it up, other than changing topics as quickly as possible (unless people really want information, which I'm happy to offer). 'Plain hard work' can sound kind of judgy to some too, even if you don't mean it to.

ash190489

Hi there,

I am the same... People will give me a compliment or make a statement and it's not that I am getting embarrassed, it is more that I don't know how to respond to it!

For example on Sunday we had an extended family birthday BBQ and my aunt said to me as it was finishing up "Good bye, Ash, so great to see you again *hug* - Now, you're soooo skinny! You can stop now!" Shouts out to my partner "Nick, give this girl a hamburger!!" Says to me "Every time I see you you're skinner than the last time, and this is a problem because if you're getting skinner and I stand next to you I keep looking fatter and fatter!!!" ---- like seriously what do you respond with to that? It's a compliment in itself, but it's awkward and it was said loudly and drew awkward attention to myself! And yes that side of my family is constantly trying to lose a few kilos (they're not big at all, they actually are all looking very good) and love to make everything about themselves.

My grandad a few months ago said "Wow Ash, where's the other half of you!? You keep disappearing!!" Or another friend said "Hey Ash, where's the rest of ya!?" or they lift me up in the air whilst in a 'hello hug' or whatever!

Don't get me wrong, I love it and makes me feel good, it's just sometimes hard to know what to say back when on the spot like that!

fit_spired_vicky

It just shows that you are modest!

zoukeira

In the beginning I did, especially because it was other people who noticed before me! But now absolutely not. I'm proud. I've lost over 25kg, and I want to encourage others to do the same.

bufger

I dont mind it. The only time so far I havent liked people noticing is when someone presumed i'd had surgery as if they didnt believe i could do this on my own!!!!! I didnt even bother replying I just walked away before I hit them

hattie491145

I can understand it, I liked the "working hard on my fitness" answer- *stores for future reference

appleseeds

It used to make me horribly embarrassed until I got back to the size I was before I gained tons.
someone said before, and its the same with me, as soon as I say I work out 6 days a week theyre not really interested anymore.

00Melyanna00

I get embarrassed when it is all someone talks about. One compliment is fine but I hate when people make a spectacle of it. Makes me feel extremely embarrassed that I was as large as I was.

This has been happening to me at work recently and I hate it.

HapThompson

People at work are starting to notice and while I appreicate the compliments and truly need them! I feel as though I'm getting put on the spot and don't exactly love the attention in that moment. It's weird, I like and need people to notice for the reinforcement but at the same time it is a little awkward feeling. I think it's more so when it's said in front of more than a one person.

Amen to all of that. I hadn't told anyone (and I mean anyone) that I was trying to lose weight, but it became really obvious (none of my old clothes fit etc) so people started to ask... When people ask me if i've lost weight I just smile, say yes, and change the subject.

P05T5CRIPT

I thought I was the only one! I've had a few people compliment me on my loss so far and I generally have no clue what to say back, I end up looking awkward and stammering 'thanks'. :blushing:

smhaze77

I did at first, but now I don't mind it as much. However I have a new issue with the compliments : Is it that people think I look good and healthy or is it more along the lines of "you used to be fat and now your not as fat, good job" Like if they didn't know me before would they still say/think I look good?

maryannmiclat

If someone I know pretty well says something about my weight loss like "Wow, you look good!" Or "Looking sexy!" (The sexy remark is something I've noticed thrown around a lot in the Filipino community no matter what) I'll come back with "What?! Are you saying I looked like crap before?! I wasn't sexy then? I'm just a smaller sexier version of myself now." I always throw a joke at them and the reaction I get is priceless! I say it with a serious face and tone (I love to joke around). Almost always I am taken serious. But yeah, it does get annoying at times.

I did at first, but now I don't mind it as much. However I have a new issue with the compliments : Is it that people think I look good and healthy or is it more along the lines of "you used to be fat and now your not as fat, good job" Like if they didn't know me before would they still say/think I look good?

maryannmiclat

It used to make me horribly embarrassed until I got back to the size I was before I gained tons.
someone said before, and its the same with me, as soon as I say I work out 6 days a week theyre not really interested anymore.

When I tell people I workout 6 days a week and count calories they don't seem interested either. I stress to people that since I don't have a job, I have made the gym and focusing on nutrition my job. So now when I do work it'll be easier for me to maintain. I always tell them about MFP, I have shown like 4-5 people how to use the ap on their phones. After like a day they say its too hard and go back to doing whatever.

2012asv

i know how you feel, i am awkward with compliments... i never know how to react properly other than many thanks! haha

Tamisha15

What is an NSV?XD

But congrats! I can't wait to get compliments in a few months time

Non-Scale Victory

AXAGEM

forgot the quote..

AXAGEM

I have found that when I respond, "Thanks, I am working really hard at my fitness." that tends to stop the conversation. People in general seem to want to know about special diets and magic, they aren't that interested in plain hard work.

I say exactly the same thing for the same reason.

angimac

I'm not embarrassed about my weight loss, but I do get embarrassed when I get introduced to people who never knew me when I was fat as "This is my daughter, a year ago she weighed 300 pounds"... I mean... Really???

*sigh*

I just suck it up and gripe about it when I get away from her...

Melo1966

I am ashamed that I allowed myself to get so frickin fat. When people congratulate me on my weight loss, I don't know how to take it. It is weight I never should have had to lose and I still have another 50 pounds to be healthy.

GRUNO

This issue is hard for me too. It's not that I am ebarrassed or can't take a compliment. If someone gives me a compliment such as "You look great," I say thank you. It's when the praise gets overly effusive or I feel like they are looking me up and down that I feel very, very uncomfortable. And being asked how much you lost is tricky. I think all people carry weight differently so you could throw out any number and no one would know if that's true or not. I think people assume you'd want to brag about your weight loss so they dont' even realize the questions are intrusive.

Mostly, I just try to remember that people usually have good intentions and are genuinely happy for my success and just not very good at expressing it.

glahlstedt

I totally get embarrassed when somebody says something about my weight!!!! My dad said to me this past weekend that I look great, and that I must of lost 10 lbs?!! I don't like to talk about it at all!!! I just feel like, " was I that fat before?!" I guess the reality of the matter is that I guess I looked like crap at 201lbs. Sometimes, I just wish people didn't focus on weight so much, but then again it does feel good to be dropping weight....

S108HAN

I get embarrassed all the time, particularly when people make a fuss. I think it's because I realise how bad I must have look before.

littlemegzz

Right now I am really keen to get compliments, but haven't gotten any at all. I have only just lost 4.5kg and I was only a bit heavier than that when I stopped doing MFP 5 months ago. So I guess people still remember me being about this size. Although, I know my cloths are fitting much better. I could only just wear a good pair of pants which now are perfect on me.

Biggest thing that annoyed me was last night; I went out to the pub and was drinking water. People ask why I'm not 'drinking' and when I say, I'm trying to be healthy, they always give me this disapproving look. Like "why would you come out to the pub and not drink". If I ever find anyone else in the same situation, I will tell them "great work and it is awesome to see some great willpower".

maryannmiclat

Right now I am really keen to get compliments, but haven't gotten any at all. I have only just lost 4.5kg and I was only a bit heavier than that when I stopped doing MFP 5 months ago. So I guess people still remember me being about this size. Although, I know my cloths are fitting much better. I could only just wear a good pair of pants which now are perfect on me.

Biggest thing that annoyed me was last night; I went out to the pub and was drinking water. People ask why I'm not 'drinking' and when I say, I'm trying to be healthy, they always give me this disapproving look. Like "why would you come out to the pub and not drink". If I ever find anyone else in the same situation, I will tell them "great work and it is awesome to see some great willpower".

You know what drives me crazy?! When I'm out to eat with a group of people and I order something "healthy" and they make the comment "Oh, you're on a diet?" I'm like "No, I just eat healthy. Today isn't my cheat day."

zlem

it's a bit embarrassing at the time but still love it.

skylark916

I get that a lot at work lately. I've dropped a huge amount of weight, particularly in the last 4 months and get comments like "here comes skinny!" To be honest with myself, as proud as I am about what I've achieved, I think I get embarrassed about it because I don't feel like I've lost all that much weight and I'm still very self-conscious about it.

DankiStar

You should be proud! I too get a bit coy, flushed etc when people notice, but then I let them know how I am doing it (and they all ask for info on how I lost it, and get disappointed when I tell them it's healthy eating and exercise!)

GemskiB

I think I feel embarrassed because it's embarrassing to be fat and I feel like I should not have had to lose weight in the first place. Pointing out my weight loss is like pointing out that I was fat.

Exactly! It's OK to say "you've lost weight" but to say "you've put on weight" is basically the same thing. If it's people who I know and love telling me well done etc that's OK - they see how hard I work and know how food/my weight have affected me my whole life. Was just odd from a virtual stranger!

GemskiB

I have found that when I respond, "Thanks, I am working really hard at my fitness." that tends to stop the conversation. People in general seem to want to know about special diets and magic, they aren't that interested in plain hard work.

This.

It's like they think you must've done something special. It couldn't just have been you working hard, eating right

I think this will be a good response to use. I've never taken a compliment well, but this is a good way of saying I'm getting what I'm working for and we don't need to bang on about it!

GemskiB

I dont mind it. The only time so far I havent liked people noticing is when someone presumed i'd had surgery as if they didnt believe i could do this on my own!!!!! I didnt even bother replying I just walked away before I hit them

OMG serious?! There have been a couple of posts like this. I mean I know losing a lot of weight is hard and a lot of folk on the TV have had bypass/bands etc. My stepmum had a gastric band but she is the only person I actually know to have had one. SO rude. At least ask how it's been done rather than make an assumption!!!