Tired of the compliments??

I thought I was the only one who was bothered by this! I know people are trying to be supportive, but I'm undertaking this for me, not anyone else. I don't need anyone's approval but my own.

Support/commiseration from people who are undergoing the same thing is different, and is always okay.

This is a problem I would LOVE to experience just once in my life.

they say it is easy to hide by gaining weight. It is less noticable and I think these days much more common and comfortable for people to see.
Opposit problem most people have, I have worked my butt off and not a word from anyone because I haven't changed much since July 1st, but............... get compliments that I look a lot more lean or that I have lost weight whenever I have been at my heaviest, go figure. people will be all, you look fantastic, you must have lost a lot of weight (this was at a christmas party) and in reality I was the heaviest I had been without being pregnant.

I would just say "thanks". I finally decided to focus on me. or you could say. I wanted to set a good example and made fitness a priority.

Stand tall! You rocked it and deserve some positive feedback.

......I have the same issue. I know it's all in my own head but never the less it's an issue (guess I'm a peach too)

It eases off once they get used to the new you. Just smile and say thank you.

I can't get enough of the compliments. They keep me motivated and give a boost of confidence.

Look at the positive side:
1. Everyone noticed your hard work
2. You will have a better chance of maintaining or losing more knowing you are an inspiration

I do appreciate the compliments. I just don't like the attention.

I understand it. Most people who have been carrying excess weight for a while have become much more comfortable "hiding". It can be difficult to enjoy the spotlight, especially when you consider your journey to be in progress rather than completed.

My brother has done an amazing job losing 50 pounds over the course of about a year. I see him rarely because we live quite a distance from one another. When he lost the first 25, he'd leave the room shortly after anyone complimented him. He really had difficulty with the attention. Now that he's lost 50, he's much better at taking a compliment! It took him a good 6-8 months to get to that point.

Well - I wouldn't say I am tired of them - for me, it's just uncomfortable when people say "YOU LOOK GREAT!" I just don't know how to respond My head is saying "How can I look great? I'm still 80 pounds to goal - at least 60! " I'm appreciative, but, I am so unused to the comments I .. don't know what to say.

I wouldn't say I "I'm doing this for me and not anyone else and don't need their approval" eh.. that's not my issue - I just don't know how to handle it.

My trainer says it's because I'm too modest, and if they were being critical I'd not lose sleep over it, because I'm used to that kind of treatment. Probably some truth to that.

even if I didn't have a lot of people verbally criticise me in my history, I always felt people were thinking it, so having the verbal version probably wouldn't surprise me.

He put it to me this way "Tina, They're not telling you that you look like a playboy model. They're saying you have accomplished a great thing and look so much better". LOL (*snort* at "Not a playboy model") as IF ..

Another peach here I guess

I also got compliments and questions before I even started... In part it was a small percentage of what motivated me to try harder.

Now, I never liked to be the center of attention, and I have a hard time telling if people really want help and really want to know what I've been doing or if they are just making conversation.
I've sent more than a few this direction, but only a couple have stuck with it and are doing well. I'm chalking the rest up to they weren't really ready to try.

I don't like being asked personal questions in public. Makes me want to say something just being a smart a55. Read on here someone said they told people they drank their first urine in the morning, not seriously, but ive been tempted.

I also think it is a bit rude to ask for how much weight you've lost and expect a number in mixed company. I usually just say "a lot".

Typically I just tell them "diet and exercise" if they persist I explain more, not really dieting more tracking food and exercise.

Today I had someone ask me where did the other half of me go and
i had someone who i hadnt seen in a while but who knew me pretty well not recognise me at all.
I had another who hasn't seen me in a while tell me he wouldn't have recognized me if I hadn't been at work.
I had 2 people last week ask me when I started working at my job (15years ago)... I recognized them but think they weren't sure it was me.

Then they say how great you look, it's hard to be mad at that but occasionally, peach that I am, I think "geez, they must have really thought I looked like crap before"

Granted I am literally 1/2 the size I was before, and no one around remembers, or was there, before I gained my weight. I've also never been one to discuss my medical issues with the general public, so it gets hard for me to explain that the "Big Me" wasn't always big, wasn't that big for all that long either.

I haven't bought new uniform pants, I'm wearing the same size I used to wear, the exact same pants (although they do fit differently and much better). I saved them when I couldn't wear them any more. Not so much because I thought I'd get into them again, but more because they were work uniforms, work purchased them, some were pretty new, and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them.

Feel the same, in a way I appreciate they notice but I also feel like this has caused people to be the most invasive.
It's right up there for me with being pregnant and having strangers touch your stomach, OMG that made me insane. I don't like touching things after other people, definitely don't want them touching me.

Thank you for posting this, nice to know I'm not the only one with mixed feelings on the compliments.

Its a trade off.. a short time of intense attention followed by a life time of being normal. I've just started my weight loss journey (again) so havent had to deal with the positive attention (looking forward to it sorta) but I do know people who have lost alot of weight and struggled after they became "normal" and every one became used to them as regular size that there wasn't any attention anymore good or bad.. no negative attention for being heavy and then no positive reenforcement for being thin. And they were at a loss and some regained weight because they couldn't handle lack of attention/feedback, and being judged soley on who they were not for being bad for being a fattie or being amazing for losing it. I think being aware of how you feel is the best you can do. .and maybe start journalling your feelings on days you enjoy the attention and days you don't and how to still feel 'happy' on days no one says a damn thing

It's difficult to accept compliments gracefully when you've been treated like *kitten* for most of your life because you're fat.

I appreciate the compliments but I do feel pretty awkward for thanking th for telling me I am tiny now?! It just seems odd to me to thank someone for saying that I am thin you know? I also get asked all the time how I did it. I have my explanation down pat now.

But it sure does beat the jealous haters who tell me to eat something, that they don't want to look/be like me or that I am too thin now. Good thing the only approval that truly matters is our own.

It's difficult to accept compliments gracefully when you've been treated like *kitten* for most of your life because you're fat.

Had to comment on this as I went through a similar thing as the OP. No one noticed the first 20odd pounds but then everyone was commenting after 40 or so and it is lovely and I always say thank you and i offer advice whenever they ask for it. But i also don't like the attention and a lot of people seemed ot think i'd dropped a lot of the weight suddenly (and damagingly) - my mother who is so proud of me will get annoyed when people don't comment on my loss (if they havent seen me for a while) and when she (HAS) to say something it makes me feel really uncomfortable, but she can't help it, she thinks its rude that they dont say anything!!

Becasue of the reason stated by HurracaineElai (who I have quoted above) I found it difficult at first to believe people were being genuine because I was used to negative attention and as i still have a ways to go i struggled to realise they weren't taking the pi$$ out of the fat girl having lost a few pounds. It has taken a while to realise they are being genuine!!!

And the back handed compliement tainted with a little of something else are difficult to take - like 'don't lose anymore now, you've gone far enough' or 'how much more? more than a stone? no, there'll be nothing of you'. If i went to work in a bikini, they'd know where that last 20 odd pounds needed to come off from!!!

But yes OP i understand the attention thing, a new thing i suppose when you've spent most of your life covering up and hiding away!!!