the fake 'I'm so fat' comments

I just compliment them and tell them they look nice.

I enjoy making people happy and feel better about themselves.

Sometimes fit people have "fat days"

Awwww this is the right answer, EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS AND JUST DO IT!

I agree you never know what is really going through their heads and this would probably make their day! Always be nice to people because being rude will get you nowhere

It's probably not fake. Just because they are thinner than you does not mean they don't legitimately have low self esteem.

^^ This. Body image issues don't go away with the pounds. I will wear a curve hugging shirt because it fits nicely, but I still see the fat girl in the mirror. I've lost 57 pounds and rarely see it. I'll hold up a pair of pants and think "these look tiny, they will never go above my knees" and they fit perfectly. They might look awesome to someone else, but I'm still insecure about it.

ETA: I never say "I'm so fat." I'm not THAT girl. My issues are my own. I *know* I'm not fat any more, it's my own head issues I'm battling with.

This is so true and completely how I am! Over the last 4 years (and before joining MFP) I lost around 40 lbs. So anytime I run into people I haven't seen for a little while they always comment on how small I am or how good I look. It feels really good to hear those compliments, but in my head I'm still that person I was before. I know that this is a personal issue that I alone have to work on, and telling myself that this voice in my head will go away once I lose the last 10 - 15 lbs probably isn't true. But it's really hard to move past that.

But on the other hand, I too have a really good friend that does the complaining on a pretty regular basis and she has 9% BF!! I try to be supportive of her, but it can be frustrating and make me feel bad about myself.

It's probably not fake. Just because they are thinner than you does not mean they don't legitimately have low self esteem.

This. I was thin and I thought I was fat until I gained some weight and had kids. Now I love myself because of the gift of life I can give and realize I am more than that. I was never fat and even not I am just a little overweight, not obese or anything of the sort. I also didn't see people bigger than me as whales, but often even was jealous of their confidence instead.

I've run into that a few times. I agree with them and have said "You should probably lose some weight." And watch the disgust roll over their face. Makes me laugh to see them get ticked for agreeing with what they've said.

Maybe someone already said this but different people have difference ideas about what is fat for them. I was fat when I joined MFP and I was 130 and 5'4". To someone else that might seem crazy because that might be their goal not their starting point. Sometimes I think there is more genuine support for people who have a whole lot to lose numbers-wise. Losing weight and NSV are just as meaningful to the individual whether you have 10 or 200 pounds to lose. It seems as the number to lose gets smaller people just don't think it's as important to offer encouragement. I understand people don't want to encourage eating disorders, but someone say my height ( 5'4") is perfectly healthy at 115. When you look at it that way I hope you can see how 130 is fat for some of us.

I don't think it is fair to say that someone seeking support or opinions about their weight is instantly trolling for compliments, a b!+<#, have insecurities, or an eating disorder. I hope this makes sense and doesn't seem petty or insensitive. For the record I'm not saying I don't get support -I do. I'm just saying it's disheartening to read threads like this when so many assume people who don't have a lot to lose don't have goals or that subtle changes (both good and bad) aren't as important to us.

ETA just because someone is saying something about their weight doesn't mean they are talking about you. If someone says something like "I'm hungry" do you instantly think "what about me don't you think I might be hungry too?!!" Probably not so why assume someone is talking (or thinking) about you while expressing a personal feeling?

Sometimes people will tell me I look great and in my head I'm thinking "I've got a long way to go and I'm not pleased with my physical appearance.) it's not a "fake" compliment fishing type thing....it's how I really feel. Perhaps just because you think someone looks great or good or whatever, doesn't mean that they think they do. Just something to think about....

Thank you for reminding people.

I'd just say 'yeah you are packing a few extra lbs!' that'd stop her from doing it for attention in future

Does anyone else get annoyed with thin women who talk about how fat they are all the time? I am not talking about the insecure type who feel they are fat and have body issues. I am referring to women who know they have an amazing figure, like to show it off and are very aware that they look good. I know someone like this and it really annoys me when she will come up with a random 'Oh I'm so fat' when she knows there is a group of people (mostly bigger people) around and someone will say 'Noooo! you have an amazing figure' or 'Don't be ridiculous you are stunning'. I wouldn't mind if I thought it was genuine but it is so obvious that she is just after compliments. I know there are a lot of people with genuine body issues but I know this person isn't one of them.

I turn around, smile sweetly at them and respond with "You have gained a fair bit recently, have you thought about dieting?" Continue to smile sweetly and watch as they stop fishing for compliments, turn on you and start ranting, then shrug and respond with the fact that they brought it up. You wouldn't have said anything otherwise.

Yes, I am a *****. I don't care.

Of course, if it's genuine insecurity it's different, but you can really tell who the attention fishers are.

Maybe someone already said this but different people have difference ideas about what is fat for them. I was fat when I joined MFP and I was 130 and 5'4". To someone else that might seem crazy because that might be their goal not their starting point. Sometimes I think there is more genuine support for people who have a whole lot to lose numbers-wise. Losing weight and NSV are just as meaningful to the individual whether you have 10 or 200 pounds to lose. It seems as the number to lose gets smaller people just don't think it's as important to offer encouragement. I understand people don't want to encourage eating disorders, but someone say my height ( 5'4") is perfectly healthy at 115. When you look at it that way I hope you can see how 130 is fat for some of us.

I don't think it is fair to say that someone seeking support or opinions about their weight is instantly trolling for compliments, a b!+<#, have insecurities, or an eating disorder. I hope this makes sense and doesn't seem petty or insensitive. For the record I'm not saying I don't get support -I do. I'm just saying it's disheartening to read threads like this when so many assume people who don't have a lot to lose don't have goals or that subtle changes (both good and bad) aren't as important to us.

ETA just because someone is saying something about their weight doesn't mean they are talking about you. If someone says something like "I'm hungry" do you instantly think "what about me don't you think I might be hungry too?!!" Probably not so why assume someone is talking (or thinking) about you while expressing a personal feeling?

Agree!

Getting older I've noticed how easy it is to accumulate belly fat and even though I might not be overweight by others standards, it became depressing....which just led to more eating.

I can see how these comments would be annoying. Although since we are unable to walk in someone else's shoes....it might be better to live by the golden rule. Tends to make life less stressful!

To be honest, there have been girls at my work say that they are fat when they are about a size 6 or 8. If they say this i normally just tell them they are being ridiculous!! They do look lovely to me and id be happy to have a body like theirs. It does upset me sometimes as im alot bigger than those girls, but hey what can you do. They will always keep saying these things as i dont think anyone deep dwwn is happy with how they look. Maybe they fish for compliments so they can try and accept who they are (even if we think they are thin, they pobably see different)

Get some pamphlets about eating disorders, hand her one, and tell her to get help.

I always say, 'if you think you're so fat, then what must you think of me?' Normally shuts them up,

HAHA! THIS! TOTALLY going to use it!

It's probably not fake. Just because they are thinner than you does not mean they don't legitimately have low self esteem.

This.

If they were really that self-conscious about their body, they wouldn't wear revealing clothing. Anyone I've ever met, who has genuine negative body image issues, will wear the least revealing clothing they can find. Also, they wouldn't flaunt themselves at the opposite sex because they wouldn't have the confidence to do so. These are the kind of people she's talking about. I know what the OP is saying. I've met them. My SIL is one of them. She'll complain all the time about how "fat" she is (at 5'9" and about 120lbs), but, apparently it doesn't bother her enough to make her workout or quit eating junk food. Not to mention she loves wearing revealing clothing.

Well, she is probably not self conscious about her body, per se. Maybe she thinks she has a great body. But someone who feels the need to hear how great their body is from other people, to the point where they will blatantly fish for compliments, does not have a healthy self esteem. Maybe your SIL hates everything about herself except for her body, which is why she wears revealing clothes and bask in the compliments of other people, telling herself, I may hate my job, I may feel stupid most days, I may suspect my husband is banging his assistant, but at least I have a killer body. At that point, mocking her or insulting her appearance to get her to shut up is probably doing more harm than good.

For all those who reply that they tell their friend, yeah, you have gained weight, have you thought of exercising, that's a little over the top. I get it, nothing is more annoying than someone whining about something that is clearly not the problem, but if you don't want to play their games, just ignore them. Change the subject. If your size 0 friend who regularly wears halter tops and short skirts whines about how fat she is to you, and you never reply, she'll eventually stop. No need to suggest she go on a diet or workout to shame her into never talking about it to you again.

So late to this conversation... I normally don't show that I mind when thin girls complain about being fat. I figure my "issue" with it is based out of my own insecurities.

That being said, I had a "friend" in High School that seemed to say it an effort to make me feel bad about myself, especially after I had lost quite a bit of weight. She once asked to borrow a pair of pants after a sleep over. I had two clean options, older, baggy jeans in short or CK, smaller jeans in regular. She was taller and thinner than me but chose the short, baggy ones and then all day complained about how they were sooooo big for her. She was insecure despite being thin and seemed to need to make me feel bad about myself so that she could feel better. Those types of girls annoy me when they complain about being "fat".

The other ones, I figure are in the same boat as me despite the size discrepancy. I feel bad for them because they can't enjoy their thinness.