How do you deal with negative family?

Ugggh..family. So, on Thanksgiving I had to deal with my family talking about me! After dinner, the guys went to watch football and the girls were just sitting together talking. The conversation turned to be about how skinny I am, how I need to eat more, etc. Then my Mom just flat out told everyone how much I weigh! Of course they didn’t believe her and went on about how I must be at least 10+ lbs less. My sister piped in and said I never eat and I exercise for hours every day, which is completely not true! I eat 1400 calories and exercise for 1 hr every day! Now I know I am the smallest by probably close to 20 lbs, but this was ridiculous! I normally take the whole “You look so skinny now” as a compliment, but after this I just feel self-conscious. For the record, I am 5’4”, small boned, 123 lbs, but my BF% is 26% as of 3 months ago! I would love to lose about 5 more pounds and get more toned and less jiggly. When I started this weight loss journey, I couldn’t do a pushup, run without stopping every 50 ft, and I feel so much healthier now! I guess the whole point of this is: how do you deal with family or friends that do stuff like this? I didn’t really know what to say, so I just excused myself and left!
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Replies

  • Kersmudgekins
    Kersmudgekins Posts: 16 Member
    Congratulations on your journey and your success ! It sounds as if your family is jealous of your accomplishment! You did the right thing. Just walk away and surround yourself with positive people.
  • thibideau
    thibideau Posts: 19 Member
    Maybe they are jealous of your success. Be proud of your accomplishment and stay positive. Don't let their negativity sabatage your success
  • kaypat09
    kaypat09 Posts: 130 Member
    My family is the same way, although my mom would never (hopefully) tell people how much I weigh. They always tell me to eat more, that I've become too thin. Honestly, the only advice I have for you is to ignore it. You're doing this for you, nobody else.
  • schondell
    schondell Posts: 556 Member
    I doubt your family is "jealous". They probably believe that you looked fine before and are taking your weight loss too far, which you're not!
  • em3120
    em3120 Posts: 154 Member
    You guys are totally right. I just tried to ignore them. But my Mom telling everyone how much I weigh was so embarrassing even if they did think I weighed less! Your weight is kind of a private thing, ya know!
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    Maybe they are jealous of your success. Be proud of your accomplishment and stay positive. Don't let their negativity sabatage your success

    i second that...
  • sleepygirl38
    sleepygirl38 Posts: 114 Member
    ugh I am sorry that happened to you.I had a similar expereince today where I texted my oolder sister saying I lost 30 pounds. Her response was I did not know you gained 30 pounds beforl je that. She is the skinny one in the family and she has always said comments like that that feel like she wants me to feel ugly and fat. Because she lives across the country I will just now ignore her.

    I am also 5 4 and weigh 152 now. I thinnk you should be proud of yourself. Let them talk but you know you are being healthy!
  • sleepygirl38
    sleepygirl38 Posts: 114 Member
    Fyi if your mom does that again, tell her she should not be telling everyone your business. How would she like it the other way around. And I think she has proved she is not someone you should tell your weight to
  • MissFitee
    MissFitee Posts: 106 Member
    I don't think it's really jealousy. I've gotten the same thing before. Worried looks, realtives poking around to find out if I'm still trying to lose more weight and saying I shouldn't.

    It takes time for people to adjust and get used to you being a smaller you. Just like it takes time for us to accept that we are smaller.

    While I still saw myself as the fat girl I was a few years ago, they saw me as near anorexic. With time You will learn to accept that you aren't fat and they will get used to your new frame and realize that, while you're thin and fit - you're not anorexic.
  • Cori_Mac
    Cori_Mac Posts: 134 Member
    It's interesting how there is a definite change in attitudes with people. I used to be the "skinny" one in the family, now I'm the heavy one. My family, for the most part, seems to be supportive.

    Very few of my friends know that I'm on this path to health. In the far past, with other friends, when I slimmed down, I seemed to be outcast. It was like I was supposed to be the comforting, fat friend that nobody had to compete with, you know? This time I'm keeping this journey to myself and you guys, of course. I find that the less I talk about it publicly, the less people really notice. It's weird lol.

    Feel free to add me. It's tough when you feel unsupported by the people who are most important in your life. xo
  • annams76
    annams76 Posts: 161 Member
    I would tell them how you feel about the situation. If that doesn't work than I would ignore the comments and enjoy the fact that you have succeded at a goal you set for yourself. Try not to let them get you down when because when you decided to lose weight you did it for you and not for them. Good luck and good job on your success!!
  • divacat80
    divacat80 Posts: 299 Member
    Maybe they really do think you look too skinny now! It's hard to adjust to a drastic body image change. If you looked "fuller" for a long time then they probably got so used to that that they need time to get used to the new you.
    Your mom is probably worried about you, and your sister might just be jealous.

    You might be eating "too little" in their opinion (because they're not used to seeing proper amounts of food on a plate), and exercising "too much" (just because they only lift their fingers on a daily basis).
    Ignore the comments and don't be embarassed. You worked hard to be where you are right now, and I bet you've been wishing you were your current weight for a long time to be now ashamed of your progress. If your mother tells anyone your weight or not, it shouldn't matter to you.
    Check your BMI, your fat percentage as well as other indicators and if you are in a healthy weight then just ignore the comments!

    I've had the same comment from people I see at the gym, including my fitness monitors. And they KNOW I'm not "TOO" skinny (I'm not skinny at all, not yet!) but they were so used to seeing the fat me that they can't believe their eyes.


    Be proud of yourself!

    Next time your mother says something you consider embarassing in public tell whoever it is she was talking to what your mother's underwear size is. I bet she won't like it XD (just kidding, don't act like me, be a lady!)
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    I went home a couple of weeks ago and my mom said that I looked so skinny! She wanted me to go shopping with her to buy a whole bunch of new clothes for myself and I kept trying to tell her that I had about 20 more pounds to lose. *sigh* I only see her once a year at most so it was probably a drastic change for her.
  • boatsie77
    boatsie77 Posts: 480 Member
    I'm looking forward to the day when the fact that I'm skinny is the main topic of conversation--you see, it's all perception.

    If you truly believe there is nothing wrong, there's nothing to defend. Don't add fuel to the fire by constantly defending every statement they make--let them drop to the floor with a thud--good Zen practice'
  • Josh_H
    Josh_H Posts: 1,151
    Also it takes time for people to get use to seeing you this way. your family is use to seeing you a certain way, when you lose weight to them it looks like you are sick. just give them time, they will get use to it. also jealousy plays a part too.
  • jennieth
    jennieth Posts: 105
    I feel for you! I have the same problem with my family. My mom straight up said I'm "f***ing boring" because I won't drink with her anymore. I look ugly because I'm too skinny. I look anerexic. Stuff like that. I'm 5'4 and 132lbs. Size 6. When did that become too skinny. I did not spend Thanksgiving with my family. I didn't want to hear it.
  • tanyaslosingit
    tanyaslosingit Posts: 178 Member
    Sometimes its jealousy, sometimes its genuine concern, whatever... Whenever family or friends go on the offensive, I turn right it around. When my own mother made noises about my losing "too much,*" I asked her point blank how her own weight loss efforts were going, how her cardiac evaluation went, how well her diabetes management is progressing, etc. When my best friend thought I should "stop now," I simply asked about how she was faring at the gym, what activities she was planning for the week-end, and how she was doing on the boyfriend front. My sister made some remark about my weight and I bluntly asked her how much *she* weighed and what was she doing about it. Changing the focus of the subject and forcing them to go on the defensive, they quickly lose interest in my business. In some cases, I think it's themselves they really wanted to talk about all along!

    *I have ben 120-125 lbs since I was 18 years old. In the past 5 years , I gained 75 lbs. I'm just getting back to where I am normally and yet, from listening to my family and some of my friends, you would think that the Heavy Me was the norm!
  • MrsWilsoncroft
    MrsWilsoncroft Posts: 968 Member
    Tell them to jog on x
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    I would tell them to mind their own, but then again I'm like that. I'm not going to walk away. Face them and tell them your very proud of what you have accomplished even if they aren't.

    And I don't know about losing 5 more lbs, just try lifting weights to tone your body up. I'm thinking once you start lifting they will think you've gained some weight back and took their advice, but you'll know different. Best way to tone up is to lift, so get with it.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    When it comes to family, I usually go into deep smart *kitten* mode and tell them I need to lose 50 more lbs, and I'm increasing my workouts to 3 hours everyday and dropping my calories some more.

    I would also privately address mom and tell her to never do that again. You don't need to be mean, but you need to be firm and totally direct. Let her know it's inappropriate, and really not a topic that is up for discussion.

    Then, throughout the evening, I would keep asking them if they want more pie, like every hour.
  • wwmorrow
    wwmorrow Posts: 118 Member
    It's interesting how there is a definite change in attitudes with people. I used to be the "skinny" one in the family, now I'm the heavy one. My family, for the most part, seems to be supportive.

    Very few of my friends know that I'm on this path to health. In the far past, with other friends, when I slimmed down, I seemed to be outcast. It was like I was supposed to be the comforting, fat friend that nobody had to compete with, you know? This time I'm keeping this journey to myself and you guys, of course. I find that the less I talk about it publicly, the less people really notice. It's weird lol.

    Feel free to add me. It's tough when you feel unsupported by the people who are most important in your life. xo
    I don't talk about it either. My husband knows...and one friend. That's it.
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
    Alcohol.
    :laugh:
  • jetscreaminagain
    jetscreaminagain Posts: 1,130 Member
    It is an unfortunate fact of life that people feel free and easy to announce their opinions on women's bodies in a way they wouldn't consider doing with others.

    It is also a sad fact of life that when you go back to your family of origin, it is really hard to have everyone remain the well-adjusted, capable, polite, successful adults they are and not fall into the weird and often-dysfunctional roles they were used to playing with each other so long (or not so long) ago.

    So, with that jaded but true view of reality, what do you do with the unfortunate result, which is what you experienced?

    Like all stupid opinions, you have to make sure they are, in fact, stupid and groundless. So look at what was said about whether you are too skinny, whether you weigh too little, whether you do not eat enough, whether you exercise too much. And take each of those and examine them in the light of day. Are they true? Could you do anything about it if they were true? Is it helping you to think about/look at the issue with the perspective you are being offered? Does this opinion free you to pursue your goals or does it insult your soul?

    Answer those questions about the opinions you are offered. Do it regularly and it will become natural and automatic. Then, when someone freely and easily offers you an untrue, uneducated opinion that insults your soul you can just as freely and easily offer them the opportunity to **** off.

    The tone and language used in your invitation can be determined by the tone and language and level of insult in the original opinion. You will never be judged by me based on the strength of your invitation in response to stupid, douchey, ill-informed opinions on subjects that are none of the other person's business.

    Good luck.
  • KrazyAsianNic
    KrazyAsianNic Posts: 1,227 Member
    They are probably just concerned. Are they overweight or unhealthy? Maybe they are jealous or they don't realize what healthy really is.

    Congrats on how far you have come. You are a stronger better person!
  • jetscreaminagain
    jetscreaminagain Posts: 1,130 Member
    Make this your computer background or replace your mirror with it or send it to your family:

    walt+whitman+%253D+dismiss+what+insults+your+soul.jpg
  • jetscreaminagain
    jetscreaminagain Posts: 1,130 Member
    Bummer. No idea how to resize that. Oh well.
  • jenf235
    jenf235 Posts: 157 Member
    ugh I am sorry that happened to you.I had a similar expereince today where I texted my oolder sister saying I lost 30 pounds. Her response was I did not know you gained 30 pounds beforl je that. She is the skinny one in the family and she has always said comments like that that feel like she wants me to feel ugly and fat. Because she lives across the country I will just now ignore her.

    I am also 5 4 and weigh 152 now. I thinnk you should be proud of yourself. Let them talk but you know you are being healthy!

    My sister is the same way with me. She told me that she was proud of me but that if she had to listen to me talk about losing weight over Thanksgiving, she would get up and leave. I let it bother me for a while, and then when the day came, I put on a cute outfit and walked in with my head held high and was soooo proud of myself!

    Be proud of yourself! I agree that they are just jealous.
  • adavis59
    adavis59 Posts: 285 Member
    Honey, hold your head up high and feel proud of what you have accomplished! Ignoring them is the best policy. :flowerforyou:
  • jetscreaminagain
    jetscreaminagain Posts: 1,130 Member
    Her response was I did not know you gained 30 pounds

    Without the context, and not knowing your situation, this sounds like a statement of acceptance of you just the way you are. She says in this, essentially, that she didn't realize that you had 30 pounds to lose. Not that you are too anything. Sometimes we get stuck in ruts in life, including ruts in how we perceive others' actions and motives.
  • em3120
    em3120 Posts: 154 Member
    I went home a couple of weeks ago and my mom said that I looked so skinny! She wanted me to go shopping with her to buy a whole bunch of new clothes for myself and I kept trying to tell her that I had about 20 more pounds to lose. *sigh* I only see her once a year at most so it was probably a drastic change for her.

    Something similar happened to me too. I had a couple of bags of clothes to donate now that they are too big and my Mom practically had a cow! She told me I shouldn't be getting rid of all these clothes that were "completely fine". I had to put on a pair of the pants and jog up and down to show her they were falling off of me before she would let me!