"You're so lucky to be so thin"

I have to admit, before I started dieting I would look at a lot of people and think that, "They're so lucky, they're skinny and here I am, fat".
But then I got up and started working my *kitten* off, and now I really do realize that a lot of people who are thin weren't born that way, and for all I know, they're doing exactly what I do now.

This. I was like this up until a few years ago until I realized that there is not a fairy or Genie that grants wishes and poof I'm a size two.
Now I'm trying to teach this to my children who assume that all good things in life just magically happen. Wish I had taught them this concept at a much earlier age.

Very Annoying! I have been pretty skinny my whole life and it was hard to bulk. either way all great results take hard work and dedication!

I just smile and say "thank you, good genetics I guess." It's polite and if a stranger is willing to go there then I'm pretty sure that they're not going to listen to reason.

Good point.

I had this big old lady rudely say to me in the locker room at the Y: "how do you stay so thin?" in a really nasty voice.
I wanted to ask her "how do you stay so fat?"
But that would be rude...

I have definitely thought about saying this before!

URGH. I know your rage. I'm not inclined to be fat: I've never been overweight, but I was also more or less trained by my parents to eat intuitively, was an active child, and I was in sports throughout high school and had to walk a pretty decent distance to class in college. After I noticed I was gaining weight when I started a full time job, I started going to the gym at least twice a week.

But then I sit at dinner with my friends, and one of them never fails to mention how it's my "metabolism" any time we're eating and she talks about how overweight she is. "Well, we don't all have your metabolism." It makes me so angry! I eat less than her and work out harder than her (she works out like five times a year), but she'll never admit it because she wants every excuse in the book to say I'll always be thin and she'll always be overweight. I love my friend dearly, but she uses my fitness as an excuse to avoid getting fit herself. I have a similar problem with my coworkers who are overweight and then feel free to comment on my weight when I haven't even said anything. If I then say I just don't eat as much and work out, they say "Well, you're different!" No, no I'm not, most of you are just lazy.

I should also mention I was undiagnosed hypothyroid for a couple of years and STILL managed to maintain a healthy weight and even lose some, and when I bring that up, people dismiss it with the same old excuses that I'm "different" and "lucky".

^Sorry, that was totally a rant. I just get so fed up with it!

I hear ya sister!

Sometimes I want to say "Actually, I got this way by taking a new diet pill - It's called Get-Off-Your-*kitten*-and-Work-For-It"

But in the end, I don't - because I have some truly amazing friends who struggle with their weight, and I know that their comments are not an attempt to make little of my accomplishments, but are rooted in their own struggle with self-value.

Keep kicking *kitten* and doing what you do

p.s. - I've recently started IF - It sounds like your schedule is much more intense than mine, though - but I LOVE it, it seems to work well for my body/schedule.

This is so true and you really don't know their struggle the comment probably wasn't about you but about their own feelings about themselves....be a good person and encourage them.

Well... I heard another version of this the other day from someone super skinny - I mean bones sticking out - she said she hated how guys can just eat what they want and not gain weight. Now... I know it is a little easier but I thought it was odd coming from her - I know that she doesn't work out to stay thin - she just doesn't eat. And oddly enough when eat she does it's junk - candy, popcorn, cheese fries etc. I just kept my mouth shut.

Thats when you kindly reply "I wish I were so lucky! I actuallly have to keep careful track of what I eat and get to the gym or I gain weight."

I love this answer! very smart!

I wish everyone could try MFP for two or three weeks. It is so freaking hard to grasp the work that goes into losing weight until you try it. Before MFP, I admit *shameface* I'd feel jealous when I'd see fit and healthy people. Ignorance comes so naturally until you get in someone else's shoes. *hugs for OP* That person could have easily been me 3 months ago (though I'd NEVER say it to someone's face like that...) I'm so sorry. TnT

After MFP though, now whenever I see fit people walking around campus, or see people that are overweight working out in the gym or making healthy choices, I wanna cheer them on, and I admire them. Now its insulting to think of even thinking "You're lucky to be so thin" about anyone like what I did before.

When people see the changes I've made in myself, the most common response I get: "I could never do that calorie counting stuff." The only thing keeping you from looking good is the "never".
Same rule applies to:
"I never have the time to work out" (make time. If you want it, you can make time for it)
"I'd never have the money to go to the gym" (Money is not an object. And there are Y's EVERYWHERE now with free/cheap access. you only need to look. I work out at home with resistance bands, no gym needed)
"I could never do a diet". (I said the same thing. Healthy choices/substitutions, one step at a time ANYONE can do it)

Or "OMG I'd do anything to be so skinny!"


No, you wouldn't.

That's when I reply: Lucky is what lazy people call dedicated people.

Amen to that, now please share how I get my white girl *kitten* to look like the girl on the right lol :laugh:

I've never said that to anyone, however I have to say it makes me sick to see a thin person that eats garbage all the time and never gains a pound. I however can tell the difference with a naturally thin person that is not healthy, and a person that works hard to maintain a healthy weight and body.

Wow, what a condescending thing to say. Did you totally miss the point of the post?

When I was a young teenager, I could not gain weight, no matter what I tried. I was VERY thin. But healthy and active. Some people were so rude, constantly made ignorant comments, alluded to eating disorders. I would eat anything and everything I could, all the time, including "garbage", just to try to get some curves. I was so self conscious and insecure, I HATED my body. I would have done anything to put on 5 lbs. And it was the judgemental people in the background saying "it makes me sick to see how thin you are" that made me feel even worse.

Ugh. That comment just took me right back to 7th grade.

I've never said that to anyone, however I have to say it makes me sick to see a thin person that eats garbage all the time and never gains a pound. I however can tell the difference with a naturally thin person that is not healthy, and a person that works hard to maintain a healthy weight and body.

Wow, what a condescending thing to say. Did you totally miss the point of the post?

When I was a young teenager, I could not gain weight, no matter what I tried. I was VERY thin. But healthy and active. Some people were so rude, constantly made ignorant comments, alluded to eating disorders. I would eat anything and everything I could, all the time, including "garbage", just to try to get some curves. I was so self conscious and insecure, I HATED my body. I would have done anything to put on 5 lbs. And it was the judgemental people in the background saying "it makes me sick to see how thin you are" that made me feel even worse.

Ugh. That comment just took me right back to 7th grade.

this is the thing i STILL get to this day.

Drives me nuts when people say why are you eating only healthy food, you're thin as it is. I eat healthy food because I like it. I go to the gym because there's some body composition changes I want to make & I like the way it feels. I don't make comments about them being chubby & constantly eating fast food at work /end rant