How different do people treat you once you lose weight?

The things I've noticed is that salespeople in clothing stores are more friendly and helpful and men in bars/clubs approach me more. People I know treat me the same.

I lost over 100 pounds in 2003 and DEFINITELY noticed a difference. Guys in the mall would hand me party flyers. I used to get ignored in stores like Foot Locker where the staff were mostly male. All of a sudden 2 at a time would come and ask if I needed help. I was just separating from an unfaithful spouse at the time and really enjoyed the attention. But at the same time, it was very hollow.

When you're big, and people love you, you know they love YOU. When you're slim and "sexy" it makes you wonder what it is they actually want from you.

I was young and dumb, but it sure was fun :bigsmile:

Yes some people do treat you differently than they did before most have been mentioned in earlier posts But has anyone experienced friends being jealous of the new slim you? I have been quite surprised by two so called female friends who, although appear to be happy for me, actually say things like " I'll make sure you don't put all that weight back on" ie " hang on to some of your good big clothes just in case!" If I was a young woman I could understand this but as I am in my 60s find it quite amusing that they appear to be threatened by the new me!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

There is a big difference. I have lost 52lbs so far and peoples attitudes are very different towards me. Before I used to get comments from strangers when I was out; suggesting weight watchers, making pig faces, telling me to put food back when I was at the supermarket etc.sometimes my friends could be very judgemental and innaproriate too .I wasn't actually that big.
Anyway now I've lost weight I get a lot of comments from people esp at the gym asking me how much more weight have l lost since they last saw me, how much do I weigh now, people grabbing me to feel how small I am, also making assumptions about me. People assume I have always been big and i must feel so much better now im slimmer. I really dislike this kind of attention, its validating me because I wear a smaller clothes size, its like im suddenly a more worthy member of society, also its no ones business how much I weigh. I don't mind being told that I'm looking stronger or healthier as that's what I'm aiming for.
I have also been my ideal weight and also ,due to illness, been severely underweight ( 5'7 and weighed 7 stone) before and the reaction I got from that was very messed up. I was skin and bone and people thought it was great, I had people taking photos of me cos apparently I looked great and people asking to kiss my very prominent cheekbones .
I don't mind the occasional comment from people about my weight loss, the 'congratulations' or 'well done' is nice to hear, after all i have worked very hard and people understand that too. But it can be intrusive and unhealthy.

I've noticed very little difference. But that may be because although my body has changed, my death stare has remained much the same.

Same haha!

Yes. I had a very similar experience in 2011. I had was 182 pounds (83kg) and through diet changes and following an exercise program I dropped to 138 pounds (63kg).

People who were in my world before I lost the weight and loved me and knew me before treated me the same, but it was definitely strangers in the service station, grocery store and/or out to dinner that I noticed treated me differently. Where as before they would look right through me or not even notice me, at that weight they always seemed to be looking at me. Having said that though, I never felt like they were really seeing me for me. I felt like they were only responding to me because we live in a society where people are just naturally attracted to aesthetically pleasing things. My body was in very good shape and people responded to that .I also had people who weren't on my radar but that I had known from years a go wanting to get back in touch. It use to upset me, but now I realise that is just the society we have created and I pride myself on the fact that when I walk down the street I smile at people no matter what they look like. Tall, skinny, fat, short, lumpy, one leg, purple, pink, olive skinned, whatever, we are human beings.

I would even have regulars in the gym approach me and ask what I ate, what my exercise routine was etc etc and it was all because I had dropped kilos/pounds. I remember at the time thinking how good it would be if people were brave enough to talk to each other before noticeable changes and support one another as they were going through the change process.

wow no, i never experienced that. how horrible. Well I'm happy for you!!! :flowerforyou:

I argee with wolfman, how you act and feel about yourself gets more response than your appearance. When you feel confident in your appearance and feelings, it shows to people who notice. When you are embarrased and depressed about yourself, that comes out too.

I have noticed that people seem to treat me more harshly actually, since losing over 100 lb in the past several years. I've found the biggest difference in the workplace. I think people assume that I'm smart now, which can be both good and bad. I am intelligent but I really think in the past some of my employers and coworkers viewed me as the "sweet fat woman" and did not have very high expectations of me. Whereas now I am just seen as a peer or as competition even. I think part of this is the way I carry myself has changed somewhat and I am more confident. I was never the miserable obese woman and have always had decent self-esteem but I truly think when I was heavier, I had more of an apologetic air about me and it caused some people to treat me with extra kindness borne of pity :-/

As for the positive (?) side, I find that when my friends or family introduce me to their other friends, I am more accepted and welcomed. For example when my best friend (a SAHM in her 30s) used to introduce me to her other friends they were like "oh hello" and that's it. Now the friends she introduces me to are more likely to friend me on facebook, ask me about myself and my life, and suggest I join them for various activities. It's kind of nice although I'm glad it's not the SAME friends who were less friendly before my weight loss or that would bug me.

Definitely but you just keep on going for you, yourself. People need to realize that it takes you to change your own life. Dont like something? Do something about it.