I prefer not get weight loss comments

I wouldn't normally do this, but this thread seems to be going off the rails anyway and I teach this lesson at least three times a week, so what the heck?

Technically, both are correct. The use of "the" denotes a specific thing i.e. "How did you lose the weight (that you lost)?" However, we can drop the "the" when speaking because it's understood by both parties what weight you are referring to. It's just a different way of asking the same question.

It's all dependent on context. For instance, "Did you lose weight?" is correct, while "Did you lose the weight?" is not unless the other person had previously specified something about that weight. For example: "I wanted to lose thirty pounds." "So, did you lose the weight?"

So yes, it's a correctly phrased but, I agree, sometimes really annoying question.

Aaand I'm taking off my teaching cap now.

Lol. I also think of it as, "how did you lose the [excess] weight", as in any weight above our ideal weight is excess weight that we might seek at some point to reduce

I always thought the question "How did you lose the weight" to be annoying! I know we say it but is that even correct English?

I wouldn't normally do this, but this thread seems to be going off the rails anyway and I teach this lesson at least three times a week, so what the heck?

Technically, both are correct. The use of "the" denotes a specific thing i.e. "How did you lose the weight (that you lost)?" However, we can drop the "the" when speaking because it's understood by both parties what weight you are referring to. It's just a different way of asking the same question.

It's all dependent on context. For instance, "Did you lose weight?" is correct, while "Did you lose the weight?" is not unless the other person had previously specified something about that weight. For example: "I wanted to lose thirty pounds." "So, did you lose the weight?"

So yes, it's a correctly phrased but, I agree, sometimes really annoying question.

Aaand I'm taking off my teaching cap now.

This is what gives feminists a bad name. So much so I refuse to even call myself one now. Someone gives you a compliment and you are suddenly a victim. :noway: I thought feminists were strong and independent. I thought feminists were badass biches, not someone who cries over a compliment!

This thread is BSC. I will graciously accept any and all compliments, whether it be about my hair, body or personality. I will even say "thank you"... *gasp*

Last night a girlfriend's FIANCE said to me, "You look like you've slimmed down." I was so insulted. It came out of nowhere and I was not asking for his approval or his gaze. No thank you! I do not care about your objectifying thoughts on my body changes!

My punchline is - when my good girlfriends tell me I look good and healthy and glowing or strong/fit, I appreciate that. But when a MAN I don't know very well tells me I've "slimmed down", I get pissed. My body does not exist for his appraisal or approval! And I did not invite such a comment so I really was annoyed. I didn't want to say anything to anyone because I didn't want to start a drama, but you know how it is. Unfortunately the male gaze exists and we just have to deal with it, through all our weight fluctuations.

That is a great idea. I know of a couple others at work that are losing weight and didn't want to say "Hey you look lost weight!" in case it came out as "Hey! You're less fat." I'll compliment the new clothes they get as they lose weight and hope they do the same for me.

What a ridiculous politically correct world we are living in now. You can compliment, you can't criticize, everything offends everyone. We might as well act like robots. Everyone is so damn sensitive.