"You're too skinny!" Do others ever make you question your maintenance weight?

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  • nickatine
    nickatine Posts: 451 Member
    It is embarassing when people say that because I never know how to respond. It's just because they are not used to seeing you as "thin" yet. If you were always 125 no one would say anything. I think you look great and your calorie range shows you have a healthy perspective. I think the best response is something like "No, I am fine and I feel great!"

    I totally agree. I got similar Responses when I dropped a ton of weight few years back. It will take time for people to get used to the new you, but they will.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Tinabob777 wrote: »
    As someone who was significantly underweight from birth to age 18, I heard "You're too skinny!" and "Eat a cheeseburger!" a lot. My favorite was when people tried to say I was anorexic. My reply was usually something along the lines of, "Anorexics eat over 2500 calories?"

    I was naturally thin and petite. I was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader for over 10 years. That was just how I was built.

    When someone comments on your weight, simply tell them "thank you for your concern but my doctor assures me I'm healthy as can be." That will usually shut them up.



    My youngest daughter (11) has some health issues and she is super super skinny, despite eating loads of foods. She is always looked at funny and then I get judgemental stares. I will have to start coaching her on what to say to people who will eventually start saying stuff like this.

    That ticks me off!

    I don't understand why people automatically assume 'eating disorder' when a person is very thin. Such a sad world we live in.

    It's horrible to have to tell your child what to say if someone comments on their weight but unfortunately, it's the reality. IMO, it's best to prepare her for the worst now than her not be prepared at all. Kids can be nasty nowadays.

    It's also important that she knows she can confide in you about topics that are difficult to talk about! So kudos to you!
  • JazzFischer1989
    JazzFischer1989 Posts: 531 Member
    Girl, you just ignore them. You look great and clearly you're getting enough calories so don't pay attention to the haters. Everyone's a critic.

    I grew up hearing "you're too skinny" and probably will until the day I die. It is what it is.
  • mzbek24
    mzbek24 Posts: 436 Member
    I get it a bit, I'm 4kg bigger than the minimum weight for my height according to bmi, and I want to maintain at around the minimum, because I have a small frame and I also want to be faster, for my running. If you feel happy with how you look at your maintenance weight and are perfectly healthy, tell them so. People like to assert their personal preferences, but I just think "Too skinny for what?" your preference? okay thanks for letting me know, but I'll be doing what I prefer, as it is my body, thank you.
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    A lot of it has to do with your previous weight... the weight I am at now is actually 12 lbs more than my 25 yo weight (17% bf then, 18% now at 51 yo) although I have been close to this weight all my life. I only gained 31 lbs over 4 years when I got ill - that still only put me in the overweight category by 2 lbs, so I never get those comments. BUT if you were quite heavy and that's how most people know you, when you lose the weight you look so different to them that they may not be able to envision you at a healthy weight and worry about you. They have no frame of reference for how you look at a healthy weight, that's why "you look too skinny." Good for you!
  • DoneWorking
    DoneWorking Posts: 247 Member
    edited March 2015
    I got all of this when I lost my weight too. It was mostly because the people in my circle never saw me when I was thin. If they persisted, my comeback was to rattle off my doctor's phone number, and ask them to give him a call and tell him he doesn't know what he's talking about." That ended it right there.
  • 50452
    50452 Posts: 170 Member
    Tinabob777 wrote: »
    As someone who was significantly underweight from birth to age 18, I heard "You're too skinny!" and "Eat a cheeseburger!" a lot. My favorite was when people tried to say I was anorexic. My reply was usually something along the lines of, "Anorexics eat over 2500 calories?"

    I was naturally thin and petite. I was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader for over 10 years. That was just how I was built.

    When someone comments on your weight, simply tell them "thank you for your concern but my doctor assures me I'm healthy as can be." That will usually shut them up.



    My youngest daughter (11) has some health issues and she is super super skinny, despite eating loads of foods. She is always looked at funny and then I get judgemental stares. I will have to start coaching her on what to say to people who will eventually start saying stuff like this.

    Yes, definitely coach her. It is very important to give our children the words they need when faced with oppositional situations. They, especially shy children, don't usually have the words.
  • ElkeKNJ
    ElkeKNJ Posts: 207 Member
    When I first got that comment three years ago, it was all I needed to eat all the weight back again, and even more. This time round, I'll try to keep the weight off, and not listen to those comments. It is hard enough as it is not trying to overeat. I am too short for my weight....
  • lauriesue
    lauriesue Posts: 1 Member
    I'm 53, 5'5' and went from 170 to 121 over about 9 months with the Act Now program through the hospital; no diet, just healthy choices and education with a lifestyle coach toto teach us and guide us through the process; all for $150! Funded through the state to prevent diabetes and heart disease. My blood numbers and BMI are completely in normal range. I no longer have acid reflux, my knees don't hurt. For my maintenance my coach and I settled on 1800-2000 calories a day. I too run and also bike and rock climb. I think your caloric goals and weight are realistic for your activity. People are surprised when they see me, but I tell them about my journey and let them know that I am just back to what was a normal size for me most of my life. Luckily I live in Bozeman, MT. and there are a lot of fit and slim folks. I don't get any negative vibes about my weight loss. Keep on doing what you're doing.
  • shreddedtrooper
    shreddedtrooper Posts: 107 Member
    I get this as well.. just "move along move along"

    Have a witty comeback when needed and for the others just change the subject. If they continue to press the issue then let them have it! haha


  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I get it all the time too. Only because I've lost a lot of weight on my face, my collarbones jut out and my arms are pin skinny, all 3 places I never carried any weight on to begin with!! So annoying :grumble: . But I've still got a belly and inner thigh chub. I'm 5"8 and 140lbs so not anorexic.
  • slimandsmiling
    slimandsmiling Posts: 85 Member
    I knew I was big and needed to lose weight .. now people tell me...don't lose anymore or you were fine as you were.. but I didn't feel fine and now I feel happy and attractive..why can't people say wow well done x...I think you look great by the way xx I realise this journey was for me so I don't need to take on what other people think xx
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I knew I was big and needed to lose weight .. now people tell me...don't lose anymore or you were fine as you were.. but I didn't feel fine and now I feel happy and attractive..why can't people say wow well done x...I think you look great by the way xx I realise this journey was for me so I don't need to take on what other people think xx

    I know right!!!! We get negative remarks when we're overweight, and now we're copping them for apparently being "underweight". I quit trying to please everyone a long time ago....

  • MissMelissa514
    MissMelissa514 Posts: 63 Member
    I hear that at work all the time. I'm 5'7" and went from 196lbs to 132lbs. I get the "you're too skinny" "you look sick" "eat a steak" comments all the time. It seems like it's always the overweight people that say that kind of thing to me though, so I just smile and keep going because I know how hard I worked for it. I did it for me. I'm proud of myself and so is my family and that's all that matters. Don't worry about what anyone else says. If you're happy and healthy, that's what counts.
  • astrose00
    astrose00 Posts: 754 Member
    OP, I think you look great! Keep doing what you're doing and ignore casual, stupid, mindless comments from people.
  • KharismaticKayteh
    KharismaticKayteh Posts: 322 Member
    I'm the kind of person who... I don't go out of my way to be rude, but if I feel a person is rude to me, I don't usually have a problem snapping back in a way that they might think is rude. Which means if someone told me I was too thin, I would be more than happy to smile back and say to them, "Telling a person they're too fat would be hurtful and rude, so don't you ever tell me again that I'm too thin." The only person's body anyone should worry 'bout is their own.
  • SweatLikeDog
    SweatLikeDog Posts: 318 Member
    In the eyes of the obese, the jealous, and the socially impaired you will always be too skinny. Tell you family members that support cuts both ways. Goes around, comes around.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    OP - if your current profile pictures are accurate/current then no you do not appear to be too skinny at all ….just keep doing what you are doing and try not to give a damn about what others think :)
  • MelissaH0910
    MelissaH0910 Posts: 67 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    I get that at 135 and 5'4". I'm definitely not "too skinny" and I still plan on getting smaller. I'm tired of hearing it.

    This.

    I also get "Why do YOU go to the gym? You're already so skinny" a lot. It's annoying.

  • kellygirl5538
    kellygirl5538 Posts: 597 Member
    People are just jealous
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    Women are expected to have a little padding in most eyes of society. So since they are not used to seeing that, they probably can't differentiate between an athletic 18% and barely enough 13%.

    A lot of people are saying "it's none of their business" or people shouldn't say anything about anybody else's weight" but if someone with your stats dropped another 15-20 pounds that person would be very underweight. If people held to the "I shouldn't say anything" mentality then no one would say anything. If it was then determined that person had an eating disorder that had gone unchecked for years then I think that the forums would be saying someone should have spoken up sooner. So where is the line?

    For the most part, I think that people should keep their mouth shut, but there should be a few people that you trust enough to tell you if you are starting to look bony or sick and to not get upset by it. I think you look great and healthy and you have wicked taste in clothes.
  • kindrabbit
    kindrabbit Posts: 837 Member
    I was told I look anorexic recently. My reply? (sarcastically) excellent!! That' just the look I was going for - cue eye roll and walk away!
  • audmixer
    audmixer Posts: 4 Member
    I heard the "you're too skinny" comments as well, it was just because people were so accustomed to seeing me at 250lbs for so long that when I gradually lost 100lbs over 3yrs it was shocking for them to see me at 150lbs. Now that I've maintained my new healthstyle/weight for the past 2yrs those comments have changed to "you look so great" & "you're an inspiration". It just takes people time to adjust to your new look. Heck, it took time for me to adjust to my new look as well. :smile:
  • Katherinewalters8
    Katherinewalters8 Posts: 12 Member
    I hear it everyday.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    edited March 2015
    I would just reply with "you are having issues adjusting to my appearance - which should be none of your business anyway."
  • angelgreathouse9
    angelgreathouse9 Posts: 103 Member
    I was getting it quite a bit about 10lbs ago at around 143... now at 133 and people have learned it is my body I eat ALL the time and I am healthy, so yeah they have shut their mouths. Its cazy how strangers think because I'm the lady who rings them up every morning that they can just voice their opinions about my body... well I have my own opinions and by the time I'm done they know if they aren't going to say something nice not to say anything at all... I don't give a beep about their opinion this is my body!
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