Does being told you are thin ever get old?

forevermaryb
forevermaryb Posts: 108 Member
edited November 20 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
After being heavy most of my life, I lost 70 pounds and have been maintaining for over a year and a half now. While people I've known all along have generally (understandably) stopped making comments about my weight, I still feel surprised when someone says something about me being "skinny" or "thin". I usually get a thrill over it or look over my shoulder to make sure they are actually talking to me. Now, I'm 5'9" tall and weight around 145 (BMI of around 21), so I am at a healthy weight. The comments aren't personal or meant to be negative; more along the lines of a new massage therapist I went to who said she could feel the tension in my hip flexors because I was "super thin" or the girl at the department store who said I would look good in a particular dress because I was "so small". Do you ever get tired of hearing you are thin (or any other synonym)?
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Replies

  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,415 Member
    Yes, but there have been points in my life where I was trying NOT to be "thin." It is a compliment when it's something you've worked hard for. It's a heavy reminder if it's the symptom of an illness you're resisting.

    That said, enjoy it. You've earned it.
  • forevermaryb
    forevermaryb Posts: 108 Member
    I should add that I don't mean the comments from those "well meaning" people who say you should stop losing weight (even though I have for a while now), or that you're "too skinny". Those get old. I get tired of saying I am healthy.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Id imagine its a bit dull if you have an eating disorder.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    It did for me, so I started lifting weights. No one says I am thin anymore.
  • flatlndr
    flatlndr Posts: 713 Member
    It did ... until I started replying that "I'm back to my university years fitness level". That leaves them speechless. I can see their mind turning over, wishing they could turn back the clock too.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    No, I never get tired of it :smiley: ..but then I'm not super thin but slim, so maybe it's different for me.
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
    ElizabethKalmbach wrote: »
    Yes, but there have been points in my life where I was trying NOT to be "thin." It is a compliment when it's something you've worked hard for. It's a heavy reminder if it's the symptom of an illness you're resisting.

    That said, enjoy it. You've earned it.


    I very much agree.
  • lisab64mfp
    lisab64mfp Posts: 89 Member
    Depends on how they are saying it. There are some people who say it w/a sour puss look on their face.
  • Bj0223
    Bj0223 Posts: 133 Member
    In the last couple of years I have lost 78 pounds and I know what you're talking about. I was getting a scan done of my gall bladder and the tech also scanned my heart and said I had a very healthy aorta and then made the comment, of course you are so small. I had to keep myself from laughing! I was flattered and felt great the rest if the day.

    I think it is a compliment for those of us who worked hard to lose weight. I feel this is part of my reward and hopefully the comments will keep me away from going back to old habits.
  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    It did for me, so I started lifting weights. No one says I am thin anymore.

    lol +1
  • Debmal77
    Debmal77 Posts: 4,770 Member
    I really, really want someone to tell me I'm thin!! Congrats on your weight loss!
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Yeah, it gets old.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    999tigger wrote: »
    Id imagine its a bit dull if you have an eating disorder.

    Depends on the eating disorder. In my disordered state I thrived on it--it pushed me harder--"you think I'm thin now--just wait!" Not a good thing, but I didn't tire of hearing it. (This was half a lifetime ago however.)
  • nathalier71
    nathalier71 Posts: 570 Member
    yes - it does get old. I'm also tired of hearing - you lost more weight! you've got to stop! when I've not lost a single pound in almost a year! the worst is they'll argue with me! Last time I told the lady - I should know, it's my body!
    argh.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • BrettWithPKU
    BrettWithPKU Posts: 575 Member
    Hmm. I don't know that I've thought a whole lot about this. But honestly, I'm looking for an athletic build. So I think I'd prefer being called "in shape" to being called "thin." I'm sure "thin" is desirable--being the opposite of "fat"--and I certainly wouldn't consider it an insult, but I think I'm motivated more by general physical fitness than the size of my waist.
  • JohnBarth
    JohnBarth Posts: 672 Member
    Where I'm irritated is while I've lost a lot of weight, I'm still on the higher side of obese (near morbidly) at a BMI of 38ish. Co-workers that say "hey skinny" when passing in the hall make my blood boil. I know they're trying to be supportive, but I'm far from skinny yet. Sorry, rant over.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I've been called "too thin" and that's just plain irritating.
    Interestingly both times by fat, failed dieters.

    People react to the same words differently BTW - to me "thin" and "skinny" are negatives and "slim" is a positive descriptor.
  • 68myra
    68myra Posts: 975 Member
    having a touch of body dysmorphia, i don't like being referred to as thin or skinny because i automatically think they are either lying (just being polite) or blind. I was at a dr. office once, and the nurse asked if i'd been weighed yet, and then immediately changed her mind and said, "I'll just write slim". When I replied, thanks for the compliment but I don't share your opinion, she said: I thought you'd say something like that.
    intuitive chick. it was my first visit there.
  • gkauf744
    gkauf744 Posts: 128 Member
    I've only been at goal weight for about 3 weeks, but so far I haven't managed to walk by a mirror without checking to see whether I really look slim. I am totally tired of the "stop losing weight" comments. Although the "you need to eat a cheeseburger" comment was really funny. I've never in my life been accused of needing to eat a cheeseburger. lol.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    After working my *kitten* off (literally) and making the sacrifices and pouring sweat to get where I am....no. Never.
  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    AllOutof_Bubblegum wrote: »
    After working my *kitten* off (literally) and making the sacrifices and pouring sweat to get where I am....no. Never.

    *kitten* A +1
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    I don't get tired of it. I just grin and say that I feel great!
  • fitfabforties
    fitfabforties Posts: 370 Member
    no, it never gets old for me.....:)
  • michaelafoor916
    michaelafoor916 Posts: 710 Member
    I think we all need to be nicer to each other. Not trying to go all tree hugger hippie on everyone but seriously... we are all equal- yet we have thin people calling bigger people "fat" in a derogatory way and we have bigger people calling thin people "skinny" in a derogatory way... we are all on our own journey and battling our own demons. the last thing we need is to turn our back on each other and judge.

    okay.. done ranting :p
  • disasterman
    disasterman Posts: 746 Member
    edited June 2015
    I really don't like unsolicited comments from anyone about my size one way or another. I like when people say I look "fit" or "healthy" or "like I'm taking good care of myself". I've had all of those and Yay! But I did not like "a little heavy", "like you could lose a few", or "check out that belly!! which I've also had. And, "are you sure you're not losing too much?", "your're going to disappear", and "too skinny, better slow it down".... blech.
  • susiederkins21
    susiederkins21 Posts: 29 Member
    I'm not sure if I would mind it. It's been awhile and I have a long way to go before I'm thin. I have been called "more aerodynamic" by one of the doctors at work, and I did like that compliment!
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    No, I don't get tired of hearing comments that I'm "skinny" or "looking great" or whatever, but in comparison I felt absolutely elated when someone told me at the gym that my arm muscles look amazing, because it just means I can do more with my body, whereas my body size is, well, what it is.
  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    challenge them to a Feat of Strength
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    nope
This discussion has been closed.

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