Reacting to compliments

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Replies

  • CurvesCreations22
    CurvesCreations22 Posts: 1,076 Member
    I am bad at receiving compliments. A voice in my head says you still have work to do and you aren't there yet. But I hold back and say thanks not even truly hearing the compliment. I need to work on that.
  • Shana67
    Shana67 Posts: 680 Member
    I guess what I'm really asking is how do you respond to compliments politely while trying to remain humble and focused?

    "That's a nice thing to say - thank you!"
  • JessiBelleW
    JessiBelleW Posts: 836 Member
    It makes me feel uncomfortable because I haven't actually lost weight for about six months, and even then, my progress was super slow. I feel embarrassed because I could have/should have lost so much more. I feel undeserving.

    Thats one way to look at it, but the other way is that you have lost some weight and kept it off! If you had done nothing you would still be your original size!
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    I do okay with compliments, I just say thank you. I'm not so smooth with the "have you lost weight?" I tend to do a weird uncomfortable, 'oh maybe I guess' and change the subject. I think I respond that way because I don't want to enter into a discussion about how much/why/how/blah blah.
  • adelinue
    adelinue Posts: 98 Member
    edited February 2016
    People here don't really say anything on my weight loss; I think because they don't know what to say (I'm talking about people i'm not close too.) Family and friends sometimes say something like: "You're keeping it up, that's great! Way to go" or "You look good now" and I just say 'yeah' or 'thanks', I didn't feel awkward or anything because those people are close to me so I feel comfortable around them.

    However yesterday we were in a group at college; I didn't really know most of the people (I mean, they weren't people I was close too; we were juste classmates) and one of my friends there (who didn't see me in two weeks) said : "Wow, you look good; I wish I had your will power" (She was a diet buddy but gave up a few weeks in).

    It was a genuine compliment, nothing backhanded or anything but all of a sudden all of the others thought that since the subject was on the table they can talk about it. So out of nowhere, I got 20 people or so complimenting me on my loss. I was feeling really awkward and I didn't know what to say. Fortunately that same friend noticed it and just said: "Yeah, you look great!" then changed the subject.

    Weird thing is that at the beginning of my journey I was waiting impatiently for those comments! And the first time I got those (first couple of weeks) from family I felt great. But after about 20lbs the change became really noticeable and the comments became too much. I didn't know how to handle it gracefully and just began to resent myself for making people feel awkward by making me a compliment.
  • pislari_poljnamd
    pislari_poljnamd Posts: 45 Member
    In my case "wow I can't believe you had twins!!"
    My answer always is "that's very kind of you,thank you "
    We work sooooo hard so why not just enjoy honest compliment or sweet little lies! :)
    Don't be embarrassed of your achievements!
  • neldabg wrote: »
    As you all are losing weight, how do you react to compliments? I'm not big on seeking attention and the positive reinforcement is more embarrassing to me then helpful. I'm not saying I get mad when someone compliments me, but I'm not exactly comfortable with it. It may be a "guy thing" or it may be my own issue.

    I guess I feel like my journey isn't done yet and I don't want buy into my own success yet. Strictly a mental thing with me. I feel like if I start listening to everyone's kind words, I may get a little complacent and lose motivation.

    I guess what I'm really asking is how do you respond to compliments politely while trying to remain humble and focused?

    I agree with you there. I've learned to strictly go by my own (and my doctor's) opinion of my body. People were telling me how slim I was when I was still 20lbs away from a healthy BMI(????). People generally do *not* know what healthy looks like, especially here in the USA, where everyone and everything is huge, so it's smart that you're teaching yourself now to ignore everyone's compliments.
    Compliments don't really bother me, but advice-type commentary is what really annoys me.
    I say "thank you" with a small smile and change the subject. It's polite, and it gives the person a tiny hint that you won't be focusing on your weight control success for the rest of your time together.

    The same has happened to me and continues to happen, when I first lost 50lbs two years ago, everybody was telling me how good I look, and how I should stop...although I was under a bmi of 30, I was JUST under, another 10 would have been near perfect.

    I Proceeded to starting bulking "on purpose" and now im cutting and I guess I look thinner...my own mom and others have said I shouldn't lose anymore, that I'd be too skinny, yet all of theae people tell me tales of how they used to look, or how "they do it when they want to slim down". In most cases, Im yet to see when they were ir are "in shape".

    I actually enjoy the compliments and say a polite "thank you" like others here, because reality is although the compliments make me feel good and tells me the my progress is noticeable, I dont want to hear your "advice" and dont want to go into how I do it, just to get criticized by someone who has no clue what it takes.

  • BEVERLYSTEEN
    BEVERLYSTEEN Posts: 106 Member
    I understand your feelings. That being said I will tell you that when I was not on program, but wanted to be, I complimented someone and then said to myself "I sure wish I could get it together". Seeing others at work loose weight helped me to finally get back on track.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Thank you- feels like I have a lot more to do but my hard work is paying off!
  • FabianRodriguez94
    FabianRodriguez94 Posts: 221 Member
    I enjoy them, but I get a bit flustered. I'll usually say "thank you" and then worry when they ask HOW I lost the weight, because people will not usually react the same to the answer "I ate less and exercised more".
  • farmerpam1
    farmerpam1 Posts: 402 Member
    ^ This. Most people seem to want to hear of a miracle new diet or some fad.
  • Domicinator
    Domicinator Posts: 261 Member
    I blush and say "thank you" and leave it at that. I learned awhile back that if I say anything past that, I start getting unsolicited advice. Like I always used to say things such as, "Thanks! I still have a ways to go, but I'll get there eventually!" All that comment does is invite the other person to give you advice on how to lose it faster or what to eat to take off those next 10 lbs. (By the way, the person giving the advice is usually 2 or 3x my size and weight.)

    Honestly though, I'll never get sick of people congratulating me or complimenting me on the weight loss. It's a really great payoff for all the hard work.
  • 1PoisonIvy
    1PoisonIvy Posts: 933 Member
    When I lost in the past, I was more upset at people that normally wouldn't give me the time of day, now gave me attention only because I was slim. That was hard!
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