Fat discrimination. Is it me?

Not sure if this is an accurate observation or just that I'm internalizing but I feel that people in general react to me differently now that I've lost weight.  Perhaps it's that I feel more worthy of respect or is it that people generally respect slimmer folks.  Maybe I'm harboring my own fat bias because part of why I enjoy being slimmer is because I'm not fat anymore. 

I think there is definitely a bias against people who are heavy. On the other hand, I think increased respect/interest from other people has a lot to do with our OWN attitudes towards ourselves. I think our confidence increases once we feel better about our bodies--like you ever said "I feel more worthy of respect". People respond to that confidence. :-)

it's not your imagination; it's well researched and documented.  but you don't do yourself any service by being suspicious about people's motives.

if the same people are treating you differently, you can point that out to them.  they may not be aware of what they're doing, and it can't hurt to make them conscious of it.

I guess I was talking more about strangers who didn't know me before.  It was just an observation and me trying to figure out if it's me or as pgeorgian pointed out- well researched truth.  I think it's probably a combination of the two. I also noted that even I (despite being heavy a good part of my life) held negative feelings about fat.  Shedding the extra weight feels good to me because I no longer feel the evils of being fat.  I know I'm not being terribly clear. 

I have pondered this very thing. I lost 35lbs one summer before returning to school and was treated completely different by the SAME people upon my return. I also noticed that strangers treated me differently as well. Most of this could be attributed to how differently you carry yourself and your change in attitude. (But I know it does also have something to do with the weightloss as they probably think of you differently as well)

Just enjoy being healthy and the well deserved praise (and treatment) that you will get. Congratulations on the weight loss!

I think it's some of both; if you're sensitive about your weight, you're more likely to perceive things as being negative towards you because of your weight, even if they weren't meant that way.  That means that when you lose weight, you aren't thinking about being overweight and attributing peoples' responses to your size.  You also have more confidence and people respond better for that reason.  But it's also true that people tend to react more positively towards slimmer people, so I see both factors as being an issue.

I agree with you 100% I have lost 32lbs so far and I feel the same, I'm treated differently by people who knew me and who recently met me, and I don't think its only my attitude that has changed. And I have given this a lot of thought.

People treat me like a different person after I lost ~50 lbs. For example, at school Im no longer the one who gets left out without a pair or sits alone. I get more smiles from guys and believe it or not...they even TALK to me nowadays. Oh wow. When I was fat they didn't even look at me, or if they said anything to me, it was like "yo fat-ass, skip the lunch today will ya'?"

Oh yeah, and I have noticed that my fat mindset is a professional translating even kind words about my weight loss to something nasty. Example, someone says "you have got a lot skinnier, congrats", and I can hear it as "you were so fat before, good you changed your habits." It's very much about your own attitude.

Unfortunately that's true :(

I slightly hate the people who now hit on me ect but made rude comments before. I mean I know looks do matter, but why the hell be so horrible to someone you don't even know? 

I completely agree with this statement!!! not necessarily friends but strangers for sure!! Another difference is the opinion of the opposite sex! i seem to have much more attention now than i ever did but personality wise i have not changed one bit!