Co-worker said I was gaunt looking

I've lost 38 lbs and 28 inches since January 2007, I currently weight 146 at 5' 5" 1/2 inches. 

I've asked several other co-workers if they thought I looked gaunt, and nobody else thinks so.  Would they tell me the truth if they thought I did?  Or is this woman just being catty?  This woman can be very passive aggressive at time, and I think maybe she's jealous because she's been trying to lose weight with no success.

I don't know why it bugs me so, but telling somebody they look "gaunt" is not a compliment and why would anybody think that's okay.  It's not okay for me to tell her that she's "chunky" looking. 

Catty!

I dropped weight while at a job and pulled aside by a few coworkers and accused of anorexia (I was 5'2" and about 127lbs).  Over the next few months, I swear one of them dropped at least 50lbs (the one that was most concerned).  Those comments always stem from unhappines with themselves and envy.   Ignore it. 

First off, I think you look great!  You've obviously put the work in to not only lose weight but tone your body, so congratulations and good job!

Second, this woman probably is being catty or jealous.  There are some people who can't handle others success.  There are also some people who are just unhappy and mean. 

If you care enough to change this woman's perception of you, try to kill her with kindness.  Share your weight loss secrets with her or just offer support to her efforts.  If you don't care what she thinks about you, then disregard her comments - she's not worth your time!

You look great! Actually your at my goal weight!

I dont think you are gaunt looking at all....I think Nicole Richie is gaunt looking - hehe.

You are beautiful, and congrats on the weight loss. Looked at your pic and your face/collar bone area are very slender (in a distinguished, pretty way)...maybe that is what she noticed?

At any rate, try not to worry too much about what anyone says...even if some people have NO manners. Be proud of your loss and how you feel :)

She must be being catty b/c you look fantastic and are at a healthy weight. You look fabulous and don't let a single soul take that away from you.

I'm thinkin' that your co-worker doesn't know the meaning of the word "gaunt," because you sure don't look it (or yes, she's being catty or jealous. How nice). You look awesome! Like the others have said, don't pay attention to her.  

you don't look gaunt at all.  it's possible the coworker is jealous or is just noticing your face is thinner and is labeling that as gaunt.  we all lose in our faces too (for me it's the first place you notice it) and maybe the coworker just sees that change and is using a negative way to express it.  pfft to them.  you look great!

What was her tone?  Maybe she thought she was giving you a compliment.  Sounds weird, but I've got co-workers and family members who say similar things thinking it'll make me feel good.

"You're skin and bones!"

Uh...no I'm not, and I wouldn't want to be, that's unhealthy.

"It's like you're just wasting away!"

What?!  You mean I look sick?  Oh man, what've I done wrong?

I snapped at my mom not too long ago for saying something along those lines, and she told me she was just trying to make me feel good about losing weight.  I guess that's just how some people think.

Brush it off - you look great!  Those pictures are awesome!

You know you're healthy, and you know what you eat and don't eat.

I recent visited family, and they hadn't seen me since I lost a bunch of weight, and an aunt mentioned that I looked like I was "wasting away."  Well, I had to take into account that my family is, well, a little chunky, so most people who are smaller in comparison might seem to be "wasting away" to them.

Thanks for your sweet compliments everybody, you've made me feel better. 

Believe me she didn't mean it as a compliment, I happened to be weighing a banana when she walked by my desk and she said you're not still trying to lose weight are you, you've already lost too much weight because you're gaunt looking.  When I asked her where I looked gaunt, she said my face and arms.  I told her how much I weighed and she was like you don't look like you weigh that much.  I just kind of laughed it off and changed the subject, but it's been bugging me all day.

Again, thanks for confirming what I suspected, she's being catty. 

   

You don't look gaunt, you look awesome! (I'm the same age as you, by the way.)

I think what happens is that people get used to seeing obese or overweight folks, and that becomes the "new normal." My DH gets this all the time, he's very fit and lean compared to his younger brothers, he is told he looks underweight or gaunt and in actuality he's at a perfect weight for a man his height. It's his brothers that are carrying a bit of middle-aged spread!

*meow meow*

Your coworker WAS being catty - or, possibly (to be give her the benfit of the doubt) just not used to the "new you". My coworkers call me "Skinny C" (I'm Colleen, btw!) and I am CERTAINLY not skinny in any true sense of the word (166lbs, 5'6") - but since I was 215lbs last year, I guess I seem pretty "skinny" now. :-)

And, might I add, you look great! I am very apple shaped, I'd kill for your small, curvy waist! (And, in fact, 146lbs is MY goal weight!)

Keep up the TERRIFIC work!

~ Colleen

She's not used to seeing you at the weight you are now. Compared to what she is used to, you might, indeed, look "gaunt" to her. The people around you will gain experience with you at your thinner self, and as they get used to it, will stop commenting. It might take them a long time, however, depending on how long they knew you at your previous weight. Be patient with them as they learn to remember what you look like now!

I also encounter your situation too. With your look you dont look guant to me. As for me I'm still looking for ways to have a rip abs without looking guant.

Comparing your pic where you are heavier to the ones where you are thinner, there is a definate change in your face...you went from having a softly rounded face to having killer cheekbones and a sculpted chin. Calling that "gaunt" is just putting a bad spin on it out of envy...geez if that is gaunt, I wish I was more gaunt lol...alas I am cursed with a round face and will never have your bone structure. Clearly this woman has issues, be it her own insecurities, trouble adjusting to change, whatever...not a very nice way to express herself in any case. What a rudie.

You don't look gaunt. That being said with workplace what it is these days, I would not have said you look gaunt even if I thought you did. It's really easy to end up having a "talk" with HR.

UD

No way! You look amazingly beautiful! I think that was either jealous or not quite used to your thinner physique. I know that happens a lot, especially because we tend to lose a lot of fat from our face.