"You're Getting Too Skinny!!!!" Sarcastic Comments

I started my weight loss journey in May 2006 and have since lost 55 lbs. Now when I was 210lbs, my co-workers seemed to have no problem with my weight. If I ever stated that I wanted to lose weight, they'd say things like "Na, you're ok" or "You're fine just the way you are."

Well, after I started my journey and lost the weight, the reactions I'm constantly getting are very sarcastic. I don't think they are complimenting me or even encouraging me. All I seem to hear is ....."Oh, my you are getting too skinny" or "you better stop losing all that weight" or "You better eat something." (BTW I'm 5'6" so I'm not at an unhealthy BMI or even close it, just normal for the first time in my life!!!!!)

Seriously, I lost weight the weight in a healthy and reasonable manner (1 1/2 yrs). It seriously upsets me that these idiotic comments keep coming. Yet when I was considered clinically obese, they were quite content with size.

If you guys have experienced similar dumb people, tell me your experiences. I'm ignoring them, yet its an uncomfortable feeling that people are watching my every move as if its a sin to want to improve myself and get healthier.

I get that all the time too from work, school, family, etc.  I think it's actually a strange sort of compliment.  The comments that are disturbing are "Are you sick?" or my latest favorite, "Do you have AIDS or something?"  Yes, I actually got that one at work!  I just chalk it all up to at least my weight loss is something visually different to get these comments, so it's all good!  People are strange, don't put too much value in their comments.

Everyone has mentioned the jealousy, and I agree.  I'll be one of the first person to point out that every woman has her dark side where she's a total catty... well, not nice person.  But since that's been said enough already, I want to add that even though it's jealousy, it might not be totally negative.  It's probably commenting on you having achieved what they want.  There's a woman I work with who keeps telling me I'm fading away to nothing!  I'm not even at a "healthy" BMI yet!  I'm still 80lbs lighter that I was, so comparatively, I'm skinny.  My mom always calls me "skinny-minny" now.  I know they're both a little jealous (they've said so), but they're also saying it in positive tones of voice or in my mom's case, the teasing tone of voice that we often use with each other, so it's both saying "dayum, you've done a fantastic job" and "dayum, I wish I could do what you did!"

Congrats on the weightloss! 

Wow, I never thought I'd be able to contribute to a thread like this!  ...a very slim girlfriend kept going on that I had wasted away to nothing, that my arms were all vein-y (they always are, even if I am chubby) and I gave her the benefit of the doubt although it occurred to me she could unconciously be trying to de-rail my calorie-counting etc.  Shortly after that, a guy friend seemed worried about me, that's I'd lost a lot of weight.  I don't know what to think because most gals where I live are really underweight, many are anorexic.

I too have gotten comments like that. First, from my dad... "you're gettin' too skinny girl!" We later had a chat and he just agreed that I was very fit and in shape again, and he didn't mean to offend me. I also have gotten comments from parents at my work, "you're almost becoming see-through!" or "you're just melting away". I had lost all my weight by August, and got engaged in August... but my ring was too big so I had to get it resized. I mentioned it to one of the parents and she said "well cause you're losin' all that weight girl!"... nooooo, I haven't lost any since I got the ring! Haha..

Man, I hate hate hate to see so many people immediately conclude that others must be jealous. Geez louise!

You might consider that you, to them, do look skinny. They are used to you being much heavier. You look a little weird to them, simply because they are not used to seeing you looking like you look now.

Give it time, and the comments will eventually stop as they adjust to the new you. It make take a couple of years for them to get used to you at your new weight, so patience is definitely needed.

I get this too, although not in a catty way. I always hear how if I lost any more weight they wouldn't be able to see me, etc.  I think the reason in my case is my upper body does look quite skinny and they can't see the fat on my stomach, butt and thighs. I am 5 5 and weigh 135 pounds which is a good weight, but if I wanted to lose more fat I could lose about 10 more pounds, which I'm struggling with right now. Yes, it is very annoying to hear those comments, especially when I look in the mirror and see a fit and healthy person. Congratulations on your weight loss and I wish you luck!

I just got one of these comments this morning.  And it's from someone who I think is really nice so I don't think it's jealousy 'cause she's a normal weight herself.  Anyway she said I looked great, and then told me to "be careful".  I guess so I don't melt away? What's funny is that I'm 5'5" and 166 pounds so not really in danger of imminent starvation and I've been working my patootie off for over a year to get here.  I just mentioned that for my height this weight is still considered overweight, and thanked her for the compliment.

i find it ironic that adults usually are the ones to tell me i'm 'too skinny', 'need to get some meat on my bones' and other things of that nature, and people my own age always say i look really good and that i should model, stuff like that. i'm 15, 5'7'', and 125 by the way.

I had a co-worker who kept losing weight too, and she seemed to be in denial about how much she had lost.  You could see ribs through her shirt sometimes, her face was looking hollow, and her skin was starting to sag.  She would also exercise for hours on end.  The whole thing seemed like it bordered on an eating-disorder.

Several of us made comments and I think she was getting annoyed by it, but we were genuinely concerned about her health. 

This may not be your issue at all, as long as you aren't in denial too.  I just wanted to make a point that it wasn't always jealousy or "dumb people".

Hey guys, I truly appreciate all your comments!
I've really thought about my post throughout the day and I think I need to look at the individual: are they being positive or plain ol' catty?
As far as my health goes, I'm definitely not too thin 5'6" and 155 lbs is at a healthy BMI.
I'm also happy to hear that I'm not alone....you guys are fabulous for handling yourselves the way you did.

I actually got this from my mom a couple weeks ago when I was home to visit. She asked me how much more I wanted to lose, and when I told her 15 more pounds, she said, "I don't even know if you need to loose that! Be careful, I can see your collarbone and you'll start to look unhealthy."

I'm 5'7" and 165! At 150 I'll be safely within a healthy range, and I'll still be far from "skinny."

Congrats on your weightloss! Great Job! BTW, just my opinion but in a weird way some people think that they will flatter you with saying things like that. Seriously they mean it like a twisted compliment.

A few years ago when I lost weight I got the"how much more do you want to lose?" I just learned to ignore the comments and keep going.

Michelle

sw 163

cw 159

gw 130

Congrats on the weight loss!  Fifty five lbs is great!

I am with the others that say to consider whether or not these people are trying to be mean.  Oddly enough, they may mean it  as a compliment.  Sometimes people don't know what to say.  Maybe they are just trying to acknowledge all of your hard work.

I know that with everything that I have gone through with my weight, I am hyper-sensitive with anything anyone may say about the topic.  It is really an emotional thing - losing so much weight (I have lost about 30 lbs. since May 1) I want them to notice, but I don't wan't them to notice.  Luckily, the people that I work with are very positive, and just say "You look great!"

 

 

Calbert, thats a good point about really trying to get behind the intention because I could see someone considering, Look at you skin and bones a compliement if THEY would see it as a compliment to themselves. 

Athena also makes another good point.  I saw my brother after a big weight loss and physically he looked fit and thin but not to thin.  He did not look like himself - most significantly his face which is weird because thats how we identify people.  Like looking at someone who shaves off a beard theyve always had.  Theres a part of your mind that wants to see what you identify with. 

Then of course there are the haters LOL. 

And also folks who are genuinely concerned just need to know Im comfortable and like this weight so please support me on it because it is healthy and Im taking care of myself to be here. 

People do identify us in their minds in their mind sun123. When we start making weightloss changes, we go through a total spiritual and physical makeover that changes us in more ways than one.

Yeah, another big question is "how much do you want to lose?"sometimes I'm afraid to say it as I'm not at my goal weight.
Also, some folks would love being called "skinny." I like the word "healthy" or "fit" don't you guys?

You go girl!!!!

I think people don't understand massive weight loss.  With the attention eating disorders get on the news some people are truly concerned. They just don't know how to express it.

They also don't understand the level of commitment it takes to lose a massive amount of weight.  They seem baffled about the will power to turn down "treats" (that you don't even want).  Maybe it makes them feel bad about their own will power?

I started this year at 237lbs. I've lost 70lbs by August and have been holding steady within a 5lb range since then.  Daily I get called "skinny" or am asked how much weight I've lost or how much I still want to lose.  When I say I want to lose another 20-30lbs (very reasonable according to my height/frame) they fuss at me and tell me I'll be to thin or get sick.

I generally just make a joke of it. Lately it's been "I'm going as the incredible shrinking woman for Halloween".

Congratulations on the weight loss and don't let people get you down. You did this for YOU not for them.

 Deborah

I have to agree with ildanoch - your weight loss points out (to them) their own lack of discipline and will power needed to achieve the type of success you have realized.  And 55lbs does require a great deal of discipline to achieve!  They probably want to do what you've done... perhaps they've tried and failed in the past.  Assuming you haven't morphed into a waif model (which you have said yourself you haven't), they're probably jealous of your success, unfortunately.  Use that as motivation to keep up the good work! : P

That's ridiculous...I've had people tell me the same thing when I've quite clearly been over my ideal weight and BMI.  I think a lot of people aren't recognizing health benefits and still believe that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder', and that people shouldn't be concerned with how they look.