Like you, I don't really want to hear comments about my weight. I didn't want to hear them the first round of low-carb for multiple reasons.
I didn't get any comments from non-family or support people until after I'd lost about 50 pounds. And I think those comments were mostly meant as compliments and to acknowledge achievement. Some out of curiosity.
But the comments got old really quick.When they turned to "you don't need to lose anymore" (well before i reached a healthy weight) and "You're TOOOOO thin" (at goal), I was starting to get pissed. Was it meant as a complement? Were they jealous? Was it because I'd changed the social fat order dynamic? And in some cases, I just wondered if they'd lost their ever lovin mind. I mean, people don't make comments on your weight as you're gaining, or while you're fat. They don't say, boy, you've put on a few the last couple months. Or randomly tell you you need to go on a diet because you're huge. That's just seen as mean and hurtful. What makes them think they can comment on my losses in the same manner?
I started a new job after reaching goal weight. Hundreds of people who only new me thin, and I didn't tell them otherwise. Guess what? They made comments on my weight too. Mostly because, and I quote one guy who said "You eat non-stop, yet you look like you never eat." (This was a random comment by someone I barely knew)
And apparently there's some female competitive dynamic of being the "thinnest" person in the group. Because there were ladies who despised me for no other reason than I was a little smaller than them. I still don't really get that, because unless your weight is causing you ill affects and I care about you, I don't care what you weigh, or who's smaller or bigger. I think it's ridiculous to judge a person's merit on size alone.
As I fell of the wagon and regained weight, almost no one commented. Not even the ones who should have been concerned that the gains were having a detrimental effect on my health and well-being.
As I start to lose again, the comments will start again. From those who are being supportive and acknowledging my efforts, I'm OK with and appreciate that they will mention my losses.
For the rest, I hope they just keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves. They get no input on my weight choices.
Moral of all of that was:
1) People think it's OK to comment on thin, or getting thinner, people's weight. And they do it for various reasons, about half with positive intent.
2) Like it not, we have to deal with people's comments. We don't control what other people say or do. We do control how we choose to react to them though. And I've found that assuming positive intent, goes a long way to not letting people's comments bother me. (A non-weight example: I was working an outdoor dog adoption event on a really hot day. And we were taking extra precautions to keep the dogs cool and comfortable. Some random lady comes by and starts complaining about the fact that we had dogs outside in the high temps. Almost all of the volunteers immediately felt defensive. They couldn't believe this lady would be so nasty, after all we were doing for the dogs, how dare she? Well, the lady didn't see the effort we were putting in. Her message was delivered very negatively. But her interest was the welfare of the dogs. While her message was negative, her intent was positive. Once I pointed this out to the other volunteers, they were less bothered with the woman's comment.)
When the comments come, and they will, ask yourself "What positive reason could they have for saying that?"
And I second what Jo said.
But will add that, for the people who are more worried about me and what I'm doing, than they are about themselves, I really feel feel sorry them. Their life must be pretty empty or bad, for them to give so much focus to me, instead of themselves.
Don't let your fear of what people may or may not say/think, stop you from achieving your dreams and goals. The only opinion that really matters, is your own. Reach for the stars and make it happen.
Sorry, that got very long winded. I'll stop with one of my favorite quotes. "What other people think of me, is none of my business."
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