Twice this week, I have been walking down the hall at work, seen someone I know casually and they just blurt out "how much weight have you lost??!?!" It's somewhat unnerving but at the same time motivating. I tell them and we talk about it for a bit, and they tell me I look good and don't need to lose anymore (not true,lol).
In the past few years, when I have been in the yo-yo cycle of dieting, when people start to notice it really bothers me. I would rather not be noticed (as I am a quiet somewhat shy person), which is partly why I got the extra pounds in the first place.
This time I know I am doing it for health and to feel better. I am trying to use the attention as motivation, but telling myself that now people know I am losing weight (I kept it to myself for the past few months), I can't give up.
I want to know how others would react if they were, or have been, in my situation. I know this will occur again as I work in a hospital and know tons of people. It just seems so blunt the way they are asking me?

MB
192/161/130
5'4"

Hi MB, well i have the opposite thing going, im loving the attn im getting and the inquires, who knows it may even encourage someone else that they can do the same thing, that would be ultimate.

__________________
Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

I was the talk of the building after spring break--no one had seen me for over a week--almost two as I took two extra days off--and everyone was shocked at how I looked. I have to admit, I am somewhat of a center-stage person so I love the extra attention and find it VERY motivating. I love that others notice, I am working really hard to be both healthy and thin! I know, I know, I want it all! I have to make a doctor's appointment here soon and need to get some bloodwork done as well. I want to know waht my profile is now that I have been LCing for over 4 months! Well, 4 months yesterday! I usually say something like--"oh, a little", or "some" and if they ask I give the exact number--which right now is 43.5 lbs! I am soooo proud of myself! I like that others are using me as a positive motivator, I have helped several people start on this WOE and that motivates me too!

__________________
Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

mb-i'm sorry, but i'm kind of with the other folks in that i love it when people notice, and the more shocked they are, the better if you ask me! but i've got a leo rising, so that explains that...ha! :gorgeous:

i think you probably need to come up with a response you're comfortable with for the time being, but acknowledging the fact that these are not changes that you can hide and people will notice and will comment on it...

you're right that the "well, how much?" questions do seem rather blunt...maybe you should tell them you haven't lost any weight, because you know exactly where it went! or if you don't want to throw out numbers, maybe you could just say "a lot!"

i dunno. it is something people are curious about. nearly everyone either wants to lose some weight or has someone close to them who does. looking for the secret formula, y'kno?

and maybe it's a time in your life when it's appropriate to try on some new roles, too. as in, not always playing the wallflower. sometimes, that slight discomfort is just a sign we're stretching our limits and experiencing some of that good ol' emotional growth.

here's hoping the positive feedback grows on you!

__________________

I have the same problem here. I work with 3 men and 2 women, very small office. My boss is very supportive and eats salads right along with me for lunch. The other day the one guy said oh how much have you lost and i told him, cause frankly i'm VERY proud of myself he then says well you've lost enough and be careful as it could turn into an obsession and i was like WHAT?!?!?!? First and foremost i'm taking it off at a turtle's rate, which is fine, secondly I'm just now starting to go into a size 16 which by the worlds standards is still obese. I just don't get how he could say i need to stop when quite obviously i should go go go lol. Some people....

__________________
Tracy
REstarted 1/1/05
240/233--goal 150 at least

tracy-

i've heard that "stop now" thing before. what's up with that?! i just don't get it. i just hit a 16 too, and it's not like that is "too skinny" or anything, for god's sakes. i'm only 1/2way where i want to be!

what are these people thinking? that weight loss = anorexia? that we're crazed weightloss machines?

and why do others feel they have a need or right to comment on what your goals should be to begin with?

people confuse me sometimes. i guess maybe it's just a tendency for folks to want to avoid upsetting the system. they want us to continue to play the same role we always have in the group. i know when i stopped being the "family fatty", things started shifting...

anywho, to hades with that! i'm doing my thing, man, and ain't nobody stopping me!

__________________

I just don't understand that either. I can see if I were a size 4 and eating like a bird maybe, but the reality is...I am still over 200 pounds, yes I've come a LONG LONG way, but I'm only in a size 16 and according to all the obesity experts that is still considered HUGE. My goal is to be 150 pounds which by my height and age is considered healthy. I imagine that would put me in a size 8 or 10?? Who knows, but I'm not stopping until I'm there. Sure I get frustrated and eat chocolate, I wake up at 4:30 and think I want to sleep another 2 hours instead of sweating at the gym. I've been in the slump where I have a carb fest and don't go to the gym. I've watched my weight yo-yo every other day, I've considered giving up when the weight goes up 5 pounds when I do all the things I should be doing. BIG point is, I feel GREAT. I've got my self confidence and self esteem back. I'm energized, I get out there and exercise 4 times a week, I've been able to go to a store not a plus size store and find my size and have it fit. That alone is worth all the frustration. Take a look...here is me August 2003 and here is me Today and I really couldn't have done it this long had it not been for this place...I thank you all!

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Tracy
REstarted 1/1/05
240/233--goal 150 at least

tcpd30..girl you need to put those bad boys side by side and post in the photo section!!
thanks for the inspiration...

__________________
kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Hey everyone- thanks for the replies, Huskers and TCpd40 you all have really motivating stories! Way to go on the weight loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goddess- you are right in that I should just acknowledge that people would notice, I guess it would be hard not too when you have 60 pounds to lose! However, I'm NOT a wallflower by any means ;-) I've always been the wild child. I think I'm just overly sensitive about the weight issue, and maybe its time to just plain get over it!
Thanks ya'll and good luck with your weight loss goals!
~MB

MB I am walking in your shoes. The attention is definately unnerving to me to...but also motivating.
Blunt is a good way to describe the way it is asked. I'm a teacher and it is weird to answer that question in front of the students.

Amy

__________________
Began 1/12/04 245/177/150?:Restart 1/12/07 223/223/170????

Agua, it is even more "weird" when it is the kids aksing!!! I love it that even those small ones (I teach K-4) notice that you are changing, but I still find it hard to answer--never sure how much information to give them. I usually tell them I am working on getting healthy and that sometimes means thinner too! Fits my curriculum too!

When someone at school asks how much I have lost (close friend) I tell them it isn't lost becasue if it were I'd be looking and I am most definitely not looking, but that 43.5 lbs are most definitely not on my backside anymore! When it is not someone in my "circle of friends" I jsut tell them thank you and if they ask how much It ell them. I am really proud of myself and the fact I haven't even considered stoppig or giving up--this has to be some kind of record!!!

I have one aide calling me skinny mini and another calls me stick, but the custodian is the one who really cracks me up--he says I am half the person they hired--IF I am half of me now--I don't want to know what twice of me was!!!! I weigh 188 now!

__________________
Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

Something I've noticed is the treatment from almost-strangers. I work at a store in a small mall, so there are a lot of people I "sorta" know, because they work in the mall too. These people now, and specifically the men, gosh, previously a nodding acknowledgement is now a full fledged conversation! Suddenly I'm worthy of the time it takes to say hello, how ya doing, how's business at your store? Never a comment or question about the weight loss, but they definitely treat me differently. But honestly, I don't think people realize they do it. It's so a part of our culture that thin people are just "better", that someone who's never been on our side of the coin are just clueless. But at least WE have the perspective, and can treat all humans with kindness and respect, and I feel that's a valuable lesson that being overweight has taught me. When I encounter a heavy customer at my store, I can relate to her, because I WAS her. I know precisely what she's thinking as she looks through the clothes at my shop. This comment is going all over the place here, I'm not sure how to make a final point. But I sure hope you guys know what I mean.

Stacie
222/146/140

i DO know what you mean... very strange going from INVISIBLE to suddenly VISIBLE... i have a newspaper ads rep that i see all the time usually... well i didnt see her for about a month for some reason.. ran into her yesterday and said hello... she looked at me blankly at first and then said 'OH! I DIDNT RECOGNIZE YOU' *L* i didnt ask why... and she didnt SAY why...but i kinda have a hunch..*grin*

__________________
kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

mb- i understand about the sensitivity. it's a delicate area for me, too, or least it has been for a long time. i feel like i'm finally starting to leave that behind me, and how cool is that?

and i do know what you guys mean from the invisible/visible thing, too.people treat you differently...

__________________

Boy have I noticed the "different treatment" thing too!!!! People seem much more positive to me, but then again, on the other hand, I am probably coming off more positive and confident than I ever did before. So, it's a chicken or the egg kind of thing. People have started noticing my weight loss AGAIN, since I had stalled quite considerably during the winter. (and I haven't really changed much except that I am eating MORE!!!) I LOVE the positive attention!!! And it opens the door for me to say how I've done it, which always brings on a conversation about LCing. I'm all about educating people about it, so I love when the topic comes up. I figure, maybe I will help at least ONE person to gain control of their health.

__________________