Starting to get told I'm "going to disappear"

Well, I've read about this happening to others and guess it was just a matter of time. Over the past few weeks, numerous family members, friends, and work acquaintances have started joking that I'm "going to disappear" and that I "better stop losing soon or there won't be any of you left." The first few times I was thrilled and thought, "wow, I'm actually getting there!" Now that my loss is slowing down though, it's frustrating me to no end to be told I should be slowing down when I still have another 20-40 lbs to go (40 to get to my original goal; 20 to get to my trainer's). I know everyone is just used to me at 300+ lbs, but I'm still very firmly in the overweight BMI range.

I don't want to jump down anyone's throat, but is there a nice way to deflect these sorts of comments without having to just smile and fake laugh along or get into really personal details about how much more I'd like to lose, etc.?

I would just reply that you are still overweight and you will stop losing once you are ready.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the statement that aren't used to you at the weight you're at now. I have had success saying "thank you, my doctor and I are pleased with how things are going".

I always countered with a discussion on bounce back weight. Then ask if I would still be too small with a 30 pound regain.

most of the time I just smile and say thank you me and my surgeon are making all my health decisions. I find most people talk to others about it and not me. SOOOO when someone is willing to talk to me I take the time to try to educate them on the process generally and that this is common for people who are getting close to their goals. Thank them for noticing my results and tell them Im an open book with any questions they may have and while it seems like I am getting "too skinny" trust me I am not. Its just tends to look that way when you lose a lot of weight quickly...especially in our faces but it all works out. If I am particularly irritated and cant bring myself to be much more then "WTF..mind your own business" I try to just smile and walk away.

Its your journey and its your story so you tell it the way you want. And don't let anyone make you feel wrong about how you handle it. There is a quote I love...

"Note to self, you do not have to adjust your boundaries to fit the expectations of others. you do no t have to make yourself small or quiet or compliant. You can star right where you are, in the space that is and has been yours from birth. Let them go around you. let them try to go through you. Let them hurl themselves against your rocky, obdurate truth. If your jagged edges cut, let them remember respect."

-Nanea Hoffman

Seriously....i feel your pain. But you're right, our family members/friends are used to seeing us very overweight so a normal weight looks way too skinny. I've had people say I'm wasting away, call me a string bean, say "if you turn sideways you'll disappear!", or "are you done losing now?". I'm trying to figure it out too, my response depends on the person asking and how comfortable I feel with the person asking but usually involves "I'm still working my weigh down to a healthy weight".

I had 3 different woman say something to me on my Monday Skate Class.

Lady #1, "You're getting ready to put the breaks on now, are you?" I told her no. I asked her how tall she was, she said 5'7" and I asked her how much she weighed. She said, "153". I said I am 5'4 and weigh 178, do you think I should stay obese and a major surgery. She said no and turned away.

Lady #2. "You are smaller than me now" Again, I asked how tall and how much she weighed. She was 5'9" and weighed 167. I told her I was 5'4 and weighed 178. She left.

Lady #3 joined Weigh****chers last week. She told me she only wanted to lose 20 pounds and she weighs 174. She doesn't want to lose as much as me.

I told my husband I have never been a part of the game. I think the ladies are worried, they have some competition on the field. I decided to laugh it all off. Anway, don't listen to anyone but yourself.

I love it! I imagine that got pretty personal, but no one can deny hard and fast numbers.

People carry their weight differently too...I have a group of girlfriends that weigh more than I do, but wear smaller pants -- I am bottom heavy.

People think they are being complimentary. "oh you are wasting away...."

Just say, "thanks - I will be fine!"

If the person is smaller than me, I say "I will stop when I can shop in your closet."

In my experience the comments were much worse when I still had 20-40 lbs to lose (like where you say you are now). Wait until you're at goal or even under. People will just assume you're a lost cause...