"Don't get too skinny"

Just back from the holidays at work and over the moon to be in the 'overweight' category today when I stepped on the scale with a BMI of 29.9. I am not obese as of today!

Today TWO average-weight coworkers (both superior to me) seperately said "don't lose too much weight/don't get too skinny" to me when they saw me. It was hard not to snap at them both.

I held my tongue and just said to them both "I'm working with my doctor on my weight loss". To the second person, I said "it seems everyone has an opinion about this".

How do I keep from getting irritated by this? How do you guys handle it?

I wouldn't take it personally, I think the idea of someone else losing a large amount of weight make some people feel uncomfortable so they don't know what to say. 

 I normally don't say anything because someone else's weight is none of my business but I have heard people say it's hurtful when people DON'T comment on their weight loss.  

I know after my surgery I will be in for all kinds of comments and questions but I do believe most people mean well they just don't know how to react.

You are totally right, these people definitely didn't mean any harm (they are good folks). Work just seems like a weird place to comment on other people's bodies.

Good luck with your journey. 

Most people are with their co workers more than their families.  I think it is the place where you will hear the most about your weight loss.  Take it as a compliment and move on. The only time I have ever gotten upset is when someone says something that is truly meant to hurt me, then I let um have it.  Otherwise I say things like Not likely, Oh my I have a long way to go before I have to worry about that or I just laugh, no since in getting upset after all it is a confidence booster when someone says how great you are looking. Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!!

Let's see, the list of "compliments" is getting long now that I'm 17 pounds from goal.

"You look positively Ethiopian."

"You need to stop losing weight now, you're getting too skinny."

"Please tell me you're not going to lose anymore weight."

"BMI means nothing. You should live by the charts, you're thin enough."

"You're wasting away."

Etc, etc.  I just tell them that I'm doing what my doctor and I agreed on for me, and I'm not losing weight for anyone else.

The real compliments are so worth all the negative ones.

"You look beautiful and healthy."

"I'm so proud of you, you look amazing." That one is from my son, he made me cry.

"You have done so much for your health, I'm really happy for you."

I just wish my mom and dad were still alive to see me now, since they only knew me as overweight and heading toward very bad health.

I'd thunk they meant no harm and were actually trying to be nice.  Everybody I've talked with has been supportive.....even people who say things that make me cringe ("ohhh, Ive heard about WLS....it makes you sick right?) are just trying to have a conversation. 

I say 50 things a day that I'm sure could be interpretted as insensitive by others.  Cut em some slack and move on.

For sure. I'm looking for a rebuttal to that comment that will shut it down without being super rude. Got anything good? 

I dont really know that any comment will always work.  I usually just say stuff about how its been a remarkably good experience for me.  Once I start talking about how happy I am, it frames the conversation for them and generally moves things along.

i do have to remind myself that, when I was heavy I was certain that everybody was always looking at me. Now that I'm losing weight, I catch myself thinking everyone is looking at me.  In reality,  most people dont really care about my weight very much at all.  

I used to just say, "unlikely -- thanks!" and laugh while I moved on

I think as much as an adjustment for us to learn our new bodies, people have to get used to seeing us. 

I mean, I am almost half the person I was 9 months ago!! Crazy. I was looking at a before picture yesterday and I seriously looked like one of those WW before pictures when the lady says, I dont know how I ever let myself get that bad. I was THAT bad. I look like I ate myself and then got bloated.

So what an optical adjustment this must be for everyone else. You probably DO look skinny to them, even though you arent healthy you ARE skinny in their eyes.