NSV - kinda

I walked into work today and a coworker called me over. She said "Keisha I have to tell you that you look ordinary. You are a normal size now." Now, I know she meant it as a compliment so I chose to take it that way...but...was I not normal before?

Funny!! My goal was always to be normal and just blend in to society. I don't like attention.

Congrats. Definitely take it as a compliment!!

Compliment for sure but funny!  Some people are just not that great at giving positive feedback.  Your co-worker probably falls in that category :)  When you think about it, just say to yourself what we say in the south, "oh bless her heart".  

I'd take it as a compliment, however poorly worded. That's one of my happiest NSVs to date -- looking at myself in a picture and not immediately having my "fat radar" go off; i.e., not immediately identifying myself as "a fat person."

That is a compliment. I consider myself 'normal' fat now. Not thin but not so fat people notice you for being fat.

I have to disagree with everyone, maybe because I'm still in the obese category lol! I take offense to anyone saying that we're not normal when we're any size. Who has a right to say what is normal? If she had said healthy I would say hell yeah that's awesome! (Regardless, it's obvious it was meant as a compliment so GO YOU!!!) But by saying it the way she did probably would have made me cry. I'm only 33, I want and need this to work for the rest of my life but I'm very conscious of the fact that it may not and I may gain weight back. So "not normal" make me sick to my stomach :(

I know I was torn. It felt good to have someone acknowledge my accomplishment so far. It's just not something I ever discuss with any coworkers. But I also felt bad. Because I know in the back of my mind how they thought of me when I was larger.

You are still early out so I understand the emotional part for you, but you have to realize that being morbidly obese is NOT normal. Sadly when we as a society started getting more and more accepting of being obese, it now seems like the "norm", but it is not and should not be thought of as normal. I still fight the good fight every day to stay healthy and keep my excess weight off. So many people I know who had surgery the same time as me have given up and are obese again. That will not be me.

It took a while for me to forgive myself for letting myself get to that point. I am finally at peace with my past.

I have to agree with Laura, here. We don't start out our weight-loss journey "Normal". We start out "Super Morbidly Obese" "Morbidly Obese" "Obese" and "Overweight". The goal is to get back into the "Normal" weight category again!

I too, can empathize that it being said out loud to you might invoke a confused or negative emotion, but it's unfortunately just the truth. 

I remember going to a Walgreens "Take Care" clinic for an ear infection once, and my prognosis was: "Ear Infection, Super Morbid Obesity." - WTF? What does my weight have to do with an ear infection??  I was offended for quite a while (and vowed to never go back because I was so insulted) but over the years since then, I have come to accept that being described as "Super Morbidly Obese" might hurt my feelings and be impolite from a non-medical professional, but it's not untrue either. 

Not meaning to ruffle any feathers or hurt any feelings; just thinking out loud on the subject.  The lady who made the "You look normal now" probably had good intentions but could have definitely phrased the compliment in a more polite way!

Much love, and no offense meant to anyone!

-Felicity

I also don't like, "You are half your size now", and "You look so much better now!"  Did I look that bad before?  Am I truly half my size?  How about, "You look so healthy now" or "I'm so happy to see how great you're doing".