Have You Lost Weight?
Thank you for all your fantastic comments on my post yesterday on the 10 lessons I’ve learned as a beginner runner. You came up with some great points that I hadn’t thought of or had forgotten – so go and check them out if you haven’t already!
On Saturday night I went to my cousin’s 50th birthday party and caught up with members of my family that I haven’t seen for a long time.
I think most people have experienced the situation where you go to a family party and get comments and questions about your appearance or your life. It’s all part of being a family, caring about each other and making conversation. Everyone wanted to know how my job was going, what living in Leeds was like and what I’d do if I got sent back to Blackpool (please, goodness, no!). Peter, bless him, always gets “amusing” comments about his height (he’s at least 6ft 6) to which he manages to politely laugh.
One thing that surprised me though was the number of people who commented that I had lost weight. I hadn’t expected that and hadn’t perfected my gracious smile – instead the commenter got a bemused look. You see, after losing 50lbs between August 2008 and November 2009 I’ve stayed at around the same ball-park weight. In fact, I’ve spoken on the blog about how my clothes have felt tighter and I thought I’d put on a few pounds. Last week I got weighed at my doctor’s surgery and I was 4lbs heavier than the last time I was weighed there about 9 months ago. As a side note, I was quite pleased with that – I believe that 4lbs is neither here nor there when it comes to maintaining weight loss, as long as it doesn’t keep creeping up.
So, I’ve been in over-analytical mode thinking about the reasons that I might have got these comments:
1. Running has toned me up. I don’t measure myself, so I’ve no idea if I’ve lost any inches, although I can tell I haven’t lost any around my waist from my clothes. I have noticed a difference in my arms and legs though and they perhaps look a little leaner.
2. I was wearing flattering clothes. I was wearing my Curve ID Levi jeans that I was measured for and fit perfectly. I have slim hips, so normal trousers tend to add unnecessary bulk, whereas as these jeans showcase them. I was also wearing a top that showed off my collarbones and shoulders, which are my skinniest bits. I actually think this is one of the most likely explanations, which has made me wonder about how unflattering the clothes I normally wear are?! (I could be being paranoid 
)
3. Even though they’ve seen me since I lost weight, in their mind they still imagine me as I was before. Another example of this was when happened to meet some old school mates in the pub at Christmas. I lost a lot of weight as a teenager and during my last two years at school I was about the same size as I am now. However, they all commented about how much weight I had lost – I think they still imaged me as the fat kid, rather than the slim gym addict I was later in my school career.
4. They were being nice and I should learn to take a compliment with grace. I have a tendency to over-analyse, especially when it comes to my weight, which is a sensitive issue for me.
Over the past few years I’ve been trying to adjust to my new size and maintain my weight by living as “normal” a life as I can. As part of that I rarely discuss my weight in real life any more, especially not with people outside of my immediate family or Peter, and I don’t engage in conversations at work about weight or diets. Therefore, it now feels strange when someone directly makes a comment about my weight, but I know deep down that it’s only small talk.
I still reserve the right to punch anyone who tells me I’ve put on weight
Have been in the situation when someone has made a comment about your appearance? How did you respond?
Are you good at receiving compliments? I’m rubbish – I know it’s something I need to work on.
Every Day's a Picnic 
Great post! I’m sure its just cause your looking great! sometimes even if your just walking a little taller and with more confidence and self assurance people see that as loosing weight 🙂 – I’ve been getting a few comments about loosing more weight but they have turned from the good comments to the ones that say ‘now don’t go loosing any more’ etc. I think its cause I’m definitely at the skinniest I want to be although when people say that it can be quite hurtful – I think being called too skinny is just as bad as being called too fat! However most of the comments I get are very complementary, and it has taken time but now I accept them graciously 🙂
I’m not good at taking compliments either- it’s something I’m working on. Sometimes it’s just better to smile, say thank you, and leave it at that!
I am terrible at receiving complements- I normally brush them off or flip them around to an insult in my head (eg- I must have been big before / my hair normally looks awful etc).
A few years ago I lost over a stone, and that showed up a lot as I am short, but still when people complemented me I felt bad for being as big as I was, if that makes sense- sort of guilty over it, and I didn’t like drawing attention to the fact I lost weight as I did not want to admit I was bigger before. I try very hard to say thank you and smile if I do get a compliment though.
Most of the comments I get about my appearance (outside of blogging) are very negative – my gym is full of speedy runners and Iron (Wo)men, and also figure/fitness competitors, who are very weight-focused. I got tonnes of attention about my figure last year, but now I tend to get snide remarks about how much body fat I’ve gained and how bulky I’ve become. So I don’t know who to believe when I get comments saying I look athletic on the blog, when both the gym peeps and the scale (and my thoughts) tell me I’m fat!
I can’t take a compliment at all: I never believe them!
xxx
Weight is such a sensitive topic for me too– But as a woman nowadays its tough not to be!
I could see how all of the activity could’ve toned you up, especially if it is something that your body isn’t used to. When I started changing up my workouts, I saw immediate results. It’s all about variety 🙂
Pity you never measured because I’m sure you will have changed in measurements. I have to go back & read your last post when I have more time.
I know what you mean about compliments – my Mum visited and said she could tell I’d lost weight from my face, and my first thought was ‘did my face look fat before then’??
I’d like to learn to be more gracious and just accept the compliment happily. I’m working on it!
I never know how to take weight comments – recently people keep asking me if I’ve lost weight, when the reality is the opposite, and it just makes me more conscious of how many people are paying attention to how much I potentially weigh.
I think when a family member gives a weight comment you can generally take it for what it is – a nice caring complement. However, when someone you don’t really know makes a comment I do always feel a little uncomfortable. I mean if someone has lost a lot of weight and turned their life around that always deserves a high five, but if I’ve just lost 5lbs because of whatever I don’t really think it’s right to comment. Hope this makes sense.
I am TERRIBLE at receiving compliments. I feel awkward and shy and mumble something and change the subject.
I think a lot of people dont know what to say when they get compliments except deny it. I used to to the same but now I say thank you and accept it. 🙂