People Are Balloon Bursters

[rodswife 155]

Why is it that when people are excited and say how much weight they lost in a certain amount of time there is always someone that has to burst their balloon by saying, "enjoy it. It doesn't last long." Why do they have to ruin that persons high by pointing out the negative? It irritates me. Just be happy for your fellow sleeves and keep your negtive comments to yourself. Everyone knows that you don't continue to lose mass amounts of weight every week or month so you don't have to rain on their parade.

[frumpynomore 204]

DITTO!

[MegInNOLA 531]

When you get that sort of comment, just smile, say, "Thanks, I will!" and move along. Nobody needs negativity brought into or sent out from your life. (The best revenge is living well, living longer, living healthier, and living thinner--and we're going to!!!)

[rodswife 155]

I haven't gotten it. I've seen others that have and it makes me mad for them.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

I'm not exactly sure what this post is in reference too, however - it's a good idea to just let the negative comments slide off your back. There are several thousand registered members here and of course it makes sense you will come across a thousand different personalities.

If the negativity gets out of control or what you feel is disruptive, then by all means send us a report and we will handle it accordingly.

Live well! Don't stress about what others are doing - just keep doing you and everything will fall into place.

[piper 13]

When I lost 55 lbs on Optifast 2.5 years ago my MIL said that I would gain it all back. I was so upset and vowed to prove her insensitive statement wrong. However, she was ultimately correct, I gained it all back plus 20 over the next 2 years, just like every other diet. From what I have read, the sleeve is a much more durable weight loss tool than conventional dieting so It would seem that such statements are much less likely to become true. That said, the negativity of such statements is appalling under all circumstances. I also detested the constant compliments about how great I looked because it seemed to be saying that I looked like moby d**k before. I wished that folks would just ask me how I am doing, how are the kids, you seem well....and never comment about weight. I never comment about a persons weight. Not even to say "wow you look great have you lost weight?' Folks have said that to me when I know I have gained and I just hate that. "No...actually I have gained weight, thanks though".

[rodswife 155]

Yea I try not to comment on weight too. This post is in reference to nothing specific. Just saw tons of people brag with right about weight loss only for someone to say something negative. It struck a nerve and I ranted

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

There are a ton of negative people out there. I on the other hand, like to be more postive. So when people give me a balloon popper, I just remind myself that I don't need them to be happy for me, I just really want them to hear me. I simple remind them that I just wanted to share and thanks for being helpful. I also tell them that I practice being thankful for whatever I have. and then I smile.

[mnbsleeve 87]

When I lost 55 lbs on Optifast 2.5 years ago my MIL said that I would gain it all back. I was so upset and vowed to prove her insensitive statement wrong. However, she was ultimately correct, I gained it all back plus 20 over the next 2 years, just like every other diet. From what I have read, the sleeve is a much more durable weight loss tool than conventional dieting so It would seem that such statements are much less likely to become true. That said, the negativity of such statements is appalling under all circumstances. I also detested the constant compliments about how great I looked because it seemed to be saying that I looked like moby d**k before. I wished that folks would just ask me how I am doing, how are the kids, you seem well....and never comment about weight. I never comment about a persons weight. Not even to say "wow you look great have you lost weight?' Folks have said that to me when I know I have gained and I just hate that. "No...actually I have gained weight, thanks though".

I agree piper! Most don't realize how out of place they are when they ask others "how much weight have you lost?" or "what are you doing to lose it?" I've always equated that with asking someone how much money have you saved for retirement? or what is your salary? etc. Even pre-sleeve I've found that offensive, intrusive, and extreemely out of place. It's another example, I think, of how overweight people are seen as fair game in misstreatment and crossing boundaries. As a fat person I experience lots of other types of liberties, including rudeness, from others that I didn't experience when I was thin at that I am no longer experiencing now that I've lost weight. Isn't that something?!

[Misstxdiva 73]

People suck sometimes, but as I like to say. Haters gonna hate lol. Just either ignore it or smile and move on I wouldn't let their negative energy get you down

[favoredone 590]

I think negative people have issues with themselves.. When they say things to others, they are actually looking in the mirror in their heads...

Life is worth too much to spend lose one moment dwelling on negative comments.....

[coops 1,790]

This might sound a little weird, but I sorta understand balloon poppers... I certainly have read others' stories whereby they have lost 100lb by farting and I wished that I too could fart that hard! Especially as I am a really slow loser and not at goal. But I have NEVER commented on it... instead I take myself away, lick my wounds and tell myself not to be bitter and twisted, to be happy for that person and most importantly remember that I am ME, not them! This isn't a competiton with anyone else except myself.

An example: I have a friend (who I love dearly), who when I was losing started a diet. She did everything she could to get smaller than me - she was already smaller by the way! She made a lot of comments about how much smaller she was, constantly telling me what size she was knowing damn well that she was smaller than I; she even gave me maternity trousers saying they would be perfect because my tummy is my 'problem'! Anyway, long story short, she has regained and is now a size or two bigger than me. I am a lot fitter and trimmer than her. She recently told me that she had gained 20-24lb. I made NO comment. I could of, and she would of, but I am the better person. There was a part of me that wanted to say, 'oh, so I am now smaller than you!' *insert smug grin* bu I didn't. I just told her not to worry, and to stop eating sh*t! Some people just focus on themselves and do not consider others... and that is fine because it is their problem not mine.

So yea, we have all experienced these people, some we love, some we don't even know... but it's how to respond to it makes the biggeset difference.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

This might sound a little weird, but I sorta understand balloon poppers... I certainly have read others' stories whereby they have lost 100lb by farting and I wished that I too could fart that hard! Especially as I am a really slow loser and not at goal. But I have NEVER commented on it... instead I take myself away, lick my wounds and tell myself not to be bitter and twisted, to be happy for that person and most importantly remember that I am ME, not them! This isn't a competiton with anyone else except myself.

An example: I have a friend (who I love dearly), who when I was losing started a diet. She did everything she could to get smaller than me - she was already smaller by the way! She made a lot of comments about how much smaller she was, constantly telling me what size she was knowing damn well that she was smaller than I; she even gave me maternity trousers saying they would be perfect because my tummy is my 'problem'! Anyway, long story short, she has regained and is now a size or two bigger than me. I am a lot fitter and trimmer than her. She recently told me that she had gained 20-24lb. I made NO comment. I could of, and she would of, but I am the better person. There was a part of me that wanted to say, 'oh, so I am now smaller than you!' *insert smug grin* bu I didn't. I just told her not to worry, and to stop eating sh*t! Some people just focus on themselves and do not consider others... and that is fine because it is their problem not mine.

So yea, we have all experienced these people, some we love, some we don't even know... but it's how to respond to it makes the biggeset difference.

LOL Coops... hey, did you save those maternity pants? Now would be a perfect time to "kindly" return them.

[coops 1,790]

Haha... I know... but they would probably be too small now...heheheee... I gave them to a friend who was actually pregnant!!

I did have one little moment of glory though; we were talking about my school prom that is coming up in July and that I will probably need a new dress. This friend kindly offered to lend me one of hers, 'Oh I have loads of dressed in size 16s that you could wear' (as a footnote I am a UK14...lol)... another friend - there were three of us in this conversation - chimed in; 'Not sure if your stuff will fit her now... have you seen how SMALL she is...' *insert me blushing.* The friend replied 'oh, yea, I know she is tiny now, I've probably got 14s and 12s that would fit'. I didn't say a word... x

[Globetrotter 1,340]

Oh Coops that is an awesome nsv, and sort of a fantasy of mine, to have a third party call out my thinness!! That friend of mine that I've talked about, the personal trainer who is lean and athletic and has her phd in nutrition and metabolism, is JUST like the one who gave you the trousers, constantly talking about her "tummy", look how much bigger I was in this photo ... about how fat she feels. I know it is all a desperate teenage girl (she's 31) method of gleaning compliments - how insecure is that?! I just go silent when she does it, I do not give her what she wants, I will not feed the beast.