Coping Strategies for Dealing with Attention From Weight Loss

[heatherheyhey 4]

Hi everyone. I just had my surgery this last week, but I am anticipating dealing with the attention that comes from a large weight loss. I know there are people who really enjoy this part of the journey, but I am an introvert and this is the part I am seriously dreading. One of the things I feel/felt positive about being very overweight is the lack of attention I have gotten from other people. I am going to be working on this with my therapist, but I haven't seen a lot of information about it. Am I missing it? Am I a weirdo? I know when I have lost significant weight in the past, people comment on it, ask about it, etc. make a fuss in ways that I haven't experienced with other changes in my appearance. Any suggestions/resources would be very welcome.

Heather

[GirlOnFire 111]

You aren't a weirdo. That's for sure. I would say just try and learn how to take a compliment and mentally move on. Working with a therapist is a great start to figuring this out. And remember you don't owe anybody an explanation for how you lost if you don't want to tell them. That's your personal business. Good luck!

[zonetracy 53]

I have the hardest time taking compliments. Ever since i was little people would say, "Tracy, you have the prettiest eyes!" I would run and hide, say no I don't, etc... and like @@GirlOnFire said the easiest way is to take the compliment. Eventually i learned to say thank you then move on or change the subject. This has worked the best for me so far.

[NthQldAus 22]

I'm a bloke, but a pretty 'nervously confident' sort of bloke... I deal with insecurities with inapropiate jokes and a false confidence.

So when people started giving me the 'omg, you look great - you've lost heaps of weight' - I just shouted ''Where is it? Fat arse, where are you?'' turned around and literally ran off down the corridoor.

Seemed to work - they didn't mention it again

[heatherheyhey 4]

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions! "Running down the corridor" looking for my fat ass had me rolling with laughter, just imagining it. I am going to save that in my back pocket for Defcon 1 situations

[Babbs 14,681]

Hand to God, it took me losing 70 pounds for people to finally start noticing and commenting. It really made me mad!

Sometimes, I'm just NOT in the mood for the comments. But I know people are just being complimentary and not trying to be annoying, so I just say a simple "Thank You" and move on. You'll learn to deal with them in your own way.

And take the compliments! You've earned it!

[amazon 579]

Don't fret, I'm sure you'll adjust to it :-) But you can certainly set the tone.

The simplest in my opinion is to just say "thank you" and move on. Quick and simple. Nothing to fuel a conversation. (If it's a comment deserving of something else, then you can deal with it appropriately, lol. Sadly, there are some rude people out there - hopefully you won't run across any.)

At this point in my journey I'm getting a lot of the "skinny minny" and "you're going to disappear!" comments. I just smile and move on. What ever, they have no idea that I'm at a healthy weight. They've seen me a lot bigger over the years (265+ at my highest). These comments will fade.

As was said prior, it's some positive reinforcement of your hard work. Don't rely on it, just find a way to accept it. Nothing wrong with that :-)