Today my mom told me that my godmother asked her if I had become anorexic. I haven't seen my godmother in many many years (and I have no history if an ED), but she was basing that question on my recent Facebook pictures. I guess she thought I looked too skinny. Skinny???
I just recently got into the "normal" category of BMI. I still have weight to lose and will probably be dropping my goal weight. I can't imagine how anyone would mistake me for skinny yet. Maybe compared to how I USED to look...
I just think society has gotten so used to seeing large people as the norm that when someone actually starts getting to what's truly a normal size, suddenly that becomes alarming and too skinny.
For perspective, my godmother is overweight, so is her husband, and so are her adult kids.
Try to see it how this person sees it. She doesn't know what's going on from day to day. My Niece posted a picture of herself recently where it became clear that she has lost too much weight. She has gone from a size 5 to a size 0. She is a teen and her mother has body dysmorphic so I'm worried. And I can relate to your godmom a little bit. Send her a message and tell her how you feel. Tell her your goals and why you have lost weight.
I'm having this same problem but at work and I now have people making snide remarks about my eating too healthy..... Is eating "too healthy" even possiable? Even hinting that I have a eating disorder or that I am headed towards one. And it's endless "here have this" and when I refuse it's "OMG you can have SOME!" Yes, if I wanted some I would have some but I just ate and I am full. And sometimes I just don't like what they are offering and no it's not because I think I am fat. I just don't want it. Then it's "you're too skinny!" I'm 5'2" 147lbs, I'm still consider overweight. 125lbs is right in the middle of what would be consider "healthy" weight for me which is what I am aiming for. But I think you do have a point that people are use to seeing bigger now so "healthy norm" is starting to look "too skinny." I'm getting to the point that I've been avoiding eating in the breakroom and eating outside so my choice in food won't be examined and criticized.
I feel your pain...well not now, since I gained it all back being pregnant. But before I was almost at goal and I got some rude comments from people that really should ahve been focusing on their own weight.
For some reason it used to make me so angry that people (family) that spent their whole lives fat had their heads so far in the sand that they thought any under a size 14 was too thin. (I was a 6/8) It is one of my personal triggers, in any situation people that just assume they way they live is the "right" way and the only way and that everyone else is wrong. So this played into that big time. The few times something was said to me, I gladly reported my height weight abd BMI, and that they were obviously not in the healthy range and even though we've gotten use to seeing overweight people (as you said) that doesnt make it ok. Rude? Yes. But I I kind of feel that they bring it on themselves. I never would ahve imagined that it could be hurtful to be told I'm too thin or that I dont eat enough. (This also being said by someone that gourges themselves). So my response is to inform them they are too at and over eat. Hey if they arent reacy to be insulted they should not have crossed the line by commenting on my body.
Btw I have NEVER gotten a too thin comment from a fit family member, actually I got a lot of compliments for getting into good shape. Only fat family felt the need to make rude comments.
I dont have that now that I'm fat and they are pleased, but I expect it when I slim down, I'm thinking it'll take me a good year. But I'm prepared for the same old crap again.
I know most people arent as blunt as I am but I'd just respond to your mom with the fact that your godmother is fat so her percpetion is off. And move on from there. If its ever said to your face, I'd say the same. Again, sounds rude, but why is it anymore rude to CORRECTLY tell someone they ar fat than it is to INCORRECTLY tell someone they are thin? IMO its not. She went there with her comment, you woud only be educating her.
Some people want to pull you into their weight category. This way they do not have to acknowledge their unhealthy habits. Today, I was walking and I realized how overweight my neighbourhood is compared to others in the city where so many people are either jogging or walking their dog. My environment influences me and being around healthy, active individuals is something I should seek.
No, KindaSortaAthlete, you do not suffer from a life-threatening illness called anorexia. You are simply embracing the challenge of getting fitter and there is nothing wrong with that. Congratulations for your accomplishments so far.
I am just barely below normal BMI and people tell me I've lost too much weight. I just respond that I think it's because it's such a big change and that if I was always this size, I wouldn't seem too skinny. I am a size 8-10, about average for an almost-30 year old woman.
Last edited by Underwater; 07-27-2013 at 08:08 PM.
Send her a message and tell her how you feel. Tell her your goals and why you have lost weight.
OP shouldn't have to defend her reasons for making HEALTHY choices, that's a little backwards to me. And that's kind of a personal thing to be sharing.
I agree with others who suggest that we're just used to overweight/obese being the norm. I was told to "be careful" as well by someone who noticed my obvious weight loss. I'm barely in the normal BMI category!
Try not to take offense, I'm sure it wasn't intended to be hurtful. No matter how much it bugs us, others are always going to have an opinion on what are bodies "should" look like. Just keep on making smart choices and everyone else will adjust.
Whenever I am at a healthy weight, my parents start to worry that I'm too thin. It's very frustrating. I've told them that according to medical professionals, I'm at a healthy weight (when I'm at goal) and I've asked them not to comment on my weight anymore. Now that I"m losing my regained weight, I'm worried that they'll start commenting again...they've already said I need to slow down, etc., even though I'm doing it healthfully and am not losing too rapidly. The funny thing is that my parents are both slim!
Congratulations on your weight loss and being at a healthy BMI! I feel you! I agree that larger is more commonplace sometimes but if you've been overweight for a while, maybe the new you is just shocking to her?
I do Paleo so when I explain to people that I don't eat wheat or sugar or most things that the average person consumes, sometimes I get that response too. My own parents thought for a while that I was developing an eating disorder. It's concern and it means they love me, but still it can be frustrating.
Maybe this is an opportunity to lead by example, so to speak. If they think a healthy person is too skinny, their perspective must be pretty off?
Congrats on your weight loss! I think you're right about people viewing overweight as normal and so normal looks "too thin" to them. I'm actually having this problem with my 4 yr old (yes, *4* year old!). I was looking at the growth charts for all my kids and noticed he was very high on the weight, did a bmi calculator and he was "obese". I cut back his milk to the recommended daily amounts and the weight melted off quickly. Now he is holding steady at the average weight for his age/height but my mom and older neighbor lady keep saying he looks "sickly" and "too thin"! He eats like a teenager, is very active and does very well in preschool.
I would send her a message thanking her for noticing your weight loss and reassure her that you are doing it in a healthy way. If you've been able to drop the weight quickly then that might be why she is concerned.
I don't know if people in the USA have this mentality, but over here, whenever some is doing very good, people (even friends) will try to make snide remarks about that person, trying to diminish the importance of their accomplishments, or even worse, turn them into something bad.
This usually happens because people are either ashamed of their own situation or jealous of others. It the kind of mentality where if someone appears strong and motivated and is getting good results, others (that don't have willpower or are just complacent) will try to bring the other person down as well.
So my advice to you is to never ever listed to those kinds of persons. Making mean remarks to make a person feel bad about a tremendous accomplishment is just wrong. Listen to people that are objective or listen to your doctors. Don't listen to the fat co-workers/friends/family with their faces stuffed in a box of donuts, telling you you're unhealthy or skinny or anorexic!
I don't know if people in the USA have this mentality, but over here, whenever some is doing very good, people (even friends) will try to make snide remarks about that person, trying to diminish the importance of their accomplishments, or even worse, turn them into something bad.
That's my father's family for you. I don't know about the US, but at least in France, yes, we do have that. ^_^;
No, I'm not anorexic!
