I have never had a problem telling people how much weight I've lost. Right now it's 53 pounds. But, it's starting to weigh on my mind every time someone does that gasp thing and bulges their eyes and says, "Wow!" when I give them that number.
I start to wonder... "50 pounds? 50 pounds?! I don't feel like I've lost 50 pounds! Exactly how big was I??!"
I've actually thought about this--I don't want to tell people how much I've lost. Because that also tells them how much I had to lose, and how big I really was (not that they couldn't see it, but concrete numbers always seem bigger than what people expect).
So once people start asking, I'll either say that I don't know, I don't own a scale (blatant lie) or I'll say that I'd rather not say. I mean, asking how much weight someone lost isn't too far off from asking how much someone weighs, which is generally not considered an appropriate question!
Oh, you're not alone! I don't know why people ask that questions -- it's so personal...and then I feel awkward not answering it! Which doesn't make sense, lol. But when I tell them I lost 100lbs, they go wide-eyed and then I feel even more awkward. I really can't wait until everyone forgets that I've lost all this weight.
When I was actively losing weight before, I first was ashamed when I thought of how much I had lost when I related it to how much I used to weigh and how much I still had to lose.
I'd get uncomfortable and evade the question or lie about how much I'd lost, or whatever. And then, and I'm not exactly sure how, I didn't care. Something changed, and I really don't know how. Maybe I lost my shame? I'm not sure.
I think, while people may come across as nosy or probing, they're trying to communicate that they've noticed your progress and just want to celebrate with you.
Its a compliment, most people are really impressed when you tell them you've lost that much weight. Take it as such and be proud of all you have accomplished! You are doing a wonderful job. I get a kick out of telling people I've lost 75 lbs this year because most people would of never guessed that I weighed as much as I did to start. Even at the doctors office the girls would always start the scale out at 100 instead of 150 and then gasp when they had to move it and it said 190.
I have never had a problem telling people how much weight I've lost. Right now it's 53 pounds. But, it's starting to weigh on my mind every time someone does that gasp thing and bulges their eyes and says, "Wow!" when I give them that number.
I start to wonder... "50 pounds? 50 pounds?! I don't feel like I've lost 50 pounds! Exactly how big was I??!"
Am I alone? lol!
I REALLY get it when I say I want to lose fifty more... (I don't have the guts to say that I really want to lose almost seventy more...)
Because then, I can see people doing the math in their heads and realizing how much I must have weighed to start out with...
I'm tall and so I carried the weight "fairly" well (LOL, how well can you carry almost 300 lbs...???)
anyway... I still can't imagine telling anyone how much I used to weigh, or weigh now, in real numbers...
The only people who ask me how much I've lost are my friends, mom, and sister. But they all know my starting weight anyhow. It is crazy sometimes though to wrap my head around the number. I've lost almost 40 pounds. How could I have possibly weighed 40 lbs more than I do now? How have I only dropped one size in 40 pounds?!?! And I can't believe I have 95 to go!!!
None of my friends believed me in the start when I said i weighed 291 and had 135 to lose. They are all much shorter than me and hence have a different perception of what those numbers should look like. But I guess it's becoming apparent now as I've lost 40 lbs and look only slightly different, while one of my 5'2 friends has lost 25 and looks like a whole new person. *sigh* The blessing and curse of being tallish: no one notices when you gain 10 pounds... but well, no one notices when you lose 20 pounds either!
I have a friend who asks me every few weeks, "OK, how much now?". Then I tell her how many lbs I've dropped and she always says, "OMG, I can't believe it! You're doing great!".
I don't mind it, really. I appreciate the support and love from everyone. It's just I start feeling self conscious about what I used to weight. It's like someone said....I think they are doing the math in their heads. LOL! I mean, I'm 5'8" and I'll be in the healthy-range at 160 (which isn't a small weight, IMO).
So, I guess when I reach goal, everyone will ask how much I weigh and how much I've lost and they'll do the math. I feel like I could just as easily wear a shirt with "226 lbs" on it. LOL!
Exactly how big was I?!
