03-Weeks Afterwards

03 Weeks Afterwards (121 lbs  55 Kg)

Three weeks after the diet and still 122 lbs. I cannot tell you how nice that feels. Going into my closet feels like opening a new present every day. Being able to put on pants that I could not get past my thighs just 6 months ago feels amazing! It's one of those internal joys that words cannot describe.

One thing I've noticed though is how others are reacting to my weight loss. At first they say “you look great”, “what an accomplishment”, or “you look amazing.” Some ask, how did you lose the weight and when I tell them about the diet they reply with “now don't keep losing weight or you will disappear on us”, “stop shrinking, all that weight loss must not be healthy”, “you look tired and too skinny, are you sure this is good for you.” or  “you look good already, why do you want to do more?” It feels good when they acknowledge it, but the other comments can sometimes be hurtful. I often find myself thinking that it's all in my head and I'm simply taking their comments the wrong way.

I did a small amount of research and discovered that I'm not taking those comments the wrong way. Psychologists explain that every person sees things from their own frame of reference and when someone else does something they wish to do, the it makes them feel unaccomplished compared to that person. For example, let's say you and your friend Pat decide to take a cake decorating class together. For some reason Pat drops out but you finish it. Later on there is an occasion where you bake a cake and decorate it. When Pat sees the beautifully decorated cake, Pat will feel unaccomplished because. This may cause Pat to praise the cake and make an unflattering comment like, “now quit your day job and open a bakery.” Now imagine that feeling with something as personal as losing weight.

I have a friend that wants to wear something special for an occasion and cannot fit into it. When I tell that person about the diet, their first comment is “I can't do that!”, then they say “I can't give up all those things”, “my schedule doesn't lend itself to that”, and “who is going to do all that cooking for me?” So even before that person tries, they are convinced that they will not accomplish it. Then that person looks at me, evidence of the results, and imagine the feelings. I finished something that they could not do. Yes I look great, but I should stop showing off that I am better in such an obvious way.

My intention is to be healthy for myself, not to make my loved ones feel that I am better than them because I did something they did not. So I am learning to keep quiet about the diet, meal planning, exercising, etc. What I say instead is that my doctor said I had to lose some weight and keep it off for medical reasons. I usually say thyroid, anemia, migraines, or blood pressure as the medical reason. It is true that I have better thyroid levels, less migraines, more energy, and better blood pressure since I lost the weight; hence I do not feel like I am lying when I say that. It seems that not suffering from a chronic illness is acceptable and keeps away those unaccomplished comments.

Have you had a similar experience? How do you handle it? Feel free to use the comments on this blog to tell me all about your awesome weight loss journey and achievements.  You did a lot of hard work to get where you are and I will feel honored if you shared that with me (and everyone else who reads this blog). Because it's hard work and hard work deserves to be acknowledged.