April's CR Diary

I haven't lost weight for 7 years, so I don't get that one. But at 125 or 130 (at 5' 2 1/2"), people did say "You've lost enough, don't lose more."

The most interesting thing I get from people is "You've lost more weight, you shouldn't lose more" - which is totally not true. I have not lost any weight. People also assume I weigh 10 or even 20 pounds less than I do. Why is that? I think they assume that you need to weigh that little to look slim - an unattainable number. This helps them justify their own extra pounds.

In junior high and high school, I was very skinny. Ate tons, and rather unhealthily, but danced a lot and had genetics on my side. I dreaded having to go to the school nurse, because she'd always put me on the scale, and then sit me down for a talk about eating disorders and basically accuse me of being anorexic!!! My parents always found that funny, as I was eating them out of house and home, but it really bothered me.

Now I'm 29, the funniest comments come from the people at work. They'll see all my lunch veggies and proclaim, "But you don't need to eat like that. You're so skinny." I have to bite my tongue to prevent myself from replying, "Do you think maybe I'm so skinny BECAUSE I eat like this?" How do people not connect how people eat with what they weigh?

When I first went from 140 to 125 (I'm 5'8) I got a lot of those types of comments, especially from my family. But now that I've been at this weight for almost 2 years, I think everyone is used to it and I don't have to hear it anymore :) I think it was just an adjustment period, people were just used to me having a little extra padding.

I only got the speech from friends and family who were used to seeing me quite a bit heavier. People who hadn't seen me before I lost the weight seemed entirely unsurprised by how I looked.

I agree with Sara L - people just needed time to adjust to the new me.

I got the "stop losing weight" speech from my sister-in-law when I had lost about 35 lbs. At that point, I weighed 140 and at 5'4", looked pretty good. That's actually not too bad a weight for woman at that height, at age 60: you look good, clothes look nice, etc. But that's still a BMI of 24, which is barely below the "overweight" cut-off! In addition, my scale showed I still was lugging around too much body fat to be healthy. I'm now down to 128 and she really can't understand why I'd want to lose any more. The fact that I feel so much better, can walk for miles, all my blood tests, etc show a marked improvement and I have a much better chance of being really healthy when I'm old, doesn't seem to register. Oh, well! :-)

I'm 5'8" and got a lot of "Oh, you shouldn't lose any more weight" comments when I went from 135 to 118 last spring. It was not my goal to go lower than 120, but I stayed at 118 for about six months because I was so amazed that I could. (Most of my adult life I was at 140, but as a teenager weighed almost 160 pounds.)

I'm settled now at 120 pounds, and everyone's had 14 months to get used to the slender me, so I don't get as many comments. But I often get great reactions from people who haven't seen me in a year or two, like: "Oh, my god, you've utterly changed." And those who didn't know the chubby me (like the people in my yoga class) will say things like: "Oh, you're naturally thin, but I struggle with my weight."

Huh? Everyone in my family is overweight and one brother is obese! Naturally thin, nope, just consistent CR. My husband is naturally thin, and since I've been on CR, he's lost 10 pounds too because I've changed how and what I cook, and now serve fruit and nuts instead of baked desserts.

-The Other Yvonne

Marti Mango---How's that?

I'm just starting CR, how do you tell when you've lost too much weight? I'm 5'10" and currently weigh 146.8 pounds. I think I'd like to weight 135, but don't know how my body will respond if I drop below that. I was 120 when I started high school, but then my weight climbed steadily (I ate crap), so I was 135-140 when I finished HS and reached 168 in college. When you all first started, did you just focus on CRON and let the weight take care of itself? Did you ever feel like you got too thin? How could you tell?

Avril Asperge sounds rather good.

Katerina, I just have to say that your post about eating vegetables at work and getting accusatory: You don't have to eat that! You're already skinny! Have a donut! Really resonated with me.

I got the 'you're vanishing!' comment when I reached 94 pounds, (down from 108) and someone actually took me aside and whispered 'are you allright?'. People just assume that if someone has lost weight it means they are ill. I've been 90 pounds for the last 8 months and I think people are used to it now. Last week someone enviously referred to my clotheshorse figure. (That's UK speak for someone so slender they look good in anything) It's taken me 60 years but I've done it!

HFGirl - Yes, I would suggest focusing on ON first. You'll go through carb/sugar withdrawal, but after that feel so much better. And you will start losing weight. As most vegetables are very low calorie, it's hard not to lose weight if they're the majority of your diet. And don't worry about losing too much weight. If you're getting all your nutrients, your body will feel powerful and energized by CRON.

It's so interesting to me that people feel justified telling someone to stop losing weight -but (normally) don't say "Please - stop gaining weight!" As if one is less offensive than the other - both comments seem intrusive and inappropriate in my opinion.

Hi April
I get the speech whenever I get to around 127lbs. I'm at 135 at the moment, so I don't get that speech. I remember that when I first got to around 127, colleages would bring me pastries and cookies, without my asking for them. Frankly I don't mind being around 128; it's quite comfortable, but I have been a bit lax on weekends lately.
hugs
Arturo

make it april paprika and thou shall be a rockstar!

I didn't get the comments a LOT because I have always been in the healthy range. But when I went from a stable 131 (5'6") for many years to what I thought was a stable 118, I was thrilled and those close to me were concerned but didn't say much.

Now that I'm back to my old stable weight I hear comments on how gaunt I looked and that they thought I was too thin back at 118. But I miss it, so that's why I read Stacey's blog.

Ugh... I'm sure plenty of girls losing weight would envy me. Hell, I envy YOU. I'm completely underweight and I certainly don't work for it. Not one bit. My body doesn't stop eating away at my muscle or fat. I don't watch what I eat or anything. Generally, my appetite is either barely there or extremely noticeable.

I'm 5 foot, 19 years old. And Naturally (so I'm assuming.) Supposed to sit at somewhere about 95 pounds. Ok, not bad at all. I am tiny of course. But it was common for me to fluctuate between 90-95 pounds. So here comes this ball of hell that I call unfortunate stress. Not just regular stress. I wish. Life changing events, one after another, directly inflicting me.

Don't get me wrong, it was common for me to drop under 90 pounds if I got really sick. But this is ridiculous. I'm 84 pounds and I do not like it one bit. I was used to being 90 pounds, noticeably thinner than usual and getting the 'You need to eat more.' look, like I can help it. Now I can only assume they actually think I have an eating disorder or desire to be too thin.

Quite frankly, if I FELT healthy, I wouldn't care about my weight. No one should as long as they're feeling fine. I don't feel healthy. That's a problem.

hey, to the person who thinks that 84 pounds makes them feel unhealthy.
guess what? lol. i don't really care as long as i am eating right. and i always get the speech "stop loosing weight, you look so pale. this comes from my family all the time. so, i am used to it.
anyway, i noticed a pattern here since i moved to my dorm last semester in college.
I once weighed 100 pounds and 2 months after that 97 and then 2 months after that 95. all because of the stress i had to endure last semester with offensive lectures from one of my professor saying that i am not too responsible and don't plan ahead and crap.
2 years ago, i weighed only 80 lbs without even noticing any difference. but, it is common for me to fluctuate especially when too much problems and suffering have to be endured, especially when you live on campus for the first time.
in other words, i don't really care about it too much as long as i am feeling all right, and i am used to those speeches.
i am very proud to be the way i am.
oh, i get comments of "oh, you look gray and pale and you look sick and bla bla bla.
sorry but i don't believe that kind of crap and i don't buy it, thanks to my extreme blindness.
so i always say "i don't believe you so that people can get very mad.
and to even piss them off into rage, i say "i feel fine and healthy, i am not sic, i don't buy what you are saying.
so, then everyone is like, don't wait till you show symptoms in order to not feel healthy, but i feel fine, i am concentrating just fine, eating everything, only in small portions, drinking only water lunch and dinner, so i am good.
i don't need that "oh, the look you have on your face is bad, that means you are sick cause i am not ok?
i don't buy that from anyone, even my family, lol.
sorry to ramble alot but sometimes its hard to convince people.

I am 5ft4 and was up to almost 130. I decided at that point, that I wanted to lose a little weight, get healthy, change some bad habits, exercise, etc. So, I did.

I am now about 103/105. Over Holiday Break, my parents actually gave me the anorexic talk-- I eat 5-7 meals a day, I am snacking all the time-- anorexic???? REALLY?! I was so insulted!! I worked so hard to get this little, toned body and I'm still working hard to maintain it. I am not, nor do I want to, lose any more weight and yet, EVERY time I come home from school, my mom says something like "You've lost weight." Or "You're so much thinner than last time I saw you!!" But I'm keeping careful track and I AM NOT losing weight...

Ugh, it's just so frustrating.

hey its like this weekend mom and dad carefully saw me walking into there room and were like You got thinner, you did loose quite a bit of weight.
Well you know what, i may be thinner, but i feel all right.
I eat brunch and dinner.
its like today i ate fried shrimp and some rosted potatoes.
i am feeling totaly fine even though my jeans which were previously tighter feel comfortable and i like it.
i last weighed about 95 on christmas brake and that's when my jeans were alittle tight.
now, i don't know and i care less.

so people including my uncle should stop with the speeches saying "your eyes look yellow and your face is now gray."

now mom started me on drinking this weird juice made of papaya which is supposed to regulate my digestive system because she supposedly think i am this way due to digestion problems which to me is pure nonsense.
oh, and let me tell you that i hate to be forced into drinking or eating something i don't really like because i will fuss and make ugly faces according to what they see it as.
this is why i get kind of mad constantly because it is hard to drill into people's head especially if they are old and stubborn and that's with anything.
"i don't buy that."
i now have to deal with alot of crap which is afflicting me such as dad getting ill and staying overnight in the hospital causing me a tremendous headache, lots of internship applications, hours of studying for statistics, too many meetings that i myself plan to go, lectures from professors saying that i need to catch up on my work and projects, now i have to study for my latin american politics test i was supposed to take but due to conflicts with the times, and early closing we couldn't. I was also present at a recent conference at the united nations and dining at the deligates dining room which is full of fancy foods along with luxurious silverware which to me it is, and then i come home to my family and recieve the speech of "you got thinner" which even my oldest brother who saw me after 2 months ago said. gosh, what all is going on with these people i don't get offended by it, but it is bothersome.
oh well, i am used to this and i learned how to except the crap so it does not phase me anymore, and indeed i don't buy any of it.

so, my livejournal is Priscy21.livejournal.com if you want to learn more about me ok?

thank you very much

hello again,
now not only my family is getting me mad with there speeches of me being too damn thin.
now, its my roomate and other college students who see me around campus.
i am not offended nor does it phase me but i am getting tired.
my roomate was like "90 pounds is too thin pricila you need to eat and i mean alot.
this started since last month, she was like "pricila, you need to gain weight seriously." i said "i am fine, and healthy and that matters alot more so stop with the speech." she says, you look alittle too thin,." come on people why are you all fussing more about that crap.
i weighed myself recently and was 95 lbs but i was soking wet because i just got out of the shower lol, does that make a difference since my hair was soking wet and dripping?
anyway, its my roomate making these comments as well as another student who saw me walking around campus leeding me to the dean's office over at the school of diplomacy and said "you gotta eat more er too skinny."
i stop believing people, thanks to my severe and complete blindness.

anyway, feel free to see my livejournal.
does my blindness mean the epitomy of attension and what not here?
or does that have nothing to do with being forced to put up with alot of people making up speeches?
Why do i have to be the epitomy of rediculous crap?

thanks

Well, im 13, 5 ft 2 and 6 stone 2/86.4 lbs. Im naturally like this. Like someone said before,i can eat the whole house out and not put anything on. But different to the other person i do nothing, for exercise except waok home form school and p.e once a week. People just assume im anorexic, the teacher once said, i hope your not starving yourself to be a model. People used to say stuff like are you anorexic? and it brings confidence down ALOT. I hate being like this. But some people say i wish i was as skinny as you. I see so many things about people wanting to lose wieght and be skinny and i think, i wanna put oon weight just so i can be normal. Hopefully, later on i will learn to love my body but it doesnt look good at the mo lol. just thought id share my story. :)

well, 5'2 and 86 pounds for a 13 year old is ok since you have still alot of time to grow.
here is the difference.
I am 22 years old and i weigh approximately 90 pounds and am about 5 ft tall, the difference between that at age 13 and that same weight at age 22 is huge.
so stop worrying, you will fill out.
I guess i was last in the hand me down geens for getting curvy because i don't have hardly any, lol.
anyway, my uncle still claims i got so much thinner and still am getting thinner now that i am out of school since i stress alot because i have nothing else to do during the summer.
the reason why, because the stupid lady who supposedly helps me find internships screwed up my resume and sent fals information when she filled out my internship applications.
oh well, but anyway, this is rediculous.
becky, you are ok with that weight since you are just 13 years old, you have still lots of time to grow, just eat like you normally would and play alot of games.
you'll fill out and turn out into a beautiful young lady.
so, maybe you just hit your growth spert, that's why you are that weight.
and you are only 13 which is a difference.
if you were i think 18 or older, than yeah, that's a different story.
please post back if you have any other concerns, lol.

I'm so glad I found your blog. I am dealing with this right now. I went through some seriously bad health problems After a softball sized liver tumor, removal of 65 percent of my liver, and developed 7 blood clots - 6 of which went into my lungs, and diagnosis of a serious genetic blood clotting disorder, I had more than enough motivation to lose the weight I needed.

In 7 months, I lost 74 pounds (86 pounds from my highest weight). I am now 5'6" and 140 pounds. I started getting this speech at around 174 from co-workers.

The thing is, the co-workers stopped mentioning it, but my mother in law and sister in law are the worst. My sister-in-law has always been overweight. She has told me in the past that she will pop OTC diet tablets for 6 months out of the year, and then go back to eating whatever she wants. She yo-yo's badly.

She is an apple-shaped body type and shorter than I am (about 5'3") and she is competitive and jealous. She is the type that will starve herself to lose 10 or 15 pounds and then claim she wears a size 3 (when the tag on the men's jeans she has on says it's a waist-size 34 inches).

So now since SIL saw me after all the weight loss, she avoids me like the plague. She has told MIL that I must have had liposuction, a boob job and must have popped diet pills to achieve the results I have. I went from a size US 18 to a size 4 and have maintained the 4 for 6 months. I am small-framed, but muscular due to light weights and speed-walking.

My DH did this with me to support me. Between the 2 of us, we have lost 140 pounds. My DH was able to get off the blood pressure medicine and bring his High BP down to normal levels.

I did this for my HEALTH not for a fashion statement. MIL has even said to my DH that our weight loss is "so hard" for his sister to see because of how much "she struggles" - this from a woman that drank Mt. Dew Black when she was pregnant with her last child. She smokes, drinks, and sustains herself with junk food and fried bar food and never exercises...and then expects to be a "size 3".

It all comes down to jealousy. It's sad and enfuriating to me that people like my SIL expect me to let my health go and gain all the weight back just to placate their own lack of self-esteem.

I know how you feel, exactly. I went from an okay (but not what I wanted) 145 lbs (I'm a little over 5'8'') and exercised, running 3 miles a day but eating normally. I got down to 125 which pleased me immensely, but that's when the commments started- with my family, friends, even my doctor! I was eating what I always had, so I couldn't figure out how they thought I was ill...but whatever, I guess. I just recorded my meals, like the doc told me, and he decided I was okay. My family and friends are still after me, and it drives me crazy because they're always offering me donuts and bakery. I don't want to get fat! I just lost the weight! Sheesh!

Wow lots of great comments here. My wife and I have been on a diet and have been watching what we eat. We have been very successful and we are at what I feel a good healthy weight now (by no means too thin). My wife is about 5'8" and weighs 140 lbs and she looks great. But she is getting that same speech from my mother and sisters. It makes us both mad that all they can do is be negative about our weight loss and healthy life style. I think it's sometimes more damaging to hear this because no one ever says "You really are fat and you should lose weight" no instead they say "Oh girl you're going to blow away if you lose any more weight what's the matter with you" like it's okay to be negative about thin people and not okay to say the same types of things to fat people. My mom actually compared my wife to the skinny girls she sees at the store and they make her "so sick to look at"...and she said it to her face. It really hurt her feelings. The reality is that people who are over weight are in a much bigger danger than those who are at their correct weight or even under weight. Maybe it is a jealousy thing because they are all over weight themselves. I feel your frustrations.