To want to shout at people that I don't have a eating disorder!

[GuineaP1g]

I've lost a lot of weight over the past year.

Gone from a size 22 to a size 12.

But I'm short (5ft) and so still at a size 12 my BMI is closer to obese than healthy.

And yet - now daily - I'm getting friends, family and even people who barely know me (school mums) giving me the "don't lose any more" "you don't want to get gaunt" nonsense.

Yesterday my sister told me I should ignore BMI now. My best friend told me I was too skinny.

The day before my mother in law said I can't possibly have anything else left to lose.

Etc etc.

It's really getting me down as I eat so much healthier than I have the rest of my life. Finally exercise. And yet my weight and eating is criticised more than when I had diabetes and was morbidly obese!

Huge congratulations! It sounds like you have retrained yourself into a healthy way of eating instead of a crash diet. I lost some weight last year with a similar way of eating and have kept most of it off (see the low carb boot camp threads 😜).

I had a few similar comments from MIL and others. Jealousy? Who knows but I was in NO danger of wasting away.

As others have said, just smile and nod and keep up the good work.

Wow amazing OP!
What did you do?
🙌🙌🙌

@TiredButDancing

I don't think it's jealousy. But it is because in their heads, you look a certain way, and so when you have lost such a lot of weight, you look "odd" to them. When DH lost a lot of weight, I had to remind myself sometimes that no, he was NOT too skinny, but just that I was used to him having so much padding. But when I looked at him objectively as a man, and not as the DH I have know for a very long time, he was just a perfectly normal, slim, fit, athletic man.

It is extremely irritating though if they keep banging on about it. Personally I 100% would ditch BMI as it's not always helpful, but no one who is a size 12 is too skinny. Size 12 can be anything from - just perfect to a little overweight, but never too thin (and I'm a size 16 so I'm not speaking as someone who has my own size 12 axe to grind) but I am sure that you look amazing and, more importantly, feel amazing. Well done!!!

PS DH's weight comments improved once he bought clothes that actually fitted him and were purchased to flatter his new body!

BMI works for the vast majority of the population - unless you're a particular ethnic minority (generally Japanese/Chinese/Korean, who can be healthy at much lower BMIs) or a strength athlete/body builder it'll be fine for you.

Doctors hear this all the time from folk who believe that BMI isn't right for them because they're "built large" or have "heavy bones" or "I've got loads of muscle, doc, honest!". Unfortunately unless you're in the categories above, you're fooling yourself.

Wow your meals sound delicious OP!!

@GuineaP1g Well done, amazing result!! I know exactly how you feel, I started Fast800 last year and it truly changed my life. My starting point was "only" size 14 but I had quite a massive muffin top which was completely out of proportion, I also knew I had a problem with sugar and I was teetering at the verge of being diagnosed with T2D.

I'm now size 6/8, eat 3 good meals (proper, very delicious food) a day, I haven't calorie counted since April and my weight remains at stable 52-53kg mark. My metabolism is finally working properly as it's not being messed with excess sugar and ultra processed food. I also lift weights instead of the usual cardio pushed at women.

Ignore the ones who say you have lost too much too quickly. Once your insulin is down, the fatty liver just melts off and the inflammation goes down.

Also ignore the eating disorder comments. How bloody ignorant. If you are size 22, you are likely to suffer from food/sugar addiction which slowly will destroy your health.

@wetpants what meals do you eat? X

I think its partly jealousy but also uncertainty - one persons weightloss/new job/new dp/divorce changes group dynamics. It shouldnt but it sometimes does. They are trying to put you back in your box because they dont like change.

Also people can be really rude when you're slim. Its seen as totally ok to comment because you look like the ideal, and if you protest then youre oversensitive Why people cant just mind their own business and keep comments to themselves is beyond me.

I've had this too, and what's weird is it was often from people thinner than me. So a size 8 (who I know would rather die than be a size 12) would tell size 12 me, you are too thin. I think they are either still adjusting to the new look as pps said, or maybe trying to be nice in a weird way? I just ignore it and change the subject.

I lost 6 stone a few years ago and was still heavier than I wanted to be in fact 10-12lb above my ideal weight
I’m 5’4” and was a size 10 I don’t go by BMI but I was still classed as overweight and could have lost over 2 stone and still be within healthy BMI range as I’m an hourglass shape and carry quite a bit of weight on arms and legs
Got so fed up with people telling me I’d taken dieting too far - comments like you look gaunt! I didn’t
Sadly I put a couple of stone back on which I’m not happy about and am trying to get it off again
Now being told - you were too tiny - you look much healthier now - you don’t want to go that skinny again etc

It's a lot of weight to lose OP congratulations. Yes it's fast - but as long as you have a plan in place for when you hit target and go to maintenance then you'll be fine.

Just because it's fast doesn't necessarily mean someone will put it all back on - one just needs that plan of action for maintenance switch.

As to people's comments well....women are always threatened by other women losing weight.

I think a lot of people don't realize that overeating to the point where you get morbidly obese is an eating disorder as well. Called compulsive overeating. Every morbidly obese person suffers from an eating disorder we just aren't allowed to talk about it.

@Shelddd

I think a lot of people don't realize that overeating to the point where you get morbidly obese is an eating disorder as well. Called compulsive overeating. Every morbidly obese person suffers from an eating disorder we just aren't allowed to talk about it.

I think that a lot of people don't RTFT or even bother to read the OP's posts.

If you're referring to me I've already previously posted in this thread... And it's clear I've read the thread but please continue on :)

@Shelddd

I think a lot of people don't realize that overeating to the point where you get morbidly obese is an eating disorder as well. Called compulsive overeating. Every morbidly obese person suffers from an eating disorder we just aren't allowed to talk about it.

I disagree. Denial is a different matter. It's really not ok to say "everyone x has this".

They are jealous and threatened

I doubt it, I expect they are concerned as such dramatic weight loss can be because of illness.

The people being critical - are they big? You don't have to answer on here, but you will know what size they are.

Peer pressure to stay big is just as real as peer pressure to stay thin. People don't like it when someone departs from the norm for their social circle, so if your social circle is big, at least some of them will feel threatened by your weight loss. They may feel that you are implying criticism of their size and lifestyle by losing the weight. There can also be an element of wanting to take someone down a peg or two.

It sounds like you are eating healthily, so good for you.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

They are jealous and threatened

I doubt it, I expect they are concerned as such dramatic weight loss can be because of illness.

They know I'm healthier than ever and even recommended the book/film that started me on the journey.

So they have no concern about illness.

Just concern that I'm "too thin" (which I still very clearly am not. Regular "slim" people would be mortified if they woke up in my body.

@AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit

For example today’s menu:
Breakfast: coffee with cream, cottage cheese pancakes with strawberries and ghee (I often batch cook the pancakes on Saturday morning which provides breakfast for 3-4 mornings)

Lunch: omelette with goats cheese, chorizo & peppers, served with chopped cucumber and lettuce as well as a tbsp of mayo. Followed by coffee with cream.

Dinner: Swedish meatballs with a sauteed cabbage, kids are having theirs with pasta. Pudding is either a small block of cheddar and some nuts or greek yog with homemade apple sauce and granola (also homemade).

This is just a tiny snapshot, there are so many dishes and combinations you can do. I use the recipes from the Fast800 recipe books, Diet Doctor website and also from all the numerous low carb blogs that are out there.

I don’t think people are being intentionally unkind. You’ve lost a lot of weight quite quickly and probably look dramatically different, so people might not know that you are still a healthy BMI. They might also be worried you aren’t going to stop losing weight.

Just reassure them - I’m at a healthy weight for my height and will make sure my BMI stays in the normal range. I feel so much better now so am happy how I am

They probably think you're ill. That's an astonishing amount to lose in just a year...
Please ignore the usual muppets shouting "It's just jealousy, they're green with envy, op". I really doubt that's it.

It's probably just because it is such a quick, drastic change and you look very slim compared to before. It'll just take people a while to get used to you looking slimmer. I know someone who lost a lot of weight very quickly and he did look gaunt in the face, especially when you were used to seeing him rounder for years.

Jealously is always trotted out here but I don't suddenly all of these people have come down with the green eyed monster.