How to respond politely when people comment on my weight loss

[domebody]

I know people mean no harm when they comment on someone’s weight loss, but it’s not something I like to talk about to people about. It’s very personal and I would rather just not discuss it.

how can I respond that’s not rude/ dismissive or offended - because I’m not offended and I don’t want people to feel bad mentioning it- yet I want to shut the conversation down.

so far I’ve said stuff like ‘ yeah haha thanks, forget about it haha ‘.. or ‘ ah let’s not go there hahaha ‘..

I don’t want people to feel bad but I think maybe it’s coming across a bit awkward and mean. I know it’s a ‘ me ‘ thing, but I really don’t want to talk about it.

any tips on how to smoothly move the conversation on without making the person feel bad / look like an idiot to them for not wanting to chat about it ?

I lost 5st in a year and a bit. Went from 12st to 7st. I hated all the comments so much! They did stop though once people got used to it.

I've lost 70lbs and hate talking about it, I just say thanks and either walk away or change the subject

I hear you. People need to stop with complimenting weight loss. A body is just a body. I recently lost 4 stone unintentionally due to an ill health condition and it just used to make me feel awful when people congratulated my weight loss. Now I'm brutally honest because I enjoy seeing them crawl up their own backsides.

I hope you are feeling well in yourself.

I’ve lost 5 stone and am still getting a lot of compliments from people if I’ve not seen them in a while. People are quite careful to not mention the weight though until I do. They’ll start with ‘You look amazing!’ And then I usually say that I’ve lost a bit of weight, but I admit it has been really nice having people notice, it feels like a nice boost to my self-confidence. I bumped into a school mum I don’t know that well the other day and she said ‘I just wanted to tell you that you look incredible’, which made my day!

So it’s a tricky one, as some will like the compliments, others won’t. I think if the person is careful and guided by the initial response, then that’s all you can hope for.

I just say"yes thanks,I have been trying really hard" and change the subject. I find listening to other ppl talking continuously about what they ate, what they ate that they should not have, exercise, blah, blah totally boring, so I don't want to be that person

I’ve just lost 2 stone , I don’t want any one to mention it tbh, and I wouldn’t say thank you either ! Somebody complimenting you is fine but commenting specifically on weight unless they’ve mentioned it first is rude, What are u saying thanks for? Thanks for commenting on my body?! No fuck off! you could try ‘ yes I’ve been ill’ and change the subject that might shut them up, or just say ‘ no,I haven't’ look confused and gaslight them . If they insist😂 double down and deny it . Personally I would pretend I hadn’t heard and ignore it everytime .

Just give quite short responses.

"You're looking great, did you lose weight?"
"Oh yes I have lost a bit, thanks."
"How did you do it?"
"Oh you know, no big secret, just healthy eating and exercise."
(the most boring answer - people never want to know more about the hard work approach!)

This is what I did and people never really pushed more, other than giving more compliments and then you just say "thanks".

Most of the time these comments really don't come from a bad place, so just give brief replies to any questions and then move on. There's no need to be standoffish about it.

Ok. I am going to continue not saying anything and ignore the many posters on here who wonder why no one compliments them.

"Thank you, that's really kind of you. You look great! Where did you get your hair done/that dress/that sexy young man?"

I just go with “ah yes, time to get healthy” and when asked how I’ve done it “just reducing calories” - both end the conversation.

I’ve lost 2.5 stone but people know I’ve had some hard family news so I’m assuming they’re not commenting as they are assuming it’s stress.

Depending on the person/context, you could just says 'Thanks, I've been working hard' then change the subject

or

'Yes, I've not been well. I'd prefer not to discuss it' then change the subject.

I don’t like saying thanks either !!

thanks for what ?? That I was fat and now I’m less fat ? So that’s now something to say thank you for ?

if someone says ‘ you look well ‘ thanks is obviously the right response. I don’t even want to admit I tried. Especially to people I don’t like. It’s like they’re pointing out a flaw in me and I’m agreeing with them that I had weight to lose in the first place. I do feel strongly about people I don’t like or I get bad vibes from, mentioning it. And I don’t want to say thanks.

I’ve lost three stone. People have said “you’ve lost weight” and “have you lost weight?” and I just say “yes, I had to take myself in hand” and move on.

I’ve lost a fair bit of weight and get comments too. I just say thanks. It really pisses me off when people keep digging and questioning me though.

MIL: so how much have you lost now?
me: oh I don’t know, I don’t really weigh myself I just know that clothes are feeling bigger

BIL: you’ve lost an awful lot of weight recently
me: yeah, thanks
a a few moments later…
BIL: you’ve lost an awful lot of weight recently, what have you been doing?
me: oh actually it’s been over a really long period of time it’s just that it’s become noticeable to other people now

When people persist, I say that I’m eating a bit less / I barely drink any alcohol now / I’ve taken up running / I don’t snack much etc etc. Basically what a PP said about nobody wanting to hear more about the hard work!

Well then just say fuck off. As you feel so strongly about it.

How would it be rude for people not to comment on their body?

Yep agree. I don't know why people are angry that you don't want your body commented on.
I tend to say ah yeah I have lost a bit and leave it at that. Obviously they sometimes push with more questions and yeah it is awkward and I wish they wouldn't.

Why does her not wanting her body commented on offensive to you?

Yep, I love it. I feel really really proud of myself, I’ve lost 60lbs, gone from obese to healthy BMI, it’s a significant achievement and I look better. I think it’s lovely to receive compliments.

Aren't you a peach!!!

say thanks and then do a MASSIVE subject change.

not offensive..But I have really met many many ppl offended that nobody has commented on their weight loss.

I myself don't comment, but how is anyone to tell what people want?

Well if you don’t want to say thanks, say “Yes, I know” and change the subject. People will think you rude, but they’ll know not to mention it again.

It depends on what exactly people are saying and why. If you lost a lot of weight some people might think that you were unwell/ something happened, some might be interested for themselves, some would just compliment out of politeness.
I think in general “ thank you” and something else e.g “ yes, I’m trying to be healthier/ oh it’s a lovely complement/ no, everything is fine, it was my new year resolution” will work and then moving conversation on to something else.

I’ve lost a massive amount of weight. It’s very noticeable and people often rush to either compliment me, or panic and wonder if I’ve been sick and don’t want to put their foot into it so skirt around the topic.

If anyone mentions I’ve lost weight/compliments me on losing weight and I don’t really want to get into it, I smile and say “thank you, I’m feeling really well” and then ask them a question about themselves. Works a charm.